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Church of England staring at oblivion as just 2% of young Britons say they identify with it
The number of people who identify as belonging to the Church of England has dropped to a record low in an “unrelenting decline” that could threaten the denomination’s future, research suggests.
CofE affiliation has fallen to just 2 per cent among adults aged 18 to 24, while the majority of every age group now has no religion, the British Social Attitudes (BSA) survey found.
The number of Britons who describe themselves as part of the church has more than halved since 2002, from 31 per cent to 14 per cent. The number who actually attend sermons is far lower.
The sharpest drop was among 45- to 54-year-olds, only 11 per cent of whom identify with the CofE compared to 35 per cent in 2002.
The strongest affiliation with the church was among over-60s, but even there a minority of 30 per cent say they belong to the denomination.
More than four times as many 18- to 24-year-olds – 9 per cent – said they belonged to the church 16 years ago.
The drop comes amid a trend towards a secular society. Fifty-two per cent of people now say they belong to no religion, up from 41 per cent in 2002.
In Scotland an even higher proportion – 56 per cent – say they have no religion, and only 18 per cent belong to the Church of Scotland, according to the BSA.
Roger Harding, head of public attitudes at the National Centre for Social Research, which conducts the survey, said: “Our figures show an unrelenting decline in Church of England and Church of Scotland numbers.
“This is especially true for young people where less than one in 20 now belong to their established church.
More at link: Church of England staring at oblivion as just 2% of young Britons say they identify with it
The number of people who identify as belonging to the Church of England has dropped to a record low in an “unrelenting decline” that could threaten the denomination’s future, research suggests.
CofE affiliation has fallen to just 2 per cent among adults aged 18 to 24, while the majority of every age group now has no religion, the British Social Attitudes (BSA) survey found.
The number of Britons who describe themselves as part of the church has more than halved since 2002, from 31 per cent to 14 per cent. The number who actually attend sermons is far lower.
The sharpest drop was among 45- to 54-year-olds, only 11 per cent of whom identify with the CofE compared to 35 per cent in 2002.
The strongest affiliation with the church was among over-60s, but even there a minority of 30 per cent say they belong to the denomination.
More than four times as many 18- to 24-year-olds – 9 per cent – said they belonged to the church 16 years ago.
The drop comes amid a trend towards a secular society. Fifty-two per cent of people now say they belong to no religion, up from 41 per cent in 2002.
In Scotland an even higher proportion – 56 per cent – say they have no religion, and only 18 per cent belong to the Church of Scotland, according to the BSA.
Roger Harding, head of public attitudes at the National Centre for Social Research, which conducts the survey, said: “Our figures show an unrelenting decline in Church of England and Church of Scotland numbers.
“This is especially true for young people where less than one in 20 now belong to their established church.
More at link: Church of England staring at oblivion as just 2% of young Britons say they identify with it