A growing number of young army recruits are exploring Christianity, according to new figures gathered by the Royal Army Chaplains’ Department (RACD) and shared with British Forces Broadcasting Service (BFBS).

The data shows that around a fifth of new recruits at the Army Foundation College in Harrogate attend Sunday services during their initial six-week training, with an increasing interest in learning about Christianity among young soldiers at the Infantry Training Centre in Catterick.

Baptisms among recruits increased by 37% between 2024 and 2025 at the Army Training Centre Pirbright. Eleven young officers were also baptised in a single month last year at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.

Chaplains say many younger soldiers are looking for a form of spirituality and direction in an increasingly volatile world.

In 2025, a report by the Bible Society said there was a ‘quiet revival’ after a surge in UK church attendance, specifically among Gen Z and young men. The claims were retracted earlier this year after concerns the data had been unreliable.

However, retired British Army Major General Tim Cross who’s a regular contributor to Premier Christian News told BFBS: “We’ve got a generation coming through now who are finding themselves feeling quite hopeless. They are finding themselves thinking, ‘what is this all about?’

“The quiet revival that’s being talked about, I think, is a reality and we’re seeing evidence of that.”