“COMMITTED Christians” are generous givers, donating an average of £326 per month — equating to ten per cent of their income and four times the the UK monthly giving average, the Stewardship’s Generosity Report for 2026, published on Thursday, has found. Younger “committed Christians” are the most generous of all, it says.
Now in its third year, the survey explores Christian giving in the UK, looking at the impact of faith on generosity, and the factors influencing giving behaviour. The 6004 people surveyed online last July are divided into four groups, of whom 1356 “committed Christians” both attend church and read the Bible at least once a week. The largest group (3272) are described as “cultural Christians”, who identify as Christians but attend church less than once a month.
The research found that the “committed Christians” in the 18-34 age bracket gave the highest proportion of their income, at 11 per cent. The average monthly giving for all the Christians had decreased slightly since last year, standing at £116. Of that sum, £42 went to churches, £30 to Christian charities, £19 to Christian workers, and £25 to secular charities. The national monthly giving average is £72.
Stewardship suggests that if all Christians followed the biblical principle of tithing ten per cent of their income, average giving would more than double, to £245, a “giving gap” that, it hopes, the advice will help to close.
Fewer Christians were giving in response to appeals, the survey found: a decline of 11 per cent in those giving to Christian charities as part of an urgent appeal, fund-raiser, or event. The charity suggested that this reflected a broader attitudinal change: “Those who do give one-off gifts are increasingly giving ‘on their own terms’, choosing when and where to give rather than responding to prompts to give.”
Stewardship, a charity whose origins lie the Open Brethren movement, is once again running its “40acts” campaign this Lent. Last year, 50,000 people spread kindness in their communities “through moments of radical generosity”, it says. The challenge focuses more on giving than giving up. From Ash Wednesday to Maundy Thursday, followers will receive a daily email with a reflection and challenge. The reflections will be written by a range of contributors from Christian charities.
