New research finds first rise in U.S. congregation attendance in 25 years, but recovery remains uneven 

HARTFORD, April 24, 2026 — For the first time in 25 years, median in-person worship attendance at U.S. congregations has increased, according to new research from the Exploring the Pandemic Impact on Congregations (EPIC) project at the Hartford Institute for Religion Research.

The report draws on surveys of 7,453 congregations conducted between September and December 2025 as part of the Faith Communities Today research collaborative, which has tracked congregational life since 2000. It represents the most comprehensive look yet at how American faith communities have fared in the years following the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Across multiple indicators, the data shows a meaningful, if uneven, rebound. Median weekly attendance rose for the first time in 25 years since the Faith Communities Today project began tracking the figure to 70 and surpassed the pre-pandemic level of 65. Six in ten congregations (58%) report having stronger vitality and strength compared to before the pandemic. Congregational income climbed to a median of $205,000, outpacing inflation. Volunteer engagement has returned to pre-pandemic levels, programming has largely been restored, optimism is up, and clergy are reporting improved well-being across physical, mental, spiritual, relational and financial dimensions.  

“What we’re seeing is not a revival — it’s a recalibration,” said Dr. Allison Norton, 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. That’s showing up in the data in ways that are genuinely encouraging.” 

At the same time, the report cautions against overstating the findings. Nearly half of congregations continue to experience attendance decline, and the gap between larger, growing congregations and smaller, struggling ones has widened.  

Members of the EPIC research team presented findings at the Religion News Association annual conference in Atlanta alongside the interpretive comments of the Revs. Joel Moody and Miluska Silencio.  

About the EPIC project 

The Exploring the Pandemic Impact on Congregations project is a five-year, $5 million initiative funded by Lilly Endowment Inc. and led by the Hartford Institute for Religion Research at Hartford International University for Religion and Peace. The project draws on the Faith Communities Today research collaborative, which has surveyed U.S. congregations since 2000. The report and further information are available at covidreligionresearch.org.