The National Churches Survey: Your voice matters

The National Churches Survey gives a voice to the people whose dedicated service cares for the country’s 38,500 churches and presents an opportunity to celebrate the heritage and role of church buildings, bringing them to national attention.

At a time when their future is in jeopardy, this nationwide study of Christian places of worship in the UK will reveal the status of church buildings, showing how they are maintained, funded and the support they provide for local communities.

If you work or volunteer for a church, please take part in the survey to help us make a difference for your building and churches across the UK.

You can also help us by spreading the word or encouraging others to complete the survey.

Why take part in the survey? 

The National Churches Survey will help the UK’s politicians, press, and public to understand more about the UK’s brilliant churches, chapels, cathedrals and meeting houses. It will also enable research highlighting their importance to society 

We speak up for churches and knowing more about how they are managed and the support that they provide for local people will help us to campaign for the future of these buildings. 

It is timely, given the changes to the Listed Places of Worship Grants Scheme and will provide valuable data to help inform the sector’s response to the Government’s forthcoming three-year spending review.  

We want to hear from you. 

How will the results be used?

The 2025 survey provides an opportunity to build an evidence base, by listening to the voices of those who care for churches on a daily basis. It will help journalists, politicians and decision-makers to better understand church buildings, challenging misconceptions, and enabling better support for those who keep them open and in good repair.  

It will also bring greater attention to the issues that churches face and the amazing things that they do. For example, by enabling a re-evaluation of the influential The House of Good report, which in 2021 found that the economic and social impact of churches was £55 Billion a year.   

The results, based on reliable statistical analysis, will produce a landmark measure of the state of church buildings and activities that take place within them. It will enable a comparison between a similar study undertaken in 2010, allowing for an assessment of how church buildings have changed over the last 15 years and provide a guide to how they can be helped in future.  

How can you help? 

• If you represent a Christian place of worship, please fill in the survey.  
• If you are involved in a church as a congregant or by taking part in non-worship activities, please encourage those responsible for the building to complete the survey.  
• If you are not directly involved with a specific church but know people who are, please encourage them to fill in the survey or spread the word about it. 
• You can also help us by publicising the survey online. You can share this webpage on social media or repost our social media posts about it.