Royal Marine recruits are increasingly turning to Christianity, with some using the water tank on their assault course for baptisms, The Mail on Sunday can reveal. Commando trainees at the Lympstone training centre in Devon are now regularly attending Sunday services, with church attendance rising rapidly over the past 18 months and often exceeding the on-site chapel's 150-person capacity.
At least 26 recruits underwent full immersion baptisms earlier this year in the Regain Tank, a 4ft-deep tank with ropes suspended above that candidates must traverse during training. The trend appears driven by young men seeking meaning and direction rather than fears of deployment or war with Russia, according to recent studies by the Bible Society.
Details emerged in an article titled 'The Quiet Revival' for the Royal Marine publication Globe And Laurel. Royal Naval chaplain Reverend A Gascoyne wrote: 'Many recruits drop into the bible session on Thursday nights bringing their questions and sharing their experiences.' He noted that recruits are searching for a new moral code, unimpressed by 'fridge magnet' slogans on social media.
Gascoyne added: 'They are looking for a lived experience and a moral code that is both coherent and can stand up under pressure. Many have had little to no opportunity to explore the teachings and mindsets of Jesus Christ and when introduced, find there is a bedrock there that they feel they can build a strong life upon.' He suggested the attraction of baptism includes the chance to start life afresh.
Across the Armed Forces, church attendance is also increasing, part of a broader trend among young people, especially men aged 18 to 24, where regular attendance rose from 4% in 2018 to 16% in 2024.
