Research markers from the previous year (2025) suggest that the “tide has turned” in numbers of people attending church, says a missiologist for the U.K. Evangelical Alliance (EA).
In a “Missional Trends 2026” article, Phil Knox, Evangelism and missiology senior specialist for the national EA, shared five key missional expectations for churches to anticipate in the year ahead. These include more spiritually open people, unexplained spiritual experiences and events, gospel opportunities, deeper engagement with the Bible and challenges for discipleship.
“2025 saw a seismic shift for the church in the U.K.,” wrote Knox. “More people are increasingly open to Jesus and are actively exploring faith. More people are being baptised. Churches are growing.
“In the last 100 years, the number of people attending church in the U.K. have been in steady decline. But in 2025, several pieces of research have offered marker points to indicate that the tide has turned.”
Knox and colleagues looked at research studies, dialogued with EA members and observed the missional landscape to specify the anticipated trends.
“Look out for the spiritually open: 2026 will be the most spiritually open year in living memory,” wrote Knox. “Atheism will continue its decline. Belief is back. The evangelical church will grow. But the rising tide will cause seekers to turn not only to all forms of Christianity, but to other religions, paganism and the occult. WitchTok may be as popular as Alpha.”
Unexplained spiritual experiences, dreams and events are also anticipated for the New Year.
“In the last year, we have heard countless examples of this, previously rarely cited as a pathway to faith,” said Knox. He referred to data saying 28% of new adult Christians explored the Christian faith after a prompt from a spiritual experience.
“Expect people to turn up to your church who are asking, ‘What was that?!’” he advised EA members.
Knox also encouraged evangelicals to look out for opportunities to share the gospel in the year ahead. He gave the example of the relationship between churches and foodbanks for those struggling to afford food and personal goods.
“2026 will see the church needing to better join the dots between compassion ministry and faith sharing. In 2026, foodbank use will sadly but predictably increase as inflation and the cost of living hardship continues. But it’s worth remembering [that] almost every foodbank in the U.K. is connected to a church. However, just a fraction of service users will be invited to take the next step on the journey of faith. For those who are, many will become Christians.”
74% of all parents with children under the age of five have attended a church activity in the past 12 months, according to the missiologist.
“Churches that join the dots between these ministries and faith sharing will grow rapidly,” he added.
Knox also advised EA members to look out for “booming Bible engagement” with anticipation that 2026 will see Bible sales “continue to soar with seekers turning up to church having done their theological research.”
“Bible sales have increased by 87% in recent years and the UK’s bestsellers will grow in popularity,” he added. “In a ‘fake news’, ‘post-truth’ world, younger generations are particularly drawn to good news that is true, profound and beautiful. Churches that keep the substance the same but relate relevantly to culture will flourish. Expect new Christians to cite reading the Bible as pivotal in their journey of exploration and decision moment.”
Lastly, the missiologist advised evangelicals to be aware of discipleship questions and challenges. He anticipated that the year ahead will see more people come to faith through new pathways. For that reason, he said that good answers about what’s next in their discipleship journey will be essential.
“When people come to faith, research tells us their greatest needs are in helping to establish spiritual disciplines and find new community,” said Knox.
“Many new believers will leave church because they have not been nurtured or built meaningful relationships. In 2026, newcomers to church will cause leaders to invest time in early spiritual formation and empower spiritual fathers and mothers.”
