Thoughts from the Rectory

 for February 2026

Dear Friends

I hope that 2026 has started well for you.

The celebrations of Christmas and New Year are now behind
us and we look forward to spring, but I would like to share
something from December and offer an invitation.

In December, the five churches of the Glaven Valley Benefice welcomed nearly 2000 people of all ages through our doors. They were all services full of warmth, enthusiasm, and joy and it was wonderful to be a part of.

The enthusiasm for these services correlates with recent research and a subsequent report called ‘The Quiet Revival’ that was published for the Bible Society by the polling company YouGov in 2025. The report suggests that church attendance in England and Wales is beginning to grow and in some areas of the country has risen by 50% over the last six years. This growth is being led by younger adults who are looking for faith, community and values to live by. The report also demonstrated that the church is beginning to become more diverse, with more people becoming interested in reading the Bible, engaging in with prayer and giving to charity, both financially and practically.

The Quiet Revival’s co-author Dr Rob Barward-Symmons offered that one possible reason for church growth is that people are looking for meaning. ‘ With much of the population struggling with mental health, loneliness and a loss of meaning in life, church appears to be offering an answer. We found that churchgoers are more likely to report higher life satisfaction and a greater feeling of connection to their community. They are also less likely to report frequently feeling anxious or depressed.’

Of course, the Glaven Valley (like anywhere else in the country), is unique, with its own characteristics and demographics, but I saw something of this searching for meaning in so many of our Christmas services and in the conversations that followed them. We see this search for meaning with those who join us for Café Church on the third Sunday of the month in Cley and it forms a regular part of the conversations I have with people in our villages. We live in a world where meaning, identity, faith and trust are fragile and sometimes hard to find. I would therefore like to offer a simple invitation.

If you are wondering about meaning, purpose, identity or faith; if you are facing 2026 with a yearning for something more, something deeper, something foundational that will shape who you are and if you are looking to put your faith and trust in something that will not fail, why not come an find out more?

We have services every week and most of our local churches and the schedule is always published in the GVN. If you are new or returning to faith, have a family or want to engage in a more creative way – then why not join us at Café Church on the third Sunday of the month from 10:45am for coffee and croissants in Cley.

See you there,

Jonathan