Time to Tune In: Christian Media Urged to Engage More with Newer Churches

In a recent call to action, UK media organisations have been urged to broaden their coverage of Christianity by including newer and growing denominations—particularly Black Majority Churches and migrant-led congregations that are often overlooked by traditional religious reporting.

This comes following a series of discussions held at Lambeth Palace, where faith leaders, broadcasters, and academics gathered to explore how the media could better reflect the full diversity of the Christian faith in Britain today.

Why It Matters

Britain’s Christian landscape has shifted. While historic denominations like the Church of England and the Methodist Church continue to play vital roles, a growing number of Christians in the UK now belong to independent, Pentecostal, and immigrant-founded churches.

Many of these congregations are vibrant, community-driven, and making a real impact in cities across the country—yet they rarely receive meaningful coverage in national news or mainstream media. As a result, the public understanding of Christianity remains incomplete and, at times, misleading.

A Wake-Up Call for Broadcasters

Dr. Pete Phillips of Durham University shared a study that highlighted this issue: more than 60 per cent of media references to Christianity were limited to traditional institutions, despite the fact that newer denominations are growing fastest, especially among younger generations and ethnic minorities.

“These churches are doing incredible work—feeding the poor, mentoring youth, praying fervently—but their stories aren’t being told,” one participant noted. “We need a wider lens.”

BBC’s Head of Religion & Ethics, Daisy Scalchi, acknowledged the challenge and expressed a desire to do better. “We’re listening,” she said. “And we recognise that there’s more to represent.”

The Church Is Changing—Let’s Celebrate That

This moment calls for reflection and response. The Church in the UK is not dying—it’s changing. God is moving through worship styles that are unfamiliar to some, in languages that weren’t always heard in British pews, and through leaders who didn’t come through traditional seminaries.

At Daily Bread, we celebrate the full body of Christ. From Anglican cathedrals to storefront Pentecostal fellowships, we believe that every expression of sincere Christian faith has something to offer the world—and deserves to be seen and heard.

How You Can Help

• Pray for unity among churches of all backgrounds and for the media to reflect the richness of God’s Church.

• Support Christian media outlets that cover a wide range of denominations and voices.

• Share stories from different Christian traditions with your community to help broaden understanding.

• Speak up when you see one-sided portrayals of Christianity in the news.

🕊️ Let’s be a generation that sees the whole Church—not just part of it.

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