Responding to the news about The Quiet Revival report

It was very disappointing to read that some of the data behind the Bible Society’s The Quiet Revival report was unreliable and so its conclusions are less certain. There was always some wariness about the data, in terms of the scale and the methodology but there was a general consensus that what it was reporting was a real change happening in the spiritual climate and opportunities.

However, we welcome the clarity, openness and generosity of the Bible Society in publishing a full correction on their website and their commitment to further study to obtain more accurate results.
They have also published a new report which indicates that, while more precise data is needed, there are still very encouraging signs about changes in Britain’s spiritual landscape.

Affinity connects with over 1300 churches and so, as Director, I hear the consistent narrative that new people, especially young men, are attending churches because of real spiritual interest. It is indeed a trickle, not a flood, but it is statistically and, more importantly, spiritually significant.