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Rob Barward-Symmons

@robb-s.bsky.social

222 followers 388 following 77 posts

Senior Research and Impact Manager at Bible Society; Research Fellow with the Centre for the Study of Modern Christianity, Durham. Sociologist of Christianity. PhD explored youth work and young people in Evangelicalism.

Posts Replies Media

Rob Barward-Symmons @robb-s.bsky.social · 09/01/2026

Obviously fascinating by itself, but also adds evidence to this curious idea that something has shifted significantly specifically since (mid?) 2022. Second chart is from the YouGov belief in God tracker (18-24s)

Graph showing UK annual Bible sales. The chart is largely steady until around 2022, at which point it begins to increase rapidly. The 2024 figure is more than 2x that of 2020.

A chart from YouGov of their 'Brits' beliefs about God(s)', showing the 18-24 bracket. It shows that belief in God has increased rapidly since August 2022 among this demographic

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Rob Barward-Symmons @robb-s.bsky.social · 17/07/2025

After another brilliant @bsasocrel.bsky.social conference #SocRel25 and a manic few months I'm today on my first day of three months of shared parental leave. Can't wait. Should hopefully spend less time on social media...

A faceless baby in a pram holding an events badge with the label "Baby Quiet Revival"

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Rob Barward-Symmons @robb-s.bsky.social · 14/06/2025

Fascinating article about the shift towards Christianity across the West, particularly among young adults. And exciting to see the Quiet Revival trends replicated in the British Election Study! Something is shifting, and we - including scholars - need to be paying attention

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Rob Barward-Symmons @robb-s.bsky.social · 08/04/2025

But it's not just making a positive difference to individuals - churchgoers are then going out and making an impact across their communities. They are more likely to volunteer their time and money, and get involved in local community action efforts #QuietRevival

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Rob Barward-Symmons @robb-s.bsky.social · 08/04/2025

This is even more significant among younger churchgoers. For a generation struggling with hope, mental health and loneliness, and searching for meaning, healing and community, it looks like many across Gen Z are finding this in the Church #QuietRevival

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Rob Barward-Symmons @robb-s.bsky.social · 08/04/2025

What is the impact of all this? Well we've found that churchgoers are more likely to say they are happier, more hopeful, more connected to their local communities, and are less likely to frequently feel anxious or depressed #QuietRevival

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Rob Barward-Symmons @robb-s.bsky.social · 08/04/2025

There's something even bigger going on with this generation, however. Even beyond churchgoers we see a spiritual openness among Gen Z - with an overall rise in belief in God, 37% praying monthly, and 1/3 of non-churchgoers saying they would attend if invited. #QuietRevival

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Rob Barward-Symmons @robb-s.bsky.social · 08/04/2025

But it's not just young adults - it's young *men* in particular who are heading into churches. We see growth among both young women and men, but the assumption that the church is made up of older women is now clearly not the case. #QuietRevival

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Rob Barward-Symmons @robb-s.bsky.social · 08/04/2025

Even more surprising is where that rise is coming from. While we also see it in our oldest group, the major rise comes from 18-34 year olds - particularly 'Gen Z' - who appear to have radically rebuffed the assumption of terminal generational decline. #QuietRevival

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Rob Barward-Symmons @robb-s.bsky.social · 08/04/2025

Today is the launch of a ground-breaking piece of research I've co-authored with Rhiannon McAleer. Based on national surveys with @yougov.co.uk, 'The Quiet Revival' tells the astounding story that the number of adult churchgoers has RISEN by 50% since 2018 #BibleSociety #QuietRevival 🧵

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Rob Barward-Symmons @robb-s.bsky.social · 27/11/2024

Bizarrely after 15 years on there mine was two days ago in response to the madness about Reeves reading the FT

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Rob Barward-Symmons @robb-s.bsky.social · 26/11/2024

Settling in for the @theosthinktank.bsky.social annual lecture (/panel) asking 'Does the future have a church?'

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