Michael Brooks
In 2025, it was reported that Catholics outnumbered Anglicans among Gen Z churchgoers in the UK for the first time since King Henry VIII initiated the English Reformation in 1527. This shift was attributed to younger generations, particularly those from ethnic minority backgrounds, seeking a more immersive and dynamic religious experience. The Catholic Church's steadfast doctrines and sense of community were cited as appealing factors in an age of uncertainty and social media distractions. While the average Briton was still more likely to be a non-believer, those who identified as Christian were practicing their faith more intentionally, with a notable increase in church attendance and religious observance. This quiet revival of Catholicism signaled a potential reversal in the long-term decline of religious affiliation in Britain.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of data | 2025 |
| Anglicans as % of churchgoers aged 18-34 | 20% |
| Catholics as % of churchgoers aged 18-34 | 41% |
| Pentecostals as % of churchgoers aged 18-34 | 18% |
| Anglicans as % of all regular churchgoers in 2018 | 41% |
| Catholics as % of all regular churchgoers in 2018 | 23% |
| Anglicans as % of all regular churchgoers in 2024 | 34% |
| Catholics as % of all regular churchgoers in 2024 | 31% |
| Pentecostals as % of all regular churchgoers in 2024 | 10% |
| Anglicans as % of churchgoers aged 18-24 | 20% |
| Catholics as % of churchgoers aged 18-24 | 41% |
| Pentecostals as % of churchgoers aged 18-24 | 18% |
| Mass attendance in the UK on a typical Sunday in 2019 | 829,000 |
| Mass attendance in England and Wales in 2021 | 390,000 |
| Mass attendance in England and Wales in 2023 | 555,000 |
| Mass attendance in England and Wales pre-pandemic (2019) | 702,000 |
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What You'll Learn
Catholic Church rising in England
Catholicism is rising in England, with the number of Catholic churchgoers increasing across all age groups. This trend is particularly notable among younger generations, with Catholics outnumbering Anglicans by two to one among Gen Z churchgoers. This shift has been attributed to a variety of factors, including the search for a more immersive and dynamic religious experience, the appeal of clarity and conviction offered by the Catholic Church, and the impact of immigration from predominantly Catholic countries.
The rise in Catholicism signals a "quiet revival" of religion in a country where secularisation has steadily eroded religious affiliation. While the number of Britons identifying as Christian has declined, there has been a notable increase in church attendance, especially among young people. This trend is reflected in the findings of the Bible Society research, which showed a significant shift in church demographics. Among churchgoers aged 18 to 34, the number of Catholics increased from 22% in 2018 to 41% in 2024, while Anglicans decreased from 30% to 20% during the same period.
The Catholic Church's resistance to cultural redefining of its boundaries and freedoms has been cited as a reason for its growth in England. The Church's unwavering stance on issues such as women's priesthood, abortion, and gender fluidity provides a sense of reassurance in an age of constant debate and uncertainty. In contrast, the Anglican Church's penchant for shared governance and democracy has led to a perception of indecisiveness.
Immigration has also played a significant role in the rise of Catholicism in England. Countries with higher birth rates and stronger family structures, such as Nigeria, the Philippines, and Brazil, tend to have a larger proportion of Catholic immigrants. Additionally, Catholic families often retain a sense of openness to life, contributing to their higher fertility rates. The impact of immigration is particularly noticeable in London, where the shift towards Catholicism is more pronounced.
The Anglican Church's historical influence on the decoupling of sex from procreation and faith from practice has also been identified as a factor in the rise of Catholicism. The Church of England's approval of artificial contraception in 1930 was a pivotal moment in this process. While the Catholic Church maintains its teachings on contraception, the Anglican Church's softening of moral seriousness in sexual ethics may have contributed to a perception of relativism.
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Anglicans losing ground
In 2025, it was reported that Catholics are on course to outnumber Anglicans in Britain for the first time since King Henry VIII initiated the English Reformation in 1527. This shift is being driven by younger churchgoers, particularly those from Generation Z (born in 1997 or after) and younger Millennials (born in the mid-to-late 1990s). Among churchgoers aged 18 to 34, Catholics now comprise 41%, up from 22% in 2018, while Anglicans have slipped to 20%, down from 30% in 2018. This trend is also reflected across all age groups, with the Anglican share of regular churchgoers falling from 41% in 2018 to 34% in 2024, while Catholics have risen to 31%.
There are several factors contributing to this shift. Firstly, the Catholic Church offers a more immersive and dynamic religious experience that appeals to younger generations. Catholic churches are often seen as more vibrant and community-oriented compared to the more traditional and formal Anglican services. Young people, especially those from ethnic minority backgrounds, are seeking a sense of community and belief in God in an age of poor mental health and fragmentation caused by social media. Additionally, the Catholic Church provides clear and consistent teachings that offer reassurance in a society where truth, gender, and morality are constantly being debated. On the other hand, the Anglican Church, with its shared governance and democracy, appears indecisive and less appealing to those seeking certainty.
Immigration has also played a role in the growing numbers of Catholics in Britain. Countries with higher birth rates and stronger family structures, such as Nigeria, the Philippines, and Brazil, tend to have a larger Catholic population. As immigrants from these countries settle in Britain, they bring their religious beliefs and practices with them, contributing to the growth of the Catholic Church in the country.
Furthermore, the Anglican Church's softening of moral stances, such as its approval of artificial contraception in the 1930 Lambeth Conference, has led to a decoupling of faith from practice for some Anglicans. This has resulted in a decline in the strictness of religious observance among Anglicans, making it less attractive to those seeking a more structured and traditional religious experience.
As Anglicans continue to lose ground, the Church of England faces an uncertain future. However, it is important to note that this trend also reflects a broader cultural shift where young people are increasingly seeking spiritual and religious experiences, even as overall secularization continues to erode religious affiliation in Britain.
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Immigrants and fertility rates
In Britain, Catholicism is projected to surpass Anglicanism as the country's largest Christian denomination for the first time since King Henry VIII initiated the English Reformation in 1527. This shift is attributed to the increasing number of young people, particularly those from ethnic minority backgrounds, seeking a more immersive and dynamic religious experience offered by Pentecostal and Catholic churches.
Immigration trends have played a significant role in the changing religious landscape. In the United States, nearly half of foreign-born residents are Catholic, with a large proportion being immigrants from Latin America. This has resulted in a shift in the geographic distribution of Catholics, with southern and western states experiencing significant growth in Catholic populations. Similarly, in Britain, the rise in Catholic church attendance has been linked, in part, to the steady stream of churchgoing immigrants, contributing to what has been described as a quiet revival."
Fertility rates also come into play when examining the interplay between immigration and religious groups. In Western Europe, a growing proportion of immigrants are affiliated with religions other than Christianity, with Muslims being the largest group. Immigrants from Muslim countries tend to have higher fertility rates compared to the native population, which influences the overall demographic changes.
In the United States, while birth rates are near record lows, there is a notable gap in fertility rates between more religious and less religious Americans. Religious groups with higher fertility rates, such as conservative nondenominational movements and Pentecostal churches, are projected to experience growth. However, Catholic churches, with an average of 1.9 children per woman, face a potential decline unless immigration can offset the losses due to conversion and lower fertility rates.
Overall, the combination of immigration patterns and fertility rates within religious groups contributes to the shifting religious demographics in countries like Britain and the United States. The influx of immigrants from specific religious backgrounds and their respective fertility rates can influence the growth or decline of particular religious denominations within these societies.
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Young people seek community and belief
Young people are increasingly seeking community and belief in religious institutions. While the average Briton is still more likely than ever to be a non-believer, those who identify as Christian are "practising their religion more intentionally", with an increase in the number attending church at least once a month. This quiet revival is especially evident among young people, with Catholics and Pentecostals noting the most significant growth in church attendance.
There are several reasons why young people are turning to religious communities. Firstly, they are seeking authentic, multigenerational faith communities that provide a sense of purpose and genuine support. They want to be part of something bigger and deeper than themselves, and they find that liturgical traditions such as Orthodoxy or Catholicism give them a sense of history and community. Young adults want both guides and guardrails – they want to know where they are going but also want boundaries that tell them how to navigate the world. They are tired of flippancy and are seeking deep religious learning.
Another factor is the desire for "moral order". The pandemic years and the uncertainty they brought may have contributed to young people seeking structure and stability in religion. Additionally, the rise of the internet and social media has made information about different faiths more accessible, and young people are able to connect with others who share their interests, leading to a "gravitational pull" towards certain faiths.
Furthermore, the shift towards Catholicism among young people reflects a broader cultural and spiritual trend. Young people, particularly those from ethnic minority backgrounds, are seeking a more immersive and dynamic religious experience. They are turning to Pentecostal and Catholic churches, which are often seen as more vibrant and community-oriented compared to the more traditional and formal Anglican services.
Finally, the decline in Anglican church attendance could be due to their attempts to modernise, which may feel forced and inauthentic to some. In contrast, Catholicism offers a sense of tradition and continuity that appeals to young people seeking roots and a deeper connection to the past.
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Anglicanism's uncertain future
The future of the Anglican Church in the UK looks uncertain, with Catholicism on course to surpass Anglicanism as the country's largest Christian denomination. This would be the first time this has happened since King Henry VIII initiated the English Reformation in 1527. While the number of Britons identifying as Christian continues to fall, the number of people attending church has been rising, with Catholics and Pentecostals seeing the most significant growth in church attendance.
This shift is most notable among younger generations, with Catholics outnumbering Anglicans by more than two to one among Gen Z and younger millennials. In 2018, 30% of 18- to 24-year-old churchgoers identified as Anglican, but by 2024, this had dropped to 20%, while Catholics rose from 22% to 41% in the same age group. This trend is also reflected in overall church attendance, with Anglicans comprising 41% of all regular churchgoers in 2018, compared to 23% for Catholics. By 2024, the Anglican share had fallen to 34%, with Catholics at 31%.
There are several factors contributing to this shift. Firstly, the Anglican Church has struggled to retain younger generations, who are turning to Pentecostal and Catholic churches, which are often seen as more vibrant and community-oriented compared to the more traditional and formal Anglican services. The Anglican Church's attempts to modernise, such as female ordinations and lax social teachings, have also been cited as reasons for the decline. Additionally, the Anglican Church's softening of moral stances on issues such as sexual ethics may have contributed to a sense of uncertainty in an age when society is debating issues of truth, gender, and morality. In contrast, the Catholic Church's unwavering stance on issues may provide a sense of clarity and conviction that appeals to those seeking religious guidance.
Immigration has also played a role in the shifting religious landscape of the UK. Countries with higher birth rates and stronger family structures, such as Nigeria, the Philippines, and Brazil, tend to have a higher proportion of Catholic immigrants. These immigrant communities often retain a sense of openness to life and stronger family structures, which can contribute to the growth of the Catholic Church in the UK.
The future of Anglicanism in the UK faces challenges, and it remains to be seen whether the Church can adapt to the changing spiritual needs of younger generations and reverse the decline in attendance.
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Frequently asked questions
Catholics first outnumbered Anglicans in the UK in 2025, for the first time since the English Reformation in 1527.
This shift was driven by younger generations, particularly Generation Z and younger Millennials, who increasingly sought a more immersive and dynamic religious experience than what was offered by traditional and formal Anglican services.
In 2018, Anglicans comprised 41% of regular churchgoers, compared to 23% for Catholics. By 2024, Anglican attendance had fallen to 34%, while Catholic attendance rose to 31%.
As Anglicans continued to lose ground, the Church of England faced an uncertain future, with the Catholic Church experiencing a quiet revival in contrast to the slow decline of the Anglican Church.
