The Catholic Church in the United Kingdom is seeing signs of a quiet resurgence among young people, but Church leaders must not grow comfortable with early successes, Archbishop John Wilson of Southwark said July 1.
In an interview with The Tablet, the archbishop reflected on recent trends and experiences in his own archdiocese and stressed that the Church must act intentionally to support and deepen this spiritual awakening.
Archbishop Wilson referenced findings from a YouGov survey commissioned by the Bible Society. The report found that a majority of young adults in the UK — 71 percent of those aged 18 to 34 — associate with Christian beliefs. Among them, 35 percent identify as Catholic.
He described this shift as evidence of a spiritual hunger.
“It is clear that there is a generation of young people who are thirsting for something more, who are being drawn to Christ through the Catholic faith,” he said. “The question for us is how can we be more responsive in helping people realise that Christ is thirsting for them too, that he really is the Good Shepherd with a searching, merciful love.”
While he welcomed the signs of renewed faith, Archbishop Wilson cautioned against assuming revival will continue on its own.
“While we are grateful for what is being termed the ‘quiet revival’, this shouldn’t make us think that renewal in the Church is something passive,” he said. “Now is not the time for complacency.”
To sustain this momentum, the Archdiocese of Southwark has undertaken several initiatives aimed at deepening discipleship and expanding outreach. The archbishop pointed to a diocesan renewal plan and the Agency for Evangelisation and Catechesis as key parts of that broader strategy. He noted that regular gatherings for prayer, talks, and community have seen increased participation in recent years, with young adult Masses also drawing more attendees.
Digital outreach has been another area of focus. By using social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook — without using advertising — the archdiocese reports more than one million monthly views. Archbishop Wilson credited this to a clear, Christ-centered message.
“The digital age means many of us are glued to our phones,” he said, “so the Church must seize on that reality and bring the Word of God to where people are.”
Addressing stereotypes about religious disengagement, he challenged the idea that young adults are uninterested in spiritual practices.
“It is a myth of our time that young people do not want worship, do not want prayer, do not want silence,” he said. “The reality is so far from that.”
He pointed to the active role many young adults are already taking in the Church, serving as catechists and volunteer missionaries and leading retreats for teenagers.
These commitments, he suggested, reflect a faith that moves beyond belief into action.
“We have to ask what our faith means in relation to how we live and shape our world to be a better place,” he said, “how we defend the dignity of human life, speak up for those facing injustice, and create lasting peace.”
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Author: Rachel Quackenbush
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