Since the onset of the coronavirus lockdown, figures show more and more people are tuning in to online Christian services

Major Mark Sawyer who leads Norwich Citadel church says: “Our online services are attracting thousands, it’s just incredible.

“I think any crisis brings around a heightened kind of awareness of the bigger things of life”.

Thousands of churches of varying denominations have also been holding online services. The Church of England along with her online services also broadcasts through the Time To Pray app, a twice-daily podcast and a dial-up worship line called Daily Hope.

The first virtual service, led by the Archbishop of Canterbury in Lambeth Palace crypt chapel, was on Mothering Sunday and is estimated to have been seen or heard by around five million people via Facebook and BBC radio.

That compares with an average of 871,000 people attending services and acts of worship each week in 2018, the latest figures that are available.

Meanwhile, a survey by Christian charity Tearfund also projects a quarter of people living in the UK have tuned in to a religious service since restrictions began on March 23

HSL says:

These incredible figures show that deep inside when the chips are down, people know they need God. This is why it is important- more so, now- that the church keeps standing and being the beacon of light it has been called to be.