Lausanne World Pulse – The Ethnicity of English Churchgoers

August 2008

By Peter Brierley
August 2008

The comparison with the national percentages shows that the proportion of Indian churchgoers is much less than the numbers in the country, reflecting the fact that many who come from Pakistan and Bangladesh will be Muslims, not Christians.

Black Churchgoers
One very striking statistic in the table is the percentage of black churchgoers (10.4% of all churchgoers); however, black people are only 3.8% of the population. That means that seventeen percent of black people attend church, three times the percentage of white people.

The largest church in the UK is the Nigerian-based Kingsway International Christian Centre at Hackney, led by Pastor Matthew Ashimolowo, with some twelve thousand people attending every Sunday. Three other especially large black congregations in London in 2005 were Ruach Ministries in Brixton (four thousand attendees), House of Praise in Woolwich (2,500 attendees), and Jesus House for All Nations in Brent (2,200 attendees). The wife of the Pastor Agu Irukwu of Jesus House died in May 2007. She was only in her early forties. Twelve thousand people came to her memorial service—such is the strength of the black Christian community.

It may also be seen in the table that while all the ethnic churches have seen growth, the black churches has been particularly strong, even if in percentage terms it has been surpassed by the Other Asians and Other Non-whites. That growth has been seen especially in Inner London where sixty-five percent of all Pentecostal churches (which include the black charismatic churches) are located. Such is their strength that over half (fifty-three percent) of all Pentecostal churchgoers attend a London church! It is therefore especially appropriate that Easter People’s move to become “Pentecost” should be launched in London on Pentecost Sunday 2008.

Why Do the Black Churches Grow?
Many have asked the reasons for this growth. Jonathan Oloyede, one of the senior pastors of Glory House, a multi-cultural church in East London, gave these reasons why Black Majority Churches (BMCs) grow in an article in the October 2005 issue of Christianity:

  • The church is the hub for community life.
  • Many black churches have a cosmopolitan outlook, not a parish mentality.
  • Black communities are very communal with a culture of visiting, socialising, and regular personal interaction.
  • Black churches are very evangelistic and outreach driven.
  • The principle of tithe-giving helps financial buoyancy and independence.
  • Bible-based sermons are relevant to the congregation.
  • Services are vibrant, musical, and worshipful.
  • Many black believers testify to experiencing healings and miracles.
  • Many BMCs have a home cell network, which facilitates strong pastoral care.
  • Sunday schools are usually a norm and part of weekly worship.
  • The dynamics of many BMCs facilitate lay leaders’ training.
  • Various departments and programmes allow large volunteer participation.
  • Prayer is the key focus in many BMCs.
  • BMCs lay good emphasis on business and career prospects.
  • BMCs have a culture of great respect and reverence for the clergy.

  • Many BMCs have youth clubs/activities that retain young people within the church community.

Perhaps if these factors were part of the essence of white churches, similar growth would be experienced.

Dr. Peter Brierley, a church consultant, is the Senior Lausanne Associate for Church Research. He attended Lausanne I in 1974 and has been involved with the Lausanne movement since 1984. He is former executive director of Christian Research, a UK charity which produces resource volumes like Religious Trends and the UK Christian Handbook. Brierley can be reached at [email protected].