by Madeline Grant, Telegraph
The success of our national church should be of interest to all English people, whether believers or not
Easter is a time for hope. Normally, that hope is a solely theological one. However this year, the pollsters have joined in the message of Resurrection with some cold, hard data.
Far from being dead, extensive polling by the Bible Society suggests that Christianity is experiencing the beginnings of a quiet revival, especially among younger worshippers. Sixteen per cent of 18-24-year olds say they are monthly churchgoers, up from 4 per cent in 2018. Though this rise is concentrated among young men, both sexes are attending at higher rates. Even factoring in migration from more religious countries, churchgoing is increasing among younger age-brackets across the board.
All cause for celebration: yet, I have begun to notice recently a particular subset of opinion, absolutely determined to avoid any signs of hope whatsoever. On the Right of politics, among the very people who ought most to cheer these developments, there is a sort of indulgent doomerism, a desire to explain away any positive development, and a wilful fatalism about Christianity’s future in the UK (often from people who never darken their local church’s door from one year to the next).
It’s almost as if, despite their protestations to the contrary, they rather enjoy the thought of their much-posited prediction, that Christianity will be overwhelmed by a mix of radical Islamism and militant secular wokery, coming true.
None of these encouraging signs should be taken for granted. If anything, they pose a challenge too. In particular for the Church of England. The success of our national church should be of interest to all English people, whether believers or not.