--- title: "Only 4 in 100 under-35s attend church regularly – new research reveals" date: "2026-05-18T11:59:03+01:00" modified: "2026-05-18T16:20:49+01:00" url: "https://humanists.uk/2026/05/18/only-4-in-100-under-35s-attend-church-regularly-new-research-reveals/" post_id: 190598 categories: ["News"] --- # Only 4 in 100 under-35s attend church regularly – new research reveals ![](https://i0.wp.com/humanists.uk/wp-content/uploads/iStock-2165237811.webp?resize=1200%2C675&ssl=1)The gold-standard British Social Attitudes survey has revealed that only four in 100 under-35s attend Christian church regularly and that overall Church attendance in Britain continues to decline dramatically. These findings are supported by the Church of England’s own attendance figures. Humanists UK says the data is ‘another nail in the coffin for the myth of Christian revival’, shows that Britain is not a Christian country, and that religious institutions shouldn’t continue to be privileged in public life and national identity. In the National Centre for Social Research (NatCen)’s [latest British Social Attitudes survey](https://natcen.ac.uk/no-revival-sight-church-attendance-britain-remains-below-pre-pandemic-levels), just 4% of those aged under 35 say they attend a Christian service at least once a week. The level of reported weekly attendance among those aged 70 and over is, at 9%, just half of that recorded in 2017. There is further evidence to counter the report of a ‘quiet revival’ of Christianity, which was based on the [now-retracted claims by the Bible Society](https://humanists.uk/2026/03/26/bible-society-retracts-false-quiet-revival-claims/) that younger people are turning back to Christianity. The Bible Society retracted its report that there is a quiet revival of Christianity after it revealed the report was based on a faulty and unreliable YouGov survey. Preliminary figures from the Church of England’s [Statistics for Mission figures for 2025](https://www.churchofengland.org/media/news-and-press-releases/church-attendance-grows-fifth-year-row) confirm what the British Social Attitudes survey has shown, in that there is a long-term decline. **2019****2025****Difference****Regular worshippers**1.11 million 1.02 million– 90,000**Average weekly attendance** 854,000 707,000-147,000**Average Sunday service attendance**690,000590,000-100,000**Christmas attendance**2.33 million 1.96 million-370,000**Easter attendance**1.18 million 1.03 million-150,000#### **Humanists UK Chief Executive Andrew Copson said:** > ‘The UK is a diverse and mainly non-religious society, and our politics must reflect that. An overwhelming amount of evidence shows the decline of Christianity, and the UK is no longer a Christian country. Yet Christian institutions are given preferential treatment in our politics, our children’s education, and our nation’s ceremonies. > > ‘This isn’t about celebrating a decline in faith, it’s arguing for a politics and society based in the current reality. A growing Christian nationalist movement is seeking to impose beliefs on others, and we must work together to stop it. Otherwise, we will be undermining our ability to work for peace and cohesion in our diverse society.’ #### **Sir John Curtice said** > ‘The evidence from the British Social Attitudes survey is clear: there has been no revival in Christian observance in Britain. Church attendance remains below pre-pandemic levels across all age groups, and the suggestion that younger people are leading a religious renewal is not borne out by the data. COVID-19 appears to have had a more lasting effect on religious practice in Britain than many had hoped and that extends to faith communities beyond Christianity too.’ #### Notes For further comment or information, media should contact Humanists UK Head of Press and Campaign Communications Nathan Stilwell at or phone 0203 675 0959 (media only). Read the [British Social Attitudes survey](https://natcen.ac.uk/no-revival-sight-church-attendance-britain-remains-below-pre-pandemic-levels) Read our work on the so-called [‘Quiet Revival’](https://humanists.uk/2026/03/26/bible-society-retracts-false-quiet-revival-claims/) Read more about how [religious revival claims are fatally undermined by contradictory data.](https://humanists.uk/2025/07/15/religious-revival-claims-fatally-undermined-by-contradictory-data/) Read more about [more Bible sales do not equal more Christians](https://humanists.uk/2026/02/25/more-bible-sales-do-not-equal-more-christians/). Read more about [Gen Z churchgoing still declining](http://churchgoing/). Humanists UK is the national charity working on behalf of non-religious people. Powered by over 150,000 members and supporters, we advance free thinking and promote humanism to create a tolerant society where rational thinking and kindness prevail. We provide ceremonies, pastoral care, education, and support services benefitting over a million people every year and our campaigns advance humanist thinking on ethical issues, human rights, and equal treatment for all.