Secularisation in the UK

secularisation definition

the process by which religious thinking, practices and institutions lose social significance

church attendance today

• 2020 - 4% of the adult population attended church on Sundays

  • this is half of what it was in the 1960

• church wedding rates have decreased from 59% to 20%

religious affiliation

• those identifying as Christian fell by 40%

• the number of Catholics increased due to immigration from Eastern Europe

• number of Muslims also increased due to immigration

religious institutions

• the influence of religion as a social institution has declined

• the state has taken over many of the functions that the church used to perform

  • e.g. until the mid-19th century, the churches provided education but since then it has been provided mainly by the state

  • although there are still faith schools, these are mainly funded by the state and must follow the states regulations