A new study shows that congregations have come out of the pandemic disruption, and while not a revival, there’s some cautious good news.
In new research recently released, the Hartford Institute for Religion Research, in collaboration with Faith Communities Today, found new stability in congregational life in the United States.
The report, “Signs of Rebound Amid Uneven Recovery: The Changing Congregational Landscape,” is part of the institute’s Exploring the Pandemic Impact on Congregations project. It is the most comprehensive study of congregations conducted since COVID-19, and the report showed “not a revival – it’s a recalibration,” said Allison Norton, Ph.D., co-investigator on the EPIC project.
“Congregations have been through an extraordinary period of disruption, and though it has taken a while, many have come out of it with greater clarity about who they are and what they’re called to do,” Norton said. “That’s showing up in the data in ways that are genuinely encouraging.”
The report is based on surveys of 7,453 congregations from 79 denominations and faith traditions that were conducted in the last part of 2025. Some of the key findings in the data:
Attendance increase: The median in-person worship attendance had grown to 70, up from the pre-pandemic 65. It’s the first positive gain in 25 years of tracking the data.
More volunteers: The percentage of congregants volunteering had returned to where it was before the pandemic, with 40% of congregants giving time regularly.
Congregational strength: Nearly 6 of 10 congregational leaders say their congregation is now stronger than it was before COVID-19.
Increased clergy well-being: The report showed increases for clergy, including physical, mental spiritual, relational, and financial measures.
Better finances: Median congregational income reached $205,000, which the report’s authors said was well above inflation-adjusted expectations.
The report’s authors were cautious about overstating any of the data; they noted that the gains were uneven.
For example, Mainline Protestant congregations saw steep declines in attendance, and smaller congregations continued to struggle. The authors also noted that much of the growth appears to be the result of internal reshuffling among churches, rather than to an expansion of religious participation overall.
Learn more about the study at: covidreligionresearch.org
