SOME weeks ago, I published a lengthy article in Prophecy Today examining reports that a ‘quiet revival’ of Christianity was underway across the British Isles.
The reports largely emanated from a striking new survey commissioned by the Bible Society, which showed, among other things, that church attendance in England and Wales increased by a massive 56 per cent between 2018 and 2024, and that it had quadrupled among Gen Z (ages 18-24). The report found growth especially within Roman Catholicism and Pentecostalism.
It gave evidence of increased attendance at mass Christian youth gatherings across the UK; unprecedented spiritual openness among students; and showed how even traditional churches, widely regarded as being in terminal decline, like the Catholic Church, have seen a degree of growth.
I noted some concerns over some of the statistics quoted, but rejoiced at the evidence of something of a quiet spiritual movement, at least among Gen Z, across the United Kingdom.
Others also expressing doubts over the claims led the Bible Society to double down on their reliability, stating that the YouGov poll used very large, nationally representative samples and consistent methodology, and that it offered a high confidence level and low margin of error.
Since then, a string of further ‘revival-leaning’ reports has appeared in the Christian media, albeit with many of the stories stemming from a single source.
First a survey by the Evangelical Alliance found that evangelical churches in the UK are in a season of growth, churches seeing ‘twice as many people approaching them with questions about the Christian faith’ and reporting twice as many people making first-time commitments to follow Jesus compared to 2021.
The Alpha Course also recently announced that it experienced its most successful year since it began nearly fifty years ago. More than two million people took part worldwide in 2024 – more than in any previous year. Alpha is on track to welcome over 200,000 more this year, potentially doubling the 115,000 recorded in 2021.
In early June, the Awakening Project conference in East London saw more than 2,000 people attend an all-night prayer vigil (in a 1,300-capacity venue). At a recent Pursuit of Worship night put on by the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, there was ‘a mind-blowing response to the gospel’, when, noted one youth leader, ‘We saw whole youth groups give their lives to God!’ Another said it was‘the most profound and powerful response to the presence of God I have ever witnessed.’
Signs of growth have emanated from the furthest reaches of the UK, the Scottish Highlands and Islands. From the start of last year to Easter 2024, a small Baptist church on Arran doubled in number, forcing a relocation to larger premises. Skye Bible Church reported 16 youngsters being added to the fledgling student union at Portree High School, while in Pitlochry, a quarter of the local high school now attends church.
Scores of other good news stories are being shared: Scottish SU workers in schools saying they’re being asked for Bibles in a way they’ve never previously experienced; Christian bookshops receiving an unprecedented number of requests for the same Scriptures; and countless individual testimonies of people with little or no Christian background ‘suddenly’ showing a deep interest.
Meanwhile, new research suggests increasingly favourable attitudes towards Christianity in Ireland. Then there are ongoing claims that Britain’s quiet revival is part of a global move of God.
Sceptics, like Rev David Robertson, note the irony of its ‘quiet’ moniker, given that it has become one of ‘the most publicised, broadcast and commented-on revivals in history!’ Yet ‘quiet’ is probably appropriate in the sense that the movement was largely under the radar until the Bible Study report came out.
It’s ‘quiet’ too, in that it has been happening gradually without big-name evangelists or special ‘revival meetings’. Rather, more people simply turning up to services, seeking God, and evidence of a general wider openness to the Gospel.
Premier Christianity’s editor Sam Hailes admits he’s personally hesitant about the language of ‘revival’, which he considers ‘a step too far’. On the other hand, American revivalist Larry Sparks believes the UK ‘is spiralling toward one of those ‘suddenly’ moments: A Spirit-birthed shift that could shake nations’. He is hosting the‘Flame of Revival Gathering’in Telford next weekend,‘as we press in for this next move of God’.
I fully appreciate the longing to see a move of God in our midst. Most believers in Britain have never experienced genuine revival. We read stirring accounts of it happening in the past, even in our own communities. We hear exciting reports of it happening in different places across the world, even in our day. We sing about it in our worship times and hold prayer vigils to intercede for it. We desperately long for it.
But when none of these efforts result in the reality of revival breaking out among us reaction can come in one of two ways:
- Disillusionment: beginning to see the quest for revival as the chasing of the end of a rainbow; something practically unachievable.
- Increased longing, accompanied by agitation: feeling the need to do everything in our power to ‘help’ God by engaging in efforts to work up a ‘revival-type’ scenario.
We’ve seen this occur many times over recent decades when the predicted revival failed to materialise.
Hype attended the so-called Lakeland Outpouring in Florida in 2008, when the flamboyant and somewhat unbalanced Todd Bentley led nightly revival services, broadcast live around the world via God TV. Praying hands were laid on UK visitors, who were assured revival was about to be unleashed on their homeland. Nothing by way of genuine revival resulted, to the disappointment of many.
However, the situation with today’s reported ‘quiet revival’ is rather different. This is not about emotive revival gatherings, but a general tuning-in to Christian spirituality across the land. Does that constitute a biblical revival? Or not?
As believers we need to be careful with using the ‘R’ word. To abuse it will only ultimately lead to disillusionment in the long term.
Historically, certain features are viewed by revival historians as holding true of virtually all revival movements. These include Christ-centred preaching and the authority of the Word of God; conviction of sin and genuine repentance; a release of peace and joy; and a marked change in lifestyle; an overall effect on society that is positive and lasting. But as David Robertson reminds us, the essential focus of any true revival is Christ and His glorification.
Much of what is being enthusiastically reported constitutes a general increased interest in Christian spirituality; something of a cultural shift towards that faith among young people, and especially young men but not (yet) the widespread surrender of people’s lives to Christ that would accompany genuine revival.
Even a notable growth in attendance at any particular church, though very much welcome, does not in itself equate to revival which anyway aren’t confined to churches, rather taking place in local communities. But why wouldn’t a revival today look quite different to how one looked a century ago?
All I know is that I am seeing something that is unprecedented in my lifetime.
What I also know is that revivals are more likely to arise under times of intense societal difficulty, be that political instability, economic hardship or whatever. In particular, they often occur under persecution. Such has been the case in recent decades in China and is currently so in Iran.
It has ever been the human condition that great need is likely to induce humankind to reach beyond itself and call on a higher power. Certainly, political and social instability is already on the rise in the West, and not least in Great Britain. Yet are people currently desperate enough to come to the end of themselves and take seriously the claims of Jesus Christ in significant numbers and surrender their lives to Him?
Terming the movement in progress a ‘revival’ and assuming it will snowball in the next few months into a mighty, national spiritual revival is premature. It would be wonderful, but it hasn’t happened yet.
