European Christianity: What of the Future?

Finding the right image for the cover of a book is always challenging. For our volume on Christianity in Western and Northern Europe we are delighted that the cover can feature a striking painting by Swedish artist Bror Hjorth, taken from an altar triptych for Jukkaasjärvi church –a perfect fit for the book aesthetically.

Another contender was Kantor’s last supper, as above, which hangs in the house of a religious community in Belgium. This too could have been a very fitting image for the book. The first thing you might notice about this last supper is that no one is there; everyone appears to have left. But when you take a second look you find that on the table are many indications of their presence.

So it is, the book suggests, with Christianity in Europe. At first sight it might look as if it is disappearing. Numbers of church members, numbers of baptisms, numbers of church marriages – all are declining dramatically. Were current trends to continue, Christianity would cease to exist, at least in the form with which we are familiar.

The second look, however, reveals a different story. Yes, some traditional expressions of Christianity are declining or even disappearing. But Christianity as a presence and influence in European life has far from disappeared. For one thing, it has been so deeply absorbed into the life and culture of the continent that it still shapes society in many ways. For another, there are new expressions of Christian faith that are full of vitality.

Among them, and a special focus of the book, are immigrants from other parts of the world who bring their faith with them. European Christianity today is more diverse racially and ethnically than it has ever been. Immigrant Christian communities are bringing new vitality – what will this mean for the future? This is one of the questions we hope to explore at the online launch event for the new book at 1200 CET on Tuesday 4 June. Everyone is welcome to attend by registering at  Christianity in Western and Northern Europe: Registration