The Desecularisation of the City - London Church Growth

In this review of The Desecularisation of the City, the authors assemble a comprehensive academic portrait of London's congregations since 1980 and explain why this volume matters to students, historians and religious studies readers. The bottom line: if you want a disciplined, evidence-led account showing how London's churches grew and diversified rather than simply declined, this book is the clearest single-volume synthesis available. It is written by a team of scholars and draws out links between London and other major Western cities, making it useful as both local history and comparative urban religion research.

Key Features

• Long-term survey: Documents church presence in London from 1979 to the present, giving readers a multi-decade perspective on congregational change and continuity.
• Scholarly collaboration: Produced by a large interdisciplinary team, the book brings together historical, sociological and religious studies approaches to explain patterns of growth.
• Citywide focus: Examines diverse localities and neighbourhoods across London, so readers get both metropolitan-wide trends and local case studies.
• Ethnic and denominational breadth: Covers a range of denominations and ethnic communities, highlighting how diversity shaped congregational vitality.
• Comparative lens: Links London's experience to developments in other major Western cities, useful for comparative urban religion work.

Who It's For

The Desecularisation of the City is best for graduate students, academics in religious studies, urban historians and clergy interested in empirical accounts of congregational change. Researchers seeking documented trends and case studies of post-1980 London church life will find the volume directly relevant.

Readers looking for a devotional or pastoral handbook should look elsewhere, as the book is an academic survey rather than practical church guidance. General readers wanting a brief popular history may also find the material dense and geared to scholarly audiences.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Well-researched synthesis that foregrounds evidence of congregation growth rather than assuming decline.
• Interdisciplinary authorship gives balanced perspectives from history, sociology and religious studies.
• Detailed attention to localities, denominations and ethnic forms enriches understanding of urban religious life.

Cons

• The academic tone and depth of analysis make it less accessible for casual readers seeking a short, popular account.

Specifications

Title	The Desecularisation of the City
Series	Routledge Studies in Religion
Authors / Editors	David Goodhew, Anthony-Paul Cooper
Scope	Survey of London churches from 1979 to the present
Coverage	Localities, ethnicities and denominations across London
Approach	Interdisciplinary academic research and comparative urban analysis

Our Verdict

The Desecularisation of the City is a valuable academic resource for anyone studying urban religion or modern London church history; its documented finding that congregations grew and diversified offers a corrective to assumptions of urban decline and makes it good value for researchers seeking rigorous evidence and comparative perspective.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this book cover the whole of London?
Yes; it surveys congregational life across multiple localities in London while also drawing comparisons with other Western cities.

Is it suitable for non-academic readers?
Its academic tone and depth are aimed at scholars and students, so casual readers may find it dense.

Who are the main contributors?
The volume is produced by a team of scholars, with David Goodhew and Anthony-Paul Cooper named as lead editors.