UK Evangelicals defying religious decline, with young men leading growth
A landmark study has shed more light on the size, shape and identity of Evangelical Christians in the U.K.
Evangelicals are “younger, more ethnically diverse, and more likely to be male than the wider population,” according to the 28-page report published by the Evangelical Alliance UK.
“Adults under 35 are the age group most likely to identify as Evangelical and to hold Evangelical beliefs,” the report reads.
“Approximately a third of the most committed Evangelicals come from ethnically diverse backgrounds, while an estimated 60% of Evangelicals are male.”
The report identifies 12.3 million people in the U.K. as either holding Evangelical beliefs or identifying as Evangelical, or both.
Nearly two-thirds of practicing Christians (64%) are identified by the study as Evangelicals in terms of identity and beliefs. The report defines practicing Christians as people who attend church at least monthly, and who pray and read the Bible independently at least weekly.
In terms of the overall U.K. population, 11.4% identify as Evangelicals (8 million people), while 7.9% (5.5 million people) can be defined as “broad Evangelicals.” Broad Evangelicals were defined as respondents who both hold Evangelical beliefs and identify as an Evangelical. Some 14.1% of the U.K. population have Evangelical beliefs (9.9%).
A minority (3.8%, or 2.6 million people) are “classic Evangelicals” — respondents who strongly hold Evangelical beliefs, identify as an Evangelical, and are part of Protestant traditions.
Young adults were the most likely age group to be Evangelical. Among classic Evangelicals, 43% are under 35, including 19.4% aged 18 to 24 and 24.1% aged 25 to 34, while 41% of broad Evangelicals are under 35.
Nearly a third (30%) of Evangelicals are from ethnic minority backgrounds, compared with 17% of the wider U.K. adult population.
Over a quarter (27.9%) of classic Evangelicals are black and respondents from this ethnic group were particularly comfortable with the Evangelical label — 63% would be comfortable describing themselves that way.
The research reveals a notable male majority among Evangelicals, contrasting with the traditional picture of U.K. church attendance. Specifically, 61.6% of classic Evangelicals are male, and 59.8% of broad Evangelicals.
Pentecostals form the largest denominational group among classic Evangelicals, at 29%.
Anglicans account for 17% of classic Evangelicals and 24% of broad Evangelicals. Roman Catholics make up 19% of broad Evangelicals, despite evangelicalism traditionally being understood as a Protestant movement.
The Evangelical Alliance said the findings were “incredibly encouraging news.”
“At a time of widely reported decline in religion, the statistics tell a different story,” the report reads.
“Evangelical Christianity is thriving among young people, ethnic minority populations and men.
“The U.K. church is growing, and this looks set to continue, given the demographics.”
The “Understanding UK Evangelicals” report was published to coincide with the 180th anniversary of the Evangelical Alliance, which was founded in 1846. It was conducted by Whitestone Insight between Feb. 25 and March 8, drawing on responses from 8,407 U.K. adults, including 3,804 people who identify as Christian.
Gavin Calver, CEO of the Evangelical Alliance, said: “The Evangelical church in the U.K. is thriving: it’s young, diverse and growing. This research shows that Evangelicals make up almost two-thirds of practicing Christians in the U.K. and remain at the heart of church life every Sunday.
“It gives us real confidence that Evangelicals will continue to shape the future of the church, and that the Evangelical Alliance will keep standing strong and speaking up on behalf of this vibrant movement.”
Danny Webster, director of advocacy and research at the Evangelical Alliance, said:
"For years, the word 'Evangelical' has often been misunderstood or reduced to political stereotypes imported from the United States. This research tells a very different story. This landmark research provides an accurate understanding of who Evangelicals in the U.K. are.
“We have measured how many Christians identify as Evangelicals, and how many share the common beliefs of Evangelicals, and the result is a vivid picture of a young, diverse group, spanning every denomination.
“It's a movement united not by politics, but by a shared commitment to Jesus Christ and making Him known."
This article was originally published at Christian Today
