Pentecostal Christians have overtaken Catholics to become the biggest
group of regular churchgoers in London, a new survey has revealed.Immigrants, particularly from Africa, are believed to be behind a 50 per cent increase in the number of people attending Sunday services at Pentecostal churches since 2005.
This compares to a rise of just one per cent in Catholic worshippers, and a six per cent decline in Anglican churchgoers, over the same period, according to The London Churches Census - which recorded congregation sizes on a single Sunday in October last year.
The study showed Pentecostal churches in the capital attracted nearly 230,000 Sunday worshippers last year compared to 198,300 attending Catholic Masses.
Pentecostal churchgoers now make up 32 per cent of Sunday worshippers in London, compared to 27 per cent for Catholics and 12 per cent attending Anglican churches according to the census.