Ep. 37 / A Surprising Revival: How Young Britons Are Rediscovering Faith ► Gavin Calver

Jul 4, 2025

Gavin Calver, CEO of the Evangelical Alliance UK, challenges the myth of Britain's decline in spirituality, revealing unexpected evidence of revival among young people. Generation Z is increasingly open to faith, with a surge in Bible sales and church attendance. Calver highlights the role of 'reverse missionaries' and a collaborative spirit among churches. Surprisingly, one in three non-Christians express a desire for conversations about faith, illustrating a cultural shift that may reshape the future of spirituality in the UK.

Ask episode

AI Snips

Chapters

Books

Transcript

Episode notes

INSIGHT

Signs of UK Spiritual Revival

The UK is experiencing an unprecedented openness to the gospel not seen in half a century.
Youth (Gen Z) are twice as likely to believe in God compared to their Gen X parents, signaling revival signs.

INSIGHT

Multiculturalism Strengthens Church Unity

Multiculturalism has deeply enriched UK evangelicalism, adding prayer depth and evangelistic effectiveness.
The church uniquely unites diverse tribes, tongues, and generations, reflecting Jesus' prayer for unity.

ANECDOTE

Reverse Missionary Story

A Ugandan reverse missionary declared Jesus at UK customs, surprising officials.
Reverse missionaries bring gospel renewal as the UK church welcomes global believers.

Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode

Get the app

Is the United Kingdom truly a spiritual graveyard, or are we witnessing the first signs of an unexpected revival? Gavin Calver, CEO of the Evangelical Alliance UK, reveals compelling evidence that challenges the narrative of Britain's religious decline.

While headlines focus on empty pews, something remarkable is stirring beneath the surface. Gen Z is twice as likely to believe in God as their Gen X parents. Bible sales have surged 87% in five years. Two million more people attend church now than five years ago. These aren't just anecdotes—major media outlets like The Times are reporting on this shift, confirming what Calver describes as "an openness to the gospel that hasn't existed in my lifetime."

What's driving this spiritual renaissance? Calver points to several factors: "reverse missionaries" from Africa, Asia and beyond bringing faith back to Britain; the unifying effect of secular pressure forcing churches to collaborate; and a renewed focus on equipping everyday Christians to share their faith. Most surprising is research showing one in three non-Christians actively want conversations with Christian friends about faith.

The Evangelical Alliance itself presents a fascinating case study in navigating complex cultural waters while maintaining theological clarity. Founded in 1846 (predating even the World Evangelical Alliance), the Alliance has consistently focused on two missions: uniting evangelicals to share the gospel and providing a voice for believers in the corridors of power. Today, it represents 3,000 churches, 500 organizations and 27,000 individual members across the UK's four nations.

Multicultural Christianity has transformed British evangelicalism, with 25-33% of UK evangelicals now from global majority backgrounds. This diversity has strengthened prayer culture, evangelistic effectiveness, and the church's ability to transcend social divides. As Calver notes, "The church can do something no one else in London can do – get every tribe, every tongue, every age group around the table together."

You can learn more with Gavin Calver through the Evangelical Alliance UK website , his literature, and you can find him on Facebook and Instagram.

And you can share this episode using hashtag #Evangelical360 and join the conversation online!

____________________

▶ Watch Interviews on YouTube

▶ Sign Up for FREE Dispatches From the Global Village

▶ Free Downloadable eBook "Here's Hope"

▶ More Info: evangelical360.com

#evangelical360