UK Bible Sales Soar as Young People Seek Spirituality Amid Global Uncertainty
Christian bookstores are witnessing a surge in demand for Bibles and other religious texts, with sales reaching a record high of £6.3 million in the UK last year. This upward trend is attributed to younger generations seeking spirituality and meaning amidst global uncertainty.
Young people, typically without a Christian background or parental influence, are increasingly turning to the Bible as a source of guidance and understanding. According to Aude Pasquier, retail sales director at Church House bookshop near Westminster Abbey, "We've seen an increase in people coming to the Bible from scratch... They have no Christian background whatsoever." These individuals are seeking spirituality and a deeper connection with the world around them.
Steve Barnet, owner of St Andrews bookshop in Buckinghamshire, believes that online personalities like Jordan Peterson have played a significant role in sparking this interest. While not a Christian himself, Peterson's influence has led many young people on a spiritual journey, some of which ends at church or other religious institutions.
The research conducted by Christian publisher SPCK Group reveals that the Bible is one of the fastest-growing non-fiction genres, with sales increasing by 11% in 2025. This growth correlates with rising church attendance figures in England and Wales, where the number of people attending church rose by 50% between 2018 and 2024.
Young men are leading this charge, with a significant increase in monthly church attendance among 18- to 24-year-olds from 16% in 2024 to 4% in 2018. Sam Richardson, CEO of SPCK Group, attributes this shift to Christianity becoming a "counter-cultural" force for younger generations who have grown up in more secular environments.
The surge in Bible sales is seen as part of a broader trend towards spirituality and meaning-making amidst global uncertainty. As Richardson notes, the traditional atheist narrative has given way to a more open attitude towards exploring faith. Social media platforms have also played a significant role in making Christianity more accessible and visible to young people.
However, concerns about Christian nationalism have emerged, with far-right figures co-opting the faith for political gain. Leading figures in the Church of England have denounced this trend, emphasizing that genuine spiritual growth cannot be reduced to mere politics. Richardson acknowledges that while Christian nationalism may be a factor, it is likely overplayed as a contributor to the increase in Bible sales, which has been sustained for several years.
As the world grapples with global challenges and uncertainty, it remains to be seen whether this trend will continue, or if it will ultimately lead to a more nuanced understanding of faith and spirituality among young people.
Christian bookstores are witnessing a surge in demand for Bibles and other religious texts, with sales reaching a record high of £6.3 million in the UK last year. This upward trend is attributed to younger generations seeking spirituality and meaning amidst global uncertainty.
Young people, typically without a Christian background or parental influence, are increasingly turning to the Bible as a source of guidance and understanding. According to Aude Pasquier, retail sales director at Church House bookshop near Westminster Abbey, "We've seen an increase in people coming to the Bible from scratch... They have no Christian background whatsoever." These individuals are seeking spirituality and a deeper connection with the world around them.
Steve Barnet, owner of St Andrews bookshop in Buckinghamshire, believes that online personalities like Jordan Peterson have played a significant role in sparking this interest. While not a Christian himself, Peterson's influence has led many young people on a spiritual journey, some of which ends at church or other religious institutions.
The research conducted by Christian publisher SPCK Group reveals that the Bible is one of the fastest-growing non-fiction genres, with sales increasing by 11% in 2025. This growth correlates with rising church attendance figures in England and Wales, where the number of people attending church rose by 50% between 2018 and 2024.
Young men are leading this charge, with a significant increase in monthly church attendance among 18- to 24-year-olds from 16% in 2024 to 4% in 2018. Sam Richardson, CEO of SPCK Group, attributes this shift to Christianity becoming a "counter-cultural" force for younger generations who have grown up in more secular environments.
The surge in Bible sales is seen as part of a broader trend towards spirituality and meaning-making amidst global uncertainty. As Richardson notes, the traditional atheist narrative has given way to a more open attitude towards exploring faith. Social media platforms have also played a significant role in making Christianity more accessible and visible to young people.
However, concerns about Christian nationalism have emerged, with far-right figures co-opting the faith for political gain. Leading figures in the Church of England have denounced this trend, emphasizing that genuine spiritual growth cannot be reduced to mere politics. Richardson acknowledges that while Christian nationalism may be a factor, it is likely overplayed as a contributor to the increase in Bible sales, which has been sustained for several years.
As the world grapples with global challenges and uncertainty, it remains to be seen whether this trend will continue, or if it will ultimately lead to a more nuanced understanding of faith and spirituality among young people.
I feel like I was totally late on this one. So yeah, I think the Bible sales surge is pretty interesting. I mean, I've seen a lot of young people searching for meaning online, but it's weird to see them turning to scripture as a source of guidance. Has anyone else noticed that social media influencers are kinda pushing Christianity in a super subtle way? Like, they're not explicitly proselytizing, but their content is still kinda... faith-inspired 
. I think it's no surprise that they're turning to the Bible for guidance, considering everything we're facing today - climate change, politics, social unrest... It's like people are searching for some sense of control or meaning in all this chaos 
.
. I mean, it's not about proselytizing or converting; it's just people looking for a way to make sense of their lives and find comfort in difficult times 
. And yeah, social media has definitely played a role in making faith more accessible and visible to young people 
.
. While it's true that some far-right figures are co-opting Christianity for their own agendas, I don't think that's representative of the broader trend 
. It's all about genuine spiritual growth and seeking a deeper connection with others, rather than just politics or identity 
.
Young folks are seeking something more than just tech and socials, they want meaning & purpose 
. Online faves like Jordan Peterson have opened doors for them to explore faith, but it's all good if people find their own path 
. Christian nationalism is a thing, yeah... let's just say it's not everyone's cup of tea 
️. More than that, I think this trend shows the power of spirituality in uncertain times 
. It's like, we need each other more than ever, and faith can be a powerful way to connect 
. Like seriously tho, I think this whole Christian nationalism thing needs to be called out for what it is - a bunch of people using spirituality as an excuse to spout their right-wing ideologies. It's not how the faith was meant to be used and it's kinda sketchy.
. Maybe it's about findin' comfort in somethin bigger than urself? 
. Christian nationalism's got ppl worried tho 
, so let's hope it stays true to the heart & not gets hijacked by politics 
. Either way, its dope 2 see ppl from all walks of life comin together 4 a common purpose 
. but at the same time, i feel like theres still this underlying concern about christian nationalism creeping into the mix 
️ It's all about finding what resonates with you, right?
Just kidding (kind of). Seriously though, it's kinda cool to see young people exploring their spirituality. Maybe it's not about the specific brand of Christianity or faith, but more about finding meaning and purpose in an uncertain world. I'm all for that 
. But let's keep things nuanced, folks. We don't want Christian nationalism taking over our airwaves 
. Still, as long as people are seeking answers and growing their own way, I'm down to support it 
One minute you're not even thinking about religion, next you're devouring Bibles like they're the answer to all of life's problems. And it's not just about Christianity either - people are exploring other faiths too, which is cool. But at the same time, I'm a bit concerned that this surge in interest might be getting hijacked by far-right stuff 
also, steve barnet sayin that jordan peterson had somethin 2 do w/ this phenomenon makes me wanna scream, lol. like, cant we just talk about the issues without makin it all religious? 
. We don't want people using faith as a way to divide us, you feel? 
It's like, we're all just trying to find meaning in this messed up place, right? And if the Bible has been around for a hot sec and still hasn't fallen off its throne, maybe it's time we gave it another shot? 
.
... maybe that's a good thing? 
! Maybe Jordan Peterson helped spark some curiosity?