Church Attendance Rises for First Time in 25 Years, New Study Finds
A new report from the Hartford Institute for Religion Research shows median in-person church attendance rose to 70 adults, up from a COVID-era low of 45. The study surveyed 7,453 congregations between September and December 2025. Researchers say the growth reflects adaptation, not a return to pre-pandemic norms.
American churches are seeing more people in the pews for the first time in a quarter century, according to a new report from the Hartford Institute for Religion Research.
The study, based on surveys of 7,453 congregations conducted between September and December 2025, found that median in-person attendance climbed to 70 adults. That is up from a COVID-era low of 45, though still well below the 137 recorded in 2000.
Researchers Alison Norton and Charissa Mikoski say the growth is not a revival in the traditional sense. They describe it as the result of "adaptation and experimentation" by congregations that found new ways to connect with their communities after years of disruption.
The study also found rising clergy morale, increased volunteerism, and a near-doubling of median congregation income, from $120,000 in 2020 to $205,000 in 2025. Researchers credit a boom in online giving for much of that financial growth.
Black Orthodox churches, including St. Moses the Black Orthodox Church in Pittsburgh, were among the congregations observed as part of the study.
The findings suggest that churches willing to change how they operate are finding new audiences, even as overall religious affiliation in the United States continues to decline.
