A new report by Evangelical Alliance Wales highlights the important role of churches in supporting the homeless and those with mental health struggles, and the importance of political engagement.
The 2025 Faith in Wales Report, launched last month at a special event at the Senedd (Welsh Parliament) in the capital, Cardiff, provides a 17-year update on the original report published in 2008 examining the contribution of faith communities in Wales.
The report highlights three main pillars: social outreach, economic impact, and community resilience. These include the monetary value of social action provided by churches such as food banks and debt advice, the role of the church in tackling loneliness and mental health challenges in local communities, and updated statistics on church attendance and community engagement.
Rev Canon Tim Rowlands, head of Evangelical Alliance Wales, referred to the original 2008 report as “ground-breaking” in revealing the contribution of faith communities in Welsh society.
“The report provided statistical information regarding the impact that Welsh faith communities were having within our local communities, particularly in terms of the social outreach projects run, economic benefits and political engagement,” Rowlands wrote in the foreword to the new report.
He said the latest report intends to “bridge that gap” and to “develop a current understanding of the role that faith communities play in Welsh society, demonstrating the huge contribution they make, and the even greater impact they could have in the future.”
“This report is extremely encouraging for faith communities, demonstrating their important and positive contribution to the lives of so many people,” Rowlands added.
“I hope it will prove a helpful incentive toward further collaboration between faith communities and policymakers, while also providing information to assist faith communities in their planning and service delivery.”
The study finds that faith groups remain deeply embedded in local communities.
They provide crisis support, alleviate loneliness, offer inclusive spaces, and support wellbeing. Their reach often extends to those who might otherwise fall between the cracks, with 97 percent of faith communities offering some form of social action initiative.
Faith communities contribute at least £250 million ($337.61 million) annually to the Welsh economy through staff, volunteers, and the provision of premises. This represents a 49 percent increase (after accounting for inflation) since 2008 and excludes the value of tourism, which could add further significant value.
The importance of places of worship was also underlined in the report, which describes them as community hubs and the “heartbeat of local communities.” Many are also places of significant heritage and must be maintained to ensure community links with the past.
Another key aspect is the positive effect faith communities have on mental health. The report states that faith is strongly linked to better mental wellbeing and increased resilience in everyday life. Faith communities provide pastoral care, group activities, and environments of belonging—particularly valuable at a time when the NHS in Wales spends more than £1 billion ($1.35 billion) annually on mental health services.
Faith communities also support democracy and political engagement. Community leaders engage with political processes and participate in democratic matters such as consultations and election hustings.
The document makes several recommendations to policymakers. These include improving access to funding to help maintain buildings that often serve local communities beyond worship. Faith communities also have ideas for future projects but require financial support to realise those aspirations.
A further recommendation is stronger collaboration for wellbeing: there should be greater cooperation between faith groups and public services to maximise community-based care. Faith organisations can be—and already are—key allies in public wellbeing and social cohesion. The report also calls for strengthened unity and collaboration in interfaith and ecumenical activities, stating that cooperation across traditions promotes trust, mutual respect, and sustainable local development. It further recommends improved relationships between faith communities and policymakers to enhance community life.
The overview concludes that faith communities play a critically important role in towns, villages, and across the nation. Better government support and engagement with wider civil society will strengthen this role and help improve life in Wales for all.
The report also notes that at least 90 percent of churches are involved in at least one community project, providing relational care for the elderly and those struggling with mental health. Voluntary work by churchgoers saves taxpayers significant resources through active civic engagement. An increase in ethnic diversity within churches, particularly in urban centres such as Cardiff, Newport, and Swansea, was also recorded.
