Synopsis
Recent reports suggest that increasing numbers of young people across the UK are turning to church searching for purpose, hope and belonging. Set in Hope Church Portsmouth, Not Just a Building explores what may be drawing a new generation towards faith, at a time where there is an increase in young people struggling with loneliness and their mental health.
Through the experiences of Ben and Ebony, two students that attend Hope Church, the documentary examines what church is like for young people today. As their personal stories of grief, isolation, bullying and mental health struggles unfold, the film highlights the journey that led them to church and the role it has played in their lives.
With access to worship, community outreach and moments of prayer, the documentary explores church not just as a religious institution, but as a place where young people are searching for identity, connection and meaning. The film raises questions about why Christianity appears to be resonating with younger generations, capturing faith as a gradual personal journey shaped by genuine connection and feelings of belonging.
At its core, Not Just a Building asks why young people are coming to church and explores whether faith, community and belonging are providing something many feel is missing elsewhere in today’s society.
I really enjoyed being part of the project and getting to understand how films are made. I find studying mechanisms fun, so putting up and taking down lighting equipment is enjoyable. I'm also somewhat good at it and it's always nice to know your help is useful. I wanted to be a part of the film to support Beth, but also to hopefully help other people by sharing my experience. I think showing people what Christianity looks like in the community is important, being honest about struggling is important too.
Working on Not Just a Building has been an incredibly meaningful experience for me. Throughout the project, I have learnt a lot about myself and what truly matters to me. This project has challenged me both physically and mentally but I am proud to have worked on a documentary that explores the impact of faith and community on people’s lives, particularly as my faith has been the most significant thing in my life. I have especially valued the support shown by Hope Church throughout the entire process.
This project was an opportunity to merge my faith and my enjoyment of filming together, which I was really grateful for. I had the pleasure of assisting with building and operating the B camera for some of the shoot days. This documentary is on a subject that I think is really relevant to our society and particularly young people. It was a pleasure to help bring it to life.
Being part of this project was really important to me, especially as a Christian. I wanted to be involved in creating something meaningful that could reach people and encourage them to think differently. My role involved supporting the production through camera assistance and shooting behind the scenes content. It was encouraging to hear stories of how faith has impacted people’s lives. That was a real encouragement to me personally and strengthened my own faith.
Bethany Styles
Director/Producer/Editor
Alisha Martin
Camera Assistant
Jem Morgan
BTS Videographer
Ben Bradstock
Production Assistant
Meet the Crew
(Click on the images to learn more)
Why This Story Matters
Over the last few years, there has been discussion across mainstream media, including Sky News, BBC News and the Sunday Express, around an apparent resurgenance in church attendance, driven by Generation Z. This suggests that a wider cultural conversation is taking place.
Reports from Bible Society and YouGov found that 37% of 18-24 year olds are interested in exploring faith or reading the bible. In addition, over the last six years there has been a 17% increase in young adults believing in God or some higher power.
Alongside this, studies are showing increasing levels of loneliness and disconnection within this generation. Only 25% of non-churchgoers reported feeling connected to people in their local community, compared to 65% of churchgoers.
While these reports suggest a cultural shift amongst Generation Z, they do not fully explain why young people are turning towards faith. Not Just a Building aims to explore this through personal stories and lived experiences, asking why young people are turning to church and whether church provides the community, belonging and hope they are searching for.
Meet the Cast
Ebony is a student at the University of Portsmouth who has attended Hope Church for the past three years.
Even though she was raised in a Christian household, difficult experiences throughout her childhood led to periods of doubt and distance from faith.
Following the loss of her mum during her time at university, Ebony found herself searching for comfort and community while navigating grief.
Through reconnecting with the church and working with children and young people, she began rebuilding both her faith and her sense of belonging.
Jasper is a student at the University of Portsmouth. Although he grew up with some exposure to Christianity, he does not attend church or have a faith.
Within the documentary, Jasper offers an alternative perspective on faith, describing church as strict, unengaging and at times indoctrinating.
His contribution helps explore the questions surrounding the relevance of Christianity within Generation Z.
Kate is an Associate Pastor at Hope Church Portsmouth, where she leads the emerging generations ministry and works closely with young people and students.
Through her role, she has observed an increasing openness and curiosity towards faith among younger generations.
Her contribution offers insight into how this wider cultural shift is playing out within the Hope Church context. She provides her perspective on community, belonging and the relevance of Christianity today.
Ben Bradstock
Student
Ebony Wooldridge
Student
Jasper Sweeney
Student
Kate Ayliffe
Associate Pastor
Ben is a student at the University of Portsmouth and had little exposure or interest in faith growing up.
He believes that Christianity can often appear to clash with current-day ideologies, while social media often reinforces negative stereotypes surrounding the church. However, he acknowledges the strong sense of community that churches can provide, suggesting this may be a key factor drawing young people towards faith.
His contribution helps explore the questions surrounding the relevance of Christianity within Generation Z by presenting an alternative perspective to those that attend Hope Church.
Kiera is a student at the University of Portsmouth who was raised in a Christian household and has continued to be involved in church throughout her life.
Although faith was initially something she felt expected to participate in, helping out at a camp in her teenage years helped develop her own personal faith and changed the way she viewed Christianity.
Through her experiences within church, Kiera believes that church is more than a physical building, describing it as a place of support, belonging and community. Her contribution offers insight into how Christians from younger generations perceive faith and why church is meaningful to them.
Angelica is a student at the University of Portsmouth who grew up going to church with her grandma.
She personally finds church unengaging and irrelevant to younger generations. Despite this, she highlights that church community can bring comfort to those that need it.
Her contribution helps explore the questions surrounding the relevance of Christianity within Generation Z by presenting an alternative perspective to those that attend Hope Church.
Drew is an Associate Pastor at Hope Church Portsmouth, who works closely with students and leads community outreach in Somerstown.
Through his role he has observed an increasing openness and curiosity to faith, often witnessing people discover faith for the first time, in unexpected ways.
His contribution offers insight into how this wider cultural shift is playing out within both Hope Church and the Portsmouth community. Through his experience working with young adults and people from the local community, Drew reflects on community, love and the relevance of Christianity for younger generations.
Benjamin Hobson
Student
Kiera Rodgers
Student
Angelic Bido
Student
Drew Enos
Associate Pastor
Ben is a student at the University of Portsmouth and has attended Hope Church for the past year.
During his childhood, experiences of bullying significantly impacted his mental health, leading to depression and suicidal thoughts. Feeling unsupported and misled by the church caused him to withdraw from faith.
During his time at university, Ben’s mental health continued to decline. During a suicide attempt, he describes experiencing an encounter with God that led him to reconsider faith as a last resort. Following this experience, he began to feel a sense of peace, hope and belonging.