Church of Scotland sees surge of converts amid 'deep spiritual hunger'

The Church of Scotland in the United Kingdom has seen a surge of converts since the COVID-19 pandemic amid what one clergyman called "a deep spiritual hunger."

Known as "the Kirk," 820 people in the denomination affirmed faith in the saving work of Jesus Christ in 2025, which is nearly double the 428 people who did so in 2021, according to official church figures.

Of the 841 congregations in the Kirk, 27% of them welcomed new members in 2025, which a recent report to the church's General Assembly noted was a "very encouraging" development and evidence of the Holy Spirit at work. The General Assembly opened its meeting in Edinburgh last Friday and will run through May 18.

"There are encouraging signs of renewal," the report said. "We are seeing evidence of increased Bible engagement, renewed interest in spiritual questions, growing church attendance, and more young people and young adults coming to faith with confidence."

The report added that such developments "should encourage us to rediscover the Good News we have to share."

The Rev. David Cameron, who serves as the Convener of the Assembly Trustees of the Church of Scotland, noted the statistics show that people are spiritually searching in the Kirk's parishes, which altogether logged 3,292 professions of faith between 2021-2025.

"It's very encouraging to see the number of Professions of Faith rising again across the Church of Scotland," he said. "I believe this growth reflects the fact that even in uncertain times there remains a deep spiritual hunger within our parishes."

"The increase across a variety of congregations is the fruit of welcome through relationships, faithful worship, and acts of care. The challenge is not simply to celebrate growth but to nurture it well," he continued.

"We need to continue investing in discipleship and intergenerational ministry by creating spaces where younger people can explore faith honestly and belong meaningfully. If we are willing to remain outward looking and bold in our mission in Christ's name, then I believe this upward trend can become part of a deeper renewal in the life of the Church," he added.

The new conversions come as the Faith Action Leadership Team (FAPLT), a key body created May 2023 in the Church of Scotland, continues its work endeavoring to create new disciples of Christ and "growing the Kirk," according to a press release.

The FAPLT report noted a particular outreach to young people in Scotland, stating, "We believe the Church of Scotland is called to respond to growing spiritual curiosity among young people, an area in which our denomination currently has limited reach."

The new conversions come amid a wider decline in membership in the Church of Scotland, whose approximately 229,000 members recorded at the end of last year indicated a fall of 5% from 2024, primarily because of death. A report released in 2023 found that the Kirk had lost more than half of its members since 2000.

The national church of Scotland, the Church of Scotland, was established by law in the 16th century as a Reformed, Presbyterian denomination, though it differs from the Church of England and does not recognize the British monarch as its political head.

Like other established churches in the Western world, the Church of Scotland has been embattled over issues of sexuality and gender. In 2024, they expressed openness to a national ban on sexual orientation change efforts therapy, referred to by critics as "conversion therapy," provided that such a ban would not be used to persecute churches and pastors.

Despite a long-standing commitment since 2021 to ban so-called "conversion practices," plans to pass such legislation were paused in early 2025 amid legal challenges and religious freedom concerns.