Church of England Reports Surge in Online Interest

The Church of England has reported a 268% increase in social media interest related to church services, reflecting a significant boost in online engagement and public interest in faith activities. This surge centers around the church’s digital platform, AChurchNearYou.com, which saw page views rise from 128.1 million in 2023 to 198.6 million in 2024. Over 11,000 events have been shared across social platforms, and more than 18,000 services have been saved directly into user calendars—marking a 200% annual increase.

Much of this momentum aligns with Holy Week, one of the busiest times for parish churches. The site enables users to filter events by accessibility needs and preferences, such as dementia-friendly or gluten-free offerings. According to Amaris Cole, Head of Digital for the Church of England, the increased usage shows a growing public desire to connect with local church communities. She noted that churches continue to report newcomers who discovered them through the site.

The renewed digital engagement also parallels a broader trend of increased church attendance among young adults in the UK. Research from the Bible Society and YouGov found that monthly attendance among adults rose from 8% in 2018 to 12% in 2023. Notably, attendance among men aged 18 to 24 climbed from 4% to 20%, and from 4% to 12% among women of the same age group. A significant number of non-attending young adults expressed openness to participating in services if invited by friends.

Despite these promising trends, the Church of England continues to face challenges, including declining trust. A recent YouGov poll showed a drop in favorability ratings, largely tied to abuse scandals and failures in safeguarding, particularly among Anglican respondents.

For more information on the Church of England and social media interest, refer to the original article on The Christian Post.