Christians Now A Minority In England And Wales
Mohammad Ali (@ChaudhryMAli88) Published November 29, 2022 | 08:26 PM
Fewer than half of people in England and Wales identify as Christian, according to census data released on Tuesday, underlining a landmark shift towards secularism in multicultural Britain
London, United Kingdom, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 29th Nov, 2022 ) :Fewer than half of people in England and Wales identify as Christian, according to census data released on Tuesday, underlining a landmark shift towards secularism in multicultural Britain.
The findings from the 10-yearly census, carried out in 2021, came just over a month after Rishi Sunak became Britain's first Hindu prime minister.
They showed rapid growth among the Muslim population. However, "no religion" was the second most common response after "Christian", the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said.
Archbishop of York Stephen Cottrell said it was no "great surprise" that the Christian proportion was declining over time.
But he said that, facing a cost-of-living crisis and war in Europe, people still needed spiritual sustenance.
"We will be there for them, in many cases, providing food and warmth. And at Christmas, millions of people will still come to our services," said the Anglican Church's second-ranking cleric.
But the group Humanists UK, which campaigns for the rights of non-religious people, said the government should take on board policy implications.
Those included government backing for religious schools and for the established Church of England, its chief executive Andrew Copson said.
"Iran is the only other state in the world that has clerics voting in its legislature. And no other country in the world requires compulsory Christian worship in (non-religious) schools as standard," he said.
"This census result should be a wake-up call which prompts fresh reconsiderations of the role of religion in society." - 'That's just Britain' - Some 27.5 million people, or 46.2 percent in England and Wales, described themselves as Christian, down 13.1 percentage points from 2011.
"No religion" rose by 12 points to 37.2 percent or 22.2 million, while Muslims stood at 3.9 million or 6.5 percent of the population, up from 4.9 percent before.
The next most common responses were Hindu (1.0 million) and Sikh (524,000), while Buddhists overtook Jewish people (273,000 and 271,000 respectively).
"Obviously the UK is a diverse country and that is to be welcomed, and that includes diversity of religion as well," Sunak's spokesman told reporters in response to the census.
Sunak won the race to replace Liz Truss as prime minister and leader of the Conservative Party on October 24, the same day that Hindus marked Diwali, the festival of lights.
The next day, the new premier's first formal event in 10 Downing Street was a Diwali reception.
On Tuesday, Sunak was hosting a Downing Street reception marking the Advent build-up to Christmas with "guests invited from across the Christian community", the spokesman said.
The former finance minister's grandparents hailed from Punjab in northern India and emigrated to Britain from eastern Africa in the 1960s.
Related Topics
Recent Stories
Pak Vs NZ T20I: Orphaned children extended special invitation to watch match
Finance Minister lauds UNDP’s unwavering support during floods
President Raisi leaves for Iran from Karachi
Currency Rate In Pakistan - Dollar, Euro, Pound, Riyal Rates On 24 April 2024
Today Gold Rate in Pakistan 24 April 2024
Punjab CM inaugurates Pakistan’s first Virtual Women Police Station
Dutch model Donny Roelvink embraces Islam
Experts raise concerns over introduction of 10-stick packs
Iranian president arrives in Karachi
Law Minister expresses Govt's resolve to address issue of missing persons
Rizwan’s batting order may be changed: Sources
Nawaz Sharif to visit Guangzhou exhibition in China
More Stories From World
-
Pakistan catching ride on global EV boom
9 minutes ago -
US markets rise for second straight day as sentiment improves
9 minutes ago -
Tokyo stocks end sharply higher
10 minutes ago -
Seven arrested in Australian 'terrorism' raids: police
10 minutes ago -
Acting Consul-General visits Pengzhou city, China to promote relations
30 minutes ago -
Doncic shines as Mavs sink Clippers; Timberwolves down Suns
50 minutes ago
-
Israel says US military aid sends 'strong message' to enemies
2 hours ago -
Under stress of war, gambling grips Ukrainian soldiers
2 hours ago -
Long-delayed Ukraine aid clears US Congress, awaits Biden signature
2 hours ago -
Up the Congo River on an eventful voyage aboard 'God's Miracle'
2 hours ago -
A 'healthy addiction': sea saunas make waves in Ireland
2 hours ago -
Victims of China floods race to salvage property
2 hours ago