When hundreds of thousands of Hong Kongers began arriving in the UK following the introduction of the BN(O) visa scheme in 2021, few could have predicted the extraordinary impact their arrival would have on Church of England congregations. Five years on, the evidence is remarkable. Trinity Church in Earley, Reading, has grown from around 150 worshippers to 650. St Mary's Stockport — a church in one of the most deprived parishes in England — has grown from fewer than 20 to more than 100. At St Barnabas Alwoodley in Leeds, around a quarter of the congregation now comes from Hong Kong.

These are not isolated stories. They represent a quiet but significant renewal happening in parishes across England, and the Church of England has now formalised its response by launching a national steering board, Hong Kongers in the Church of England, which met for the first time on 24 February 2026. The board brings together clergy, racial justice officers, and community enablers to share resources, plant new Cantonese congregations, and help Hong Kong Christians feel genuinely at home in their local church.

For those of us in the pews, this is a story worth celebrating. Many Hong Kong Christians come from a tradition deeply shaped by the Church of England — Hong Kong was an Anglican diocese for over 150 years. They are not strangers to our liturgy or our faith. They are, as the Rev Mark Nam puts it, "sisters and brothers in Christ who are now making their home in the UK." The question for every congregation is simply: are we ready to welcome them?