UK survey shows Christmas churchgoing is on the rise

Source: Tearfund

Christmas churchgoing is increasing, with nearly one in two UK adults (45%) planning to attend a church event or service this year, up from 40% last year, according to a new nationwide poll of 2,017 UK adults by Savanta1 for Christian humanitarian & development agency Tearfund.

People are drawn to church for a mix of tradition, spiritual meaning and support: of those who go nearly two in five (39%) say it's part of their Christmas tradition, a third (34%) go for the atmosphere, while more than a quarter (28%) see Christmas as a meaningful time for spiritual reflection.

Non Christians are most likely to say that they come away from a church at Christmas feeling joyful (38%), peaceful (34%) or hopeful (25%).

The new findings highlight that churches provide vital support to those in need during the Christmas period. Two in five UK adults (42%) say they, or someone they know, have been supported by a church at Christmas. One in ten UK adults say they have used a food bank in a church (12%), received free meals (10%), or accessed warm spaces (11%). Nearly a quarter (23%) say they, or someone they know, have received a free Christmas Day meal from a church.

Stuart Lee, Director of Global Fundraising and Communications at Tearfund says: "These figures underline something deeply significant: churches remain at the heart of community life at Christmas. People are turning to their local churches for spiritual connection and for practical help. From food banks to warm spaces, churches are stepping in where they are needed most. At Tearfund, we work through local churches around the world for exactly this reason: they understand their communities and are there long after Christmas is over.

In the Central African Republic, one of the poorest and most fragile countries in the world, our church partners this Christmas are inviting whole communities to share meals and celebrate together. In areas recovering from conflict, they tell us Christmas attendance can double or even triple as people come seeking unity, joy and hope. Around the world, Tearfund sees churches bringing people together and helping communities heal, and that's something worth celebrating this Christmas."

LINKS

For up-to-date details of Catholic Christmas services near you, visit: www.indcatholicnews.com/news/39170

Find out more about Tearfund's work, and support Tearfund's Christmas Appeal: www.tearfund.org/campaigns/christmas-appeal?