Church attendance in Northern Ireland is set to increase this Christmas, with 57 per cent of adults planning to attend a church service or event, according to research commissioned by Tearfund.
The survey, conducted independently by Savanta among 998 adults, shows a notable rise from last year’s 50 per cent.
In line with ‘Quiet Revival’ trends, Gen Z are the largest generation to say they plan to attend church this Christmas (72%), followed by Millennials (62%), the Silent Generation (58%), Gen X (49%) and Baby Boomers (49%).
Key factors bringing people through the doors were tradition, spiritual meaning and community support.
Of those attending, 45 per cent say it is part of their Christmas tradition, a third (33 per cent) go for the atmosphere, and nearly a third (32 per cent) regard Christmas as a time for spiritual reflection.
Among non-Christians, 44 per cent say they leave church at Christmas feeling peaceful, while others report feelings of hope (21 per cent) or joy (19 per cent).
The role of churches as a community cornerstone has been noted; nearly half of Northern Irish adults (49 per cent) said they, or someone they know, has received support from a church at Christmas. Nearly one in ten (8 per cent) report using a Christian foodbank themselves, and almost a quarter (22 per cent) have benefitted from a free Christmas Day meal provided by a church - or know someone who has.
Chris Thompson, Tearfund’s Northern Ireland Director, said: “These figures underline something deeply significant: churches remain at the heart of community life at Christmas.
“People are turning to their local churches for spiritual connection and for practical help. From food banks to warm spaces, churches are stepping in where they are needed most.”