If 2025 was the yr of the “Quiet Revival”, what does 2026 have in store for Christianity in Britain?
Drawing each on research and anecdotal evidence and experience, Phil Knox, writing for the Evangelical Alliance, has outlined five “missional trends” he expects to see this yr.
Knox wrote that despite many years of headlines about church decline and diminishing congregations, the tide finally appears to be turning.
Last yr research commissioned by the Bible Society and conducted by YouGov found that over a fifth of men aged 18-24 are attending church at the least once a month, a staggering increase from just 4% of that demographic in 2018. Women in the identical age bracket have also been attending church in larger numbers, going from 4% in 2018 to 12% in 2024.
According to Knox this yr shall be “essentially the most spiritually open … in living memory”. However, he warned that while atheism was prone to proceed declining, there was no guarantee that this might result in mass conversions to Christianity.
“The evangelical church will grow. But the rising tide will cause seekers to show not only to all types of Christianity, but to other religions, paganism and the occult,” he said.
Secondly, Knox said he expected to see more “unexplained” events and spiritual experiences leading people towards faith. He pointed to research suggesting the over 1 / 4 (28 per cent) of latest adult Christians start their faith journey as a consequence of a spiritual experience.
Knox encouraged churches to do more to attach their social and community work with the work of saving souls.
“In 2026, foodbank use will sadly but predictably increase as inflation and the fee of living hardship continues. But it’s price remembering almost every foodbank within the UK is connected to a church. However, only a fraction of service user shall be invited to take the following step on the journey of religion. For those that are, many will turn into Christians,” he said.
Fourthly, Knox said he believed Bible sales would proceed to rise this yr as seekers and latest believers seek to do their very own “theological research” and to seek out the source of truth in a world flooded with misinformation.
“In a ‘fake news’, ‘post-truth’ world, younger generations are particularly drawn to excellent news that’s true, profound and exquisite. Churches that keep the substance the identical but relate relevantly to culture will flourish. Expect latest Christians to cite reading the Bible as pivotal of their journey of exploration and decision moment,” he said.
Finally, Knox predicted that 2026 shall be a yr by which discipleship is important.
“When people come to faith, research tells us their biggest needs are in helping to ascertain spiritual disciplines and find latest community,” he explained.
“Many latest believers will leave church because they’ve not been nurtured or built meaningful relationships. In 2026, newcomers to church will cause leaders to speculate time in early spiritual formation and empower spiritual fathers and moms.”
