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Flawed Survey Undermines 'Christian Revival' Claims
26 Mar
Summary
- Survey data for a report on church attendance was withdrawn due to fraudulent respondents.
- The Bible Society relied on flawed YouGov data claiming a rise in church attendance.
- Humanists UK stated there is no revival of Christianity in Britain, citing data issues.
A report suggesting a notable increase in church attendance across parts of the UK has been withdrawn. The Bible Society's 'Quiet Revival' report, published last year, cited YouGov data that indicated a resurgence in Christianity, especially among younger demographics. However, YouGov has since identified fraudulent respondents within its 2024 survey data.
YouGov's chief executive apologized for the flawed output and stated the polling firm is re-running the survey to obtain robust data. The original report had claimed church attendance had risen from 8% in 2018 to 12% in 2024, with a significant jump for 18 to 24-year-olds. The Bible Society expressed disappointment with YouGov for the error and the late discovery of quality control failures.
Conversely, Humanists UK welcomed the data withdrawal, asserting there is no actual revival of Christianity in Britain. Experts had previously cautioned about potential issues in opt-in online polls, such as bogus or overseas respondents. Separately, the Archbishop of Canterbury had referenced anecdotal and statistical evidence suggesting a return to churches in recent years.
