Although numbers do not mean a full return to pre-Covid levels, they represent a steady Sunday Mass attendance growth.
Newsroom (02/5/2025 Gaudium Press) According to the latest figures from the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales, the number of Catholics attending Sunday Mass in the United Kingdom has risen by 50,000 in just one year. Although still below pre-Covid levels, this increase marks a significant step forward in the recovery of Sunday Mass attendance.
A Steady Growth in Catholic Mass Attendance
In 2023, the number of Catholics attending Sunday Mass rose to 54,913, up from 503,308 in 2022. While this increase is notable, it still does not reach the numbers seen in 2019, when over 701,000 people attended Mass weekly. However, this rise offers hope that the Catholic community is gradually recovering post-pandemic.
The Challenges of Accurate Data Reporting
A spokesperson from the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales stated that the current statistics might not be entirely accurate. Some parishes may have failed to report their attendance numbers, leading to a slight undercount. Despite this, the trend is clear: there is a growing number of people returning to the Church or attending for the first time.
A “Quiet Hope” for the Future of the Church
Stephen Bullivant, a professor of theology and sociology of religion at St Mary’s University in London, expressed cautious optimism about these figures. He had initially believed that most Catholics who wanted to return to Church after Covid had already done so by 2022. However, the latest figures suggest that the Church may be seeing an influx of new members, with a growth rate exceeding the number of those leaving the faith. This shift, though gradual, is encouraging for the future of the Catholic Church in the UK.
Catholicism in the UK: A Small but Growing Presence
Catholics make up only about 10% of the population in the United Kingdom. Despite this, the numbers of practicing Catholics have steadily increased in recent years. In 2009, the number of practicing Catholics surpassed the number of Anglicans in the UK, a landmark moment for the faith. While Sunday Mass attendance has yet to fully return to pre-pandemic levels, the increase in participation over the last year shows signs of progress. The Catholic Church in the UK is on a path to recovery, and this upward trend in Mass attendance is a hopeful sign of the Church’s resilience.
Compiled by Donna Smolders
