A church says it’s facing a year-long wait to purchase a baptistry due to skyrocketing demand.

Christ Church Winchester won’t receive its new baptismal pool until March 2026, as staff report that supply in the U.K. has been outpaced by an unexpected surge in orders.

Rev. Simon Cansdale, vicar of Christ Church, told Premier Christian News the delay is a sign of a “quiet revival” happening across the country.

“We’re really seeing it,” he said. “This year, we’ve baptized 17 young adults. Their stories vary, but similar threads run through. Often, they’ve had quite a dramatic experience that brought them to church.

“One girl was at a low point and had a dream where Jesus reached out and hugged her. She didn’t know anything about faith but thought, ‘I’ve got to go to church.’ A month later, she was baptized.”

Rev. Cansdale said churches need two essential items to meet growing spiritual interest: a stack of Bibles and a baptistry.

“People are curious and hungry for spiritual answers,” he said. “I don’t know why this revival is happening now, but some of the patterns we’re seeing include people reaching emotional low points, dealing with increased anxiety, and seeking a sense of community.”

The team at Christ Church Winchester said they’ve been “gobsmacked” by the rising demand for baptismal pools.

Fortunately, the wider Christian community has stepped in to help. “In the meantime,” said Rev. Cansdale, “a neighboring church has very kindly let us use theirs.”