It’s not just military drills, weapon training, and endless runs shaping the next generation of Royal Marines.
A growing number of recruits are turning to Christianity during their time at the training centre in Lympstone, Devon — and some are even getting baptised in the very water tanks designed for their gruelling assault courses.
Baptisms in the Regain Tank
The Regain Tank, a four-foot-deep pool with ropes hanging above it for training exercises, has recently doubled up as a place of worship.
At least 26 recruits have chosen to be fully immersed there as part of their baptism ceremony earlier this year.
For many, it’s become a powerful symbol of starting fresh, right in the middle of one of the toughest military training programmes in the world.
Packed-Out Chapel Services
Over the past 18 months, Sunday church attendance at Lympstone has skyrocketed.
The small chapel, which can hold 150 people, is now often overflowing with recruits seeking something beyond the day-to-day intensity of Marine training.
What’s more, this interest doesn’t appear to be fuelled by fear of combat or looming wars.
Instead, many young men say they’re searching for meaning and moral direction in their lives.
A Search for Something Deeper
Reverend A. Gascoyne, a Royal Naval chaplain, described the change in an article for the Marines’ Globe And Laurel magazine.
He wrote that recruits often show up to Thursday night Bible sessions with plenty of questions and open minds.
According to him, many have grown tired of the “fridge magnet” quotes and shallow philosophies floating around on social media.
What they’re really looking for, he explained, is a moral framework that feels real, consistent, and strong enough to carry them through life.
Building a Stronger Foundation
For some, encountering Christianity for the first time has been eye-opening.
Reverend Gascoyne believes that once recruits see the teachings of Jesus as more than just distant stories, they discover a foundation solid enough to build their lives upon.
He also suggested that baptism, for many, represents the chance to wipe the slate clean and begin anew — something that resonates deeply with young men in an intense, transitional stage of life.
Not Just the Marines
This “quiet revival” isn’t only happening in Devon.
Across the wider Armed Forces, attendance at church services has been climbing steadily.
The trend mirrors a national rise in young adults reconnecting with faith.
Among men aged 18 to 24, regular church attendance has jumped from just 4 per cent in 2018 to 16 per cent in 2024, according to recent Bible Society studies.
A Revival in an Unexpected Place
What’s happening at Lympstone may be a reflection of something much bigger — a cultural shift among young people who are increasingly seeking stability and meaning in a world that often feels uncertain.
And for the recruits working toward the prestigious green beret, faith is becoming as much a part of their journey as endurance and discipline.