‘Who Joins the Catholic Church and Why?’ A Case Study of Contemporary Britons Seeking to Become Catholic in the Archdiocese of Southwark

Theologians and scholars throughout the ages concur that the study of religious conversion provides a window into the lifeblood of a religious tradition or belief system and, as such, should be attended to as a basic ground. This chapter surveys the rise in the number of Britons seeking to become Roman Catholic in the archbdiocese of Southwark. Using a mixed methods approach, the chapter shows that, whilst demography, family and friends play a key role, equally important is the sheer grittiness of daily life that is foundational in spiritual change. The sacraments of the eucharist and reconciliation and ancient devotions such as the rosary are likewise highly significant in fuelling conversion to Roman Catholicism amongst significant numbers of contemporary Britons.