Leading academics have begun a wide-ranging study into the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on UK Christians.

Professor Francis Davis of the University of Birmingham is working with Professor Leslie Francis of the University of Warwick  and Professor Andrew Village of York St John University to do a survey of UK Christian responses to the crisis and its potential impact.

It is intended to capture Christian experience and help it be understood it better.

The anonymous questionnaire asks about experience and reaction to the outbreak, as well as opinions on how the church locally and nationally has responded. Meanwhile, new research in Ireland has found that the Covid-19 pandemic has led to a surge in faith.

Queen’s University Belfast surveyed faith leaders on behalf of the Irish Council of Churches.

Dr Gladys Ganiel, from the school of social sciences, said faith leaders described an increase in religious practice that was related to online worship and services.

Researchers found “surprising” numbers of people tuning in for worship services and other events. Many people who would not normally go into a church building are accessing online services.

“Moving faith online has created new opportunities for religious practice. In some cases, lay volunteers have assisted faith leaders in moving faith online. This is an opportunity to increase and enhance lay involvement in many aspects of ministry and should be encouraged,” Dr Ganiel said.

“Religious practice will continue to feature a mixture of online and in-person elements. Faith communities should invest in training and resources for faith leaders and laity to develop blended online and offline ministries.”

Before the pandemic, 44% of faith communities did not provide online worship opportunities. Now just 13% of faith communities still fail to provide these opportunities.

Seven in ten of faith leaders agreed that they would retain aspects of their online ministries when restrictions on public gatherings are lifted.

More than seven in ten faith communities from the largest denominations – Catholic Church of Ireland, Presbyterian and Methodist – are also providing social services to the wider community.