Average weekly attendance at Church of England services rose nearly 5% in 2023, marking the third consecutive year of growth. Children's attendance increased by almost 6%. Although total attendance remains below 2019 levels, the gap has significantly narrowed. Justin Welby praised the efforts of clergy and congregations, highlighting the rise in children's participation as particularly encouraging. The Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell, emphasised the positive impact of focusing on outreach, new Christian communities, and revitalising parishes. The full Statistics for Mission report will be released in the autumn.