As part of the New Churches Research Project, NCLS Research collected information on new churches in Australia. A 'new church' being defined as one started since 2011.
Some 428 new churches were identified. So where are they located and when did they start? And who is starting them?
This article provides a snapshot of ‘new churches’ which have started since 2011. The snapshot was taken from the New Churches Database on 12 April 2024 and contains information about the current status, locations and denominational affiliation of known new churches.
Australian denominational leaders and others were invited to update new church details via an online interface. Independent church plants and house churches could also register and contribute.
These 'new churches' could include new congregations, church plants, faith communities or gatherings. (It is noted that different movements use various labels for describing what a ‘new church’ is.)
Some 428 new churches were captured in the New Churches Database across Australia up to 12 April 2024.
It is worth noting that this is not a census of new churches. It is an incomplete report which is the best possible reference point available at this time.
Located in all states and territories
New churches have been started in all states and territories of Australia since 2011.
Of the churches reported, most new churches were in New South Wales (125 churches), followed by Queensland (86 churches), Victoria (78 churches) and Western Australia (57 churches).
|
Location of new churches
|
Number of new churches
|
%
|
|
New South Wales
|
125
|
29%
|
|
Victoria
|
78
|
18%
|
|
Queensland
|
86
|
20%
|
|
South Australia
|
25
|
6%
|
|
Western Australia
|
57
|
13%
|
|
Tasmania
|
11
|
3%
|
|
Northern Territory
|
1
|
0%
|
|
Australian Capital Territory
|
10
|
2%
|
|
Unknown
|
11
|
3%
|
|
(blank)
|
22
|
5%
|
|
Overseas
|
2
|
0.5%
|
|
Total
|
428
|
100%
|
Source: New Churches Database (entries up to 12 April 2024, n=428).
Peak for new churches
For the purposes of this project, new churches were defined as those started since 2011. Participants in the project recorded some 428 churches as being started since 2011. Of those, some 168 churches have begun in the last few years since 2021.
The reported start dates for new churches peaked between 2020 and 2023, accounting for 222 (60%) of the 370 new churches captured.
Who and how?
So who is starting these new churches and how are they being resourced and supported?
For more information on how new churches are being supported and resourced, read our article How are new churches supported and resourced?
More detailed information on who is reporting new churches, as well as sample Strategic Plans and Goals by denomination or movement, view the report: A Snapshot of New Churches in Australia: 2024
