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Chinese Church is Fastest-Growing Church in Britain

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent

(Worthy News) – A new study sponsored by the British and Foreign Bible Society shows that the Chinese Church in the United Kingdom grew by an average of nearly 29% between 2021-2023, making it the fastest-growing church in Britain, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports.

The study was conducted for the London School of Theology after some 200,000 Hong Kong immigrants arrived in the UK between 2021-2023 following the 2019 pro-democracy protests against oppression by the Chinese Communist Party which rules China, ICC reports. The study aimed to examine how the Chinese in the UK engage with the Bible.

“The British Chinese community is at a unique moment in its history. It is experiencing a huge influx of immigration from Hong Kong, with an estimated 150,000 to 200,000 British National Overseas visa holders expected to settle in the UK between 2021 and 2023,” the report reads.

“Many of these new arrivals are Christians and are impacting the Chinese Church in this country. This cultural moment provided the impetus for the Bible and the Chinese Community in Britain (BCCB) project, an initiative of the British and Foreign Bible Society partnered with London School of Theology,” the report says.

In a statement about the report findings, researcher Yinxuan Huang, a sociologist of religions who led the study, said: “This is an exciting time for the Chinese Church in Britain. It is seeing a time of incredible growth, which is also a missional opportunity as others from within the Chinese community are drawn to the church. It is also a time when local, English-speaking congregations can welcome people from Hong Kong to their services. There is a real opportunity for growth, but also for learning from each other.”