UK Census Data released!
The decline of Christianity
The Office for National Statistics released new census data on ethnicity, language, national identity, and religion during the first week of December 2022 as part of there 3 phase release plan going into the first half of 2023. Perhaps, to no surprise, the data shared indicated that the percentage of the British population who were committed to the Christian faith has seen a significant drop off in the last 20 years:
71.8% in 2001
59.3% in 2011
46.2% in 2021
Other recent studies, such as the British Social Attitudes report, have shown a similar decline in those claiming allegiance or commitment to Christianity, even prior to the trepidation, bereavement, and existential crises brought about during the chaotic years of the global pandemic. In years past, it was common practice to reflexively write in the "Church of England" on hospital admissions forms when asked about religious affiliation, but this didn't preclude a nominal faith (rather than a serious commitment) in so far as it was socially useful. I wonder what people wrote in during the pandemic?
Liberal commentators have posited that the rise in immigration in the UK will only help bolster the numbers of those committed to faith rather than contribute to a decline—though this is unsubstantiated and contrary to the data set (long-term immigration in June 2022 estimated at 1.1 million, which increased from June 2021 estimated at 628,000).
Could it be that the rise of secularism or progressive ideology has led those disenfranchised by any worldview involving faith down a self-serving rabbit hole of agnosticism or atheism? It’s difficult to quantify, but researchers have found that this decline in faith commitment has been mostly generational and not a social or cultural phenomenon where droves of people in a particular demographic lost their religion at one time. Younger generations have been more honest about their beliefs and clear about their commitments, which is admirable, as opposed to holding to half-hearted nominal or cultural assumptions about God.
The three national lockdowns in the UK during the pandemic, making attending church in person very difficult, may have contributed to such a decline. However, counter to the generalized reporting, we did hear about a multitude of new inquiries and saw firsthand an assortment of new attendees at local churches in Oxford.
What do we think is the cause of this new census data? Good question.
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