Make Christianity cool again: Why Gen Z is flocking to church

It’s 10am on Sunday, and people are already starting to filter through the doors of Harbour Church. Sun streams through the windows – there’s an air of anticipation as congregation members greet each other and catch up on the week just gone. Soon, the room is filling up, the sound of gentle chatter swelling as the throng grows and people take their seats. The five-piece worship band strikes up; the crowd gets to its feet; the air vibrates as more than a hundred voices sing praises to God.

There’s no special occasion to pin the numbers on – it’s not Christmas or Easter on this particular Sunday, nor is there a wedding dress, christening gown or coffin in sight. It’s just a regular, run-of-the-mill service at this church in Folkestone, Kent.