Springtime for the Church of England: where are we seeing growth?

Saturday 31 January 2026 | 10:00 - 17:00

St John‘s Church, Waterloo

NEW PRICES: Church Times subscribers £50 for full day / £25 live-stream 
Students/ordinands £25
Other prices as noted - see ticket section for details. 

Introduction

In 2024, the Bible Society published its report on the Quiet Revival, described as a “revolutionary” challenge to public assumptions about the decline of Christianity in England and Wales. The Church was in a “period of rapid growth, driven by young adults and in particular young men”, the report said, and the trend of decline had been reversed. Matthew Arnold’s tide of faith was coming back in.

The study was published on the back of anecdotal accounts of a shift in the public conversation about Christianity, with public intellectuals talking candidly about their own conversion, and a decline in the contemptuous tone that characterised New Atheism.

But is the Church of England experiencing a share of this revival? Some have expressed concern that the Church will “miss out” on the opportunity presented. As we enter 2026, Church Times has brought together speakers from across the Church, representing different traditions, to share stories of local growth, with the aim of offering encouragement, practical advice, and a shared sense of mission.

While growth might not look like the dramatic revivals of earlier centuries, we know that every day people are coming to faith. Join us for a day learning about what is happening on the ground, in which we thank God for growth across our diverse Church.

Speakers 

Fr Duncan Hegan, Assistant Curate at St Alban the Martyr, Holborn, and member of Fidelium, a lay-led network of Anglo-Catholic young adults

The Revd Dr Christian Selvaratnam, St Hild’s Dean of Church Planting

The Revd Simon Butler, Rector of the North Hampshire Downs Benefice and a pioneer of the “Benefice of the future” programme

The Revd Dr Jonathan Kimber, Chaplain of King’s College, Cambridge

Mthr Arwen Folkes, Vicar of Eastbourne

Dr Belle Tindall-Riley, writer at the Centre for Cultural Witness

The Revd Dr David Goodhew, Vicar of St Barnabas Church, Middlesbrough, Visiting fellow of St John’s College, Durham University, and former director of the Centre for Church Growth Research

The Revd Dr Richard Tiplady, associate at Brendan Research, and author of What’s in our hands: Rural mission learning review

Dr Andrew Rumsey, The Bishop of Ramsbury

The Revd Peter Dale, curate at St Francis, Mackworth

The Revd Marcus Walker, Rector of St Bartholomew, Smithfield

Fr Stephen Langridge, parish priest at St Elizabeth of Portugal Catholic Church

Ken Eames, Senior Statistical Researcher, Church of England Data Services team

Hosted by Madeleine Davies, Church Times

Programme

9:30 Tea and coffee and Registration

10:00 Welcome from Madeleine Davies and Canon Giles Goddard, Vicar of St John’s, Waterloo

10:15 Springtime for the Church of England: where are we seeing growth?, The Revd Dr David Goodhew, Vicar of St Barnabas Church, Middlesbrough, Visiting fellow of St John’s College, Durham University. and former director of the Centre for Church Growth Research

11:00 Stories of parish growth: growing a sacramental church in a seaside town, Mthr Arwen Folkes, Vicar of Eastbourne

11:15 Ministerial leadership and making growth happen: programmes, predictions and participation Canon Dr Jonathan Kimber, Chaplain at Kings College, Cambridge

11:45 Tea and Coffee

12:00 Springtime in the countryside, Dr Richard Tiplady, author of What’s in our hands: Rural mission learning review in conversation with the Revd Simon Butler of the North Hampshire Downs benefice

12:30 Growth in a Roman Catholic parish, Fr Stephen Langridge, parish priest, St Elisabeth’s, Richmond

12:55 Lunch Please bring your own lunch or buy locally.

13:55 Stories of parish growth: growing a church-plant on a council estate, The Revd Peter Dale, Curate at St Francis, Mackworth

14:10 Routes of exploration: Who is spiritually seeking and what lies behind their curiosity? Dr Belle Tindall-Riley, writer at Seen and Unseen.

14:35 Save the parish; plant in the parish The Revd Marcus Walker, Rector of St Bartholomew, Smithfield, in conversation with Canon Dr Christian Selvaratnam, dean of church-planting at St Hild’s college

15:10 Tea and Coffee

15:30 Stories of parish growth: welcoming children in a renewed north London parish, the Revd Andy Coates, Vicar of Alexandra Park

15:45 Springtime for young people, Fr Duncan Hegan, curate of St Alban the Martyr, Holborn, and member of Fidelium, a network for young Anglo-Catholics

16:05 Q&A: What do the stats tell us?, Dr Ken Eames, Senior Statistical Researcher, Church of England Data Services team and Dr Rob Barward-Symmons, Senior Research and Impact Manager, Bible Society

16:30 Panel Q&A

17:00 Reflections for Springtime, Dr Andrew Rumsey, Bishop of Ramsbury

17:10 Finish

Tickets

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