Religion in England

Religion plays a huge role in learning about intercultural communications. From ethics to traditional celebrations, religious and ethical beliefs impact nearly every aspect of one’s life. That being said, England is currently seeing a major shift as a country, transitioning from Christianity to Atheism as the dominant belief. I did some research on England’s current worldview; how this active shift is transforming the way the English interact with their communities, and the world around them.

According to the United Kingdom’s Office for National Statistics’ 2021 Census, less than half the population labeled themselves as Christian, making revolutionary shockwaves amongst the English people. This new information brings many questions about England’s unified views as a country, as well as on the current unity of Church and State. In fact, over the previous years England has already seen a slow yet dramatic shift of cultural practices. Predominantly Christian holidays such as Christmas and Easter have become more focused on gifts than worshipping in a church. According to the British Council, Easter traditions feature meals with friends and family, to celebrate the return of spring. Meanwhile, chocolate Easter eggs are gifted for enjoyment. Christmas festivities also focus on gift giving, decorating Christmas trees, and eating traditional meals instead of celebrating advent and attending church. According to Wilderness England, it is in fact a common tradition for locals to visit a pub, historically known as a “public house,” on December 25th!

Of course, despite the growing lack of religious belief, England’s dominant religion remains Christian. According to the National Secular Society, 46% of people in Great Britain still labeled themselves as Christian during the 2021 census. And while many might not attend a church in the modern day, England’s vast landscape of towns and cities hold many church buildings, withstanding the passage of time as a symbol of both the dominance of Christianity, and the history behind England itself. I got the honor of visiting many of the grand buildings including Lincoln Cathedral, King’s College Cambridge Cathedral, St. Paul’s Cathedral, and many more, of which I have attached photos to this post.

While visiting England many like to take stops at these local churches and cathedrals, admiring the architectural masterpieces. However, many other types of local religious buildings, such as synagogues or Buddhist temples, are seeing an increase of tourism as these religions become more dominant in England. Whether one is a part of the religion or not, many still stop to admire the architecture of these other religious buildings, much like Christian churches. This shift is a wonderful resemblance of England’s religious tolerance and welcoming culture, to both those religious and non-religious alike. According to the 2021 census results, many religions are gaining popularity including Muslim, which now 6.5% of the population of Great Britain identifies as; or Hindu, which accounts for another 1.7% of the population. 

After spending three weeks within the grand country of England, one of the aspects that had the most impact on me was their cultural blend and acceptance. From the magnificent Chinatown in London, to many people walking the streets in a variety of religious garments, there is opportunity for everyone to follow their own beliefs. Various religious centers are built directly next to each other on the street, and most are open to the general public, for everyone of any belief system to enjoy. These actions are a grand demonstration of the way Great Britain promotes religious tolerance, especially in the major city of London, and I was grateful to experience such diverse culture within the beautiful city.