In a surprising cultural shift, sales of the Bible in the United Kingdom have reached a historic peak. New industry data reveals a dramatic resurgence in interest for the religious text, strongly correlated with a notable increase in church attendance across England and Wales.
A Dramatic Surge in Sales and Attendance
According to research conducted by the Christian publisher SPCK Group, sales of Bibles in the UK hit a record £6.3 million in 2025. This figure represents a staggering 134% increase since 2019, marking the highest level since records began. The analysis, which used data from Nielsen BookScan, shows the religion genre as one of the fastest-growing in nonfiction, with sales up 11% in 2025.
This commercial revival mirrors a broader trend in religious practice. A separate report from the Bible Society indicated that church attendance in England and Wales has grown by 50% since 2018. The most significant demographic shift is among young adults: monthly church attendance among 18- to 24-year-olds jumped from just 4% in 2018 to 16% in 2024.
The New Seekers: Youth, Social Media, and a Search for Meaning
Booksellers and church officials report that a new, younger audience with little prior religious background is driving this trend. Aude Pasquier, retail sales director at Westminster Abbey's Church House bookshop, observes a distinct change in her clientele. "We’ve seen an increase in people coming to the Bible from scratch," she said. "It’s definitely younger people who are seeking some sort of spirituality – they want to understand the world and themselves better."
Steve Barnet, owner of St Andrews bookshop in Buckinghamshire, notes that for many, the journey begins online. He points to influencers like the conservative Canadian commentator Jordan Peterson as a starting point for a spiritual exploration that often leads to religious texts. "Through him, a lot of people are going on a spiritual journey. Some are ending up in church," Barnet explained, adding that he has seen a "surprising" number of young men in his shop.
Sam Richardson, CEO of SPCK Group, frames this shift as a "counter-cultural" movement. He suggests that for a generation raised in secular environments, exploring faith has become the new rebellion. "The rebellious thing to do was to be an atheist... Now, I think things are reversed. For the next generation it’s more interesting to be a Christian," Richardson stated. He cites global uncertainties—from the aftermath of the pandemic and wars to the rise of AI and a mental health crisis—as catalysts for this re-engagement with questions of meaning.
Context and Cautions: A Trend Beyond Politics
The phenomenon is not confined to Britain. Bible sales in the United States also reached a 21-year high in 2025. In the UK, the trend has emerged alongside a political discourse that sometimes leverages Christian symbolism, exemplified by far-right figure Tommy Robinson's appearance at a carol service beneath a "Jesus saves" banner. However, leading Church of England figures have denounced the co-opting of faith for exclusionary politics.
Richardson argues that the rise in Bible sales and church attendance predates the recent focus on Christian nationalism. "It has probably been overplayed as a factor," he said. "This increase in Bible sales has been sustained for six or seven years since 2019." The bestselling Bible translation in the UK last year was the English Standard Version published by Crossway.
The consensus among those studying the trend is that a genuine, grassroots search for spirituality and community is underway, significantly facilitated by social media's ability to make personal faith journeys visible and accessible. This represents a profound change in the UK's religious landscape, suggesting a renewed appetite for spiritual exploration among its youngest adults.
