In an age of noise and distraction, silence could be the key to revitalizing struggling churches, according to Christian meditation teacher Chris Whittington.
Speaking to Premier Christian News, Whittington said silent forms of prayer “give us access to the depth dimension of life and faith” at a time when church attendance “is steadily declining.”
He explained: “After COVID it might have picked up a little bit, but nothing to really affect the general decline. Yet people’s hunger for spirituality, for the depth of life and faith, is undeniable.”
Whittington, founder of the School of Contemplative Life, said many people—especially younger generations—are turning to silence and spirituality.
“They look to other religions or outside organized faiths,” he said. “Many are unaware that Jesus taught this way of prayer: go into your inner room, don’t use many words. The most emphasized aspect of his prayer life was silence—and it’s barely known today, particularly in the West.”
The trend aligns with a recent study by the Institute for the Impact of Faith in Life (IIFL), which found that young adults in Britain are increasingly turning to faith as a personal pathway to emotional well-being rather than inherited tradition.
The report, The Next Generation of Faith: Journeys, Meaning and Wellbeing, found that four in ten 18–34-year-olds who embraced or changed their faith did so seeking “personal transformation or healing,” with more than one in four citing mental health as a key motivator.
Whittington added that silence is not about replacing worship or music but complementing them: “In any healthy relationship there’s a time to speak, and a time to be quiet—to listen and receive the loving gaze of the one you’re with.”
He said churches risk missing a huge opportunity to reconnect with spiritual seekers. “People aren’t losing their longing for God,” he said. “They’ll just look elsewhere if they can’t find it in church.”
Free online meditation sessions are hosted twice weekly by the School of Contemplative Life, and Whittington’s new book, The Missing Peace, explores the Christian contemplative tradition further.