Churches Outnumber Pubs in the UK

Every village in the United Kingdom used to have a pub, a church, and a general store. Today, pubs (short for “public houses”) have become iconic, a popular destination for visitors to try drinks, traditional pub meals, and the cultural ambiance.

But these local landmarks are closing quickly; only 39,000 are left in England, down a quarter from 20 or so years ago. There are now more church buildings than pubs, according to recent figures announced last month by the National Churches Trust.

But the number of churches overall is falling too, just not as fast. The share of Christians in the UK is declining, as in America and other parts of the Western world. Total secularization isn’t inevitably around the corner for at least two reasons. First, surveys show that many who say they have “no religion” still believe in God, pray, say they have a soul, or even read the Bible. Second, there is actually substantial growth among certain types of churches in the UK, all in the context of God’s promise to build his church.

The three biggest UK denominations—Anglicans, Roman Catholics, and Presbyterians—are all declining quite quickly. Overall, their numbers have gone down 16 percent in just the last five years, Presbyterians the fastest (down 19%). Two other major groups are also declining, Baptists and Methodists, but they are much smaller in size.

The three major denominations form 60 percent of church members, and the smaller two another 16 percent. The remaining members often belong to the types of churches that are seeing the most growth right now—many of which have a Pentecostal bent, ranging from immigrant-founded denominations to Hillsong campuses.

Their increase, although significant, is unfortunately not enough to compensate for the drop among the bigger churches, but has moderated the overall decline. I’ll share below which kinds of churches are growing the fastest amid demographic shifts in the UK.

Immigrant churches, black majority churches, and reverse mission churches
London is the epicenter for growing churches. Between 2005 and 2012, overall church attendance (not membership) in London went from 620,000 people to 720,000, a 16 percent increase. The number of churches increased by two a week, from 4,100 to 4,800. During this time, the city welcomed immigrants both from Europe and the rest of the world, its population growing from 7 million to 8 million in 10 years.

Many of those newcomers were Christians and sought a church that spoke their language. More than 50 different languages are spoken in London’s churches; 14 percent of all the services held in the city are not in English.

The trend has since spread into other major urban areas, where churches draw in fellow believers who share the same language, outlook, culture, and so on. This is effectively the principle first enunciated by Donald McGavran, the church growth guru, who said, “People like to stay with their own people,” the so-called homogeneous unit principle.


Many of these churches conducting worship in other languages are Roman Catholic. Others are “black” churches, also called Black Majority Churches (BMCs). They too are immigrants but have been in the UK for much longer, often now in their third or fourth generation.

They first came as part of the Windrush generation, named for the ship that berthed in 1948 with many from the West Indies (the Caribbean). Rejected initially by the native white churches, they formed their own groups, like the New Testament Church of God, Elim Pentecostal Church, Apostolic Church, Assemblies of God, and others.

They have been joined in the last 25 years or so by others coming from West Africa, the “reverse mission” churches, like the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Potters House Christian Fellowship, Mountain of Fire Ministries, Church of Pentecost, and others. Many of these are starting new churches.

Founded in Lagos, Nigeria, the RCCG, for example, has started over 800 churches in the UK since 1993, led by a man with clear vision and effective strategy, Pastor Agu Irukwu. His 4,000- strong Church of All Nations in Brent, West London, adopted the mantra “a church within 10 minutes walking distance.” That comes straight out of the Nigerian bush country where no one goes to church by car or taxi.

It is effectively the “parish” system used by the three largest denominations, but the RCCG pursue it energetically: “You live near us, come and join us, you’ll enjoy it, we are warm and lively, and you haven’t far to go.” Many respond; the RCCG is now the largest Pentecostal denomination in the UK.

Source: https://www.christianitytoday.com/news/2019/may/churches-outnumber-pubs-in-uk-london-attendance-pentecostal.html

Lalasticlala here we go

New figures have revealed the UK has 40,300 church buildings compared to just 39,000 pubs.

That doesn’t mean more people are becoming religious, with the change being blamed on the dwindling number of boozers.

Around three pubs are closing every day, meaning more than 11,000 locals have shut down in the last decade – a fall of almost a quarter.
https://metro.co.uk/2019/04/16/uk-now-churches-pubs-11000-boozers-shut-decade-9223606/

really interesting

This topic will hit front page.

Modified:


Christianity na scam se

Reason why Satan is fighting hard against African countries. God is raising great men from African Countries, men that are willing to take the gospel to the world.
Satan is also fighting hard to counter this, fake "pastors" everywhere.
Soon missionaries will be going to these Western nations to tell them about the good news.

Those who like to claim western world has fully backslidden and that it's the reason they are advanced won't like this.
Church is a spiritual affair and not the trash our satanic neighbours have made it look like with their unending attacks.

budaatum:
New figures have revealed the UK has 40,300 church buildings compared to just 39,000 pubs.

That doesn’t mean more people are becoming religious, with the change being blamed on the dwindling number of boozers.

Around three pubs are closing every day, meaning more than 11,000 locals have shut down in the last decade – a fall of almost a quarter.
https://metro.co.uk/2019/04/16/uk-now-churches-pubs-11000-boozers-shut-decade-9223606/

You are right, they aren't becoming religious but becoming godly and holy by the day. Even UK is defying our atheist brethren who deny their convictions.

Hope they get to live n act like true christians cos at the end of the day that stat will make no sense if they don't... Wedding MC

CodeTemplar:

You are right, they aren't becoming religious but becoming godly and holy by the day

I agree, taking alcohol is ungodly and unholy

CodeTemplar:

Even UK is defying our atheist brethren who deny their convictions.

I don't know about that lol. Go church on Sunday and na soso foreigners full there o. That's why the likes of RCCG and Winners are growing and Church of England is not o. Even mosque is growing faster, while oyinbo has gone neo-Christian with a lean towards atheism but godly, if that makes sense. There's more people doing foodbank and zumba and yoga in churches during the week than praying on Sunday.

Proudly Redeemer

As it is now church is now some social centre where people go to associate no thanks to the prosperity messages been founded on cum the no guidelines on how to conduct oneself (you essentially have church goers)


The only thing that differentiate church from a pub was supposed to be spirituality, today the only thing many Christians need about spirituality is "vision" and how it benefits them (especially financially).

This is the reason you have so many native doctors who have metamorphosed to "pastors", the members know they are fake but so long as they are also in a gathering which allows them to be free and gives them " vision" and "blessing" its no different from other churches infact added bonuses

Happy Sunday to everyone out here.

I know a city that has at best, 1 RCCG church building and at least, 200 pubs.

Am I the only one seeing that 'Nigerian Bush country' statement that they casually tossed in there?

Great news, church must rise again. I went to Holland sometime back and we couldn't see any church for miles, the guys I went with had to travel to the next town to locate a catholic church, meanwhile our brothers from the religion of peace are busy populating the whole dutch country with their offspring, I saw generations of muslims in that town. . . na only God know their true agenda.

Tithe MUST be collected, from gullible people.......

pain atheist and Muslims are coming in 123

Lexusgs430:
Tithe MUST be collected, from gullible people.......

crying more than the bereaved. Don't go and face your leaders collecting your taxes and scamming you people

Binikingdowm:
crying more than the bereaved. Don't go and face your leaders collecting your taxes and scamming you people

Simply waka pass my comment, àbí devil dey do you.......

That is the only goal of that church

To scatter branches all over the place without any morals from the members
In a street u will see their churches in more than 3 places.


Lest I forget, their girls sabi give pomo well well

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Serious business
Not surprised....

Spac Nation

All this figures is not a guarantee to make heaven... Last last your personal activities here on earth would send you to heaven or hell.

The judgement of God would start in the Church! Not clubs, not beer parlour!
Be wise brethren.
Happy Sunday!

UK , many people in UK always convert to Islam they have turn many of their church's to mosque.


No more business for pastor in UK.

If it's UK, it's welcomed.


UK is the extention of Nigeria

Much expected.


Even Celestial and Cherubims & Seraphims yapa for that way.


Go into those churches, 90% blacks.

Religion is declining in the West as stated in the article.

People are tired of the doctrines but trust Africans, they can worship the devil if he is inside a church

hopefulLandlord:

I agree, taking alcohol is ungodly and unholy

taking alcohol isn't ungodly abusing it is ungodly and unholy also the same with smoking and drugs(but this 99% of the time leads to abuse).