In-Person and Online - The Quiet Revival: Myth, memory or movement? Cambridge
@Westminster College, Madingley Road, Cambridge
In a 2025 report, based on data gathered by the leading polling company YouGov, the Bible Society described what it termed ‘a quiet revival’ in church going. This remarkable upswing was marked most notably, it said, by an increase in young men attending regular Sunday worship.
Following the publication anecdotal reports of congregational growth began to circulate on social media, “we’re seeing exactly this,” some claimed. Others, however, noted their perplexity that this dramatic resurgence of faith seemed to have passed them by completely. Commentators were perplexed. Some wondered if the growth of so called ‘mega churches’ was skewing the data, while others suggested that the reported phenomena might correlate with an populist political move, and indicate a growth in Christian nationalism. The British Social Attitudes Survey, published later in 2025 showed the opposite to the YouGov data, leaving everyone scratching their heads and wondering what on earth is going on. The answer, as always, is complicated.
To try and put some shape around the complexity, we have invited some leading social scientists, researchers and church practitioners to take part in an extraordinary ‘symposium.’ Each one of these experts will present a short paper outlining a perspective based on research they have carried out, things they have observed, historical trends, or theories that address this complex picture. We can’t promise a simple solution to the complexity – that would be too much to hope for. But we can promise a fascinating and illuminating day in the company of some very bright minds and interesting people. We hope that you can join us as we ask whether the Quiet Revival represents myth, memory or movement.