The United Kingdom has many religions spread throughout its territory. Do you know how many and what are they? We explain about All religions in the UK so you can learn a little more about history.
Christianity, Islam and Judaism and even Druidism are some of the religions professed in the United Kingdom, where freedom of worship prevails. However, the statistics are as follows: the Anglican Church is the official state religion. More than 70% of the population is Christian, understanding Christianity as both the Roman Apostolic Church and the Anglican Church. Besides, cults such as Buddhism, Hinduism, Judaism, Islam and Sikhism are also practiced. And we add 23% of the population that is considered not to practice any religion. But let’s look in more detail at each of the religions in the UK.
Christianity in England
The Christianity is the religion with the most followers in the UK. Just with a note and that is that in the 1920s, in Wales, the Church became independent and the Anglican community was formed. However, even today, both in England and Wales, the Roman Catholic Church is the most faithful Christian church with close to five million members. To such an extent that the Church has a presence in five provinces: Cardiff, Liverpool, Birmingham, Southwark and Westminster. And there are 22 dioceses divided into parishes, plus another two dioceses in England and Wales that group specific groups such as the Bishopric of the Forces and the Apostolic Exarchate for the Ukrainians. In addition, the Conference of Catholic Bishops of England and Wales takes place periodically.
Although the Anglican majority, due to immigration and to the fact that many personalities are converting to Catholicism, there are more and more Catholics. For example, Prime Minister Tony Blair converted to Catholicism. The church in England has experienced a period of decline and this has also favored many Anglicans who have chosen to become Catholics due to the similarity of both Churches, in search of an alternative to satisfy their religious needs.
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Islamism in England
Immigrants and the growing popularity of other religions, including Islam, is causing Islamism to experience unprecedented growth in England. London is especially the place where the most Islamists are currently concentrated. In fact, it has been said that today there is more Islam in London than in most countries of Muslim origin. In 2018, no less than 423 mosques were opened in London. And there are also Muslim schools where, of course, Islam is taught.
Hinduism in England
Not only has England received immigrants of Muslim origin, it has also received immigrants of Hindu origin. Since 1947, the year of India’s independence, and 1970 when civil war forced people from Sri Lanka to flee, the population with beliefs based on Hinduism has been growing. Already in the year 1995 a Hindu temple was built in England, in Neasden.
Sikhism in England
Sikh followers are making an appearance in cities like London and Birmingham. But this is not something new. In 1911, more than a hundred years ago, the first temple for this religion was built in South London, in Putney. Later, in 1950, when the persecution of the Idi Amin regime in Uganda took place, there was a wave of immigration which further encouraged the growth of Sikhism.
The Sikhism has about 27 million adherents in the world, thus being the ninth religion with the most followers, most of them in India and Pakistan, although increasingly spreading throughout the rest of the world. In England alone there are 366,000.
Sikh means “apprentice” and is a movement that was born in the fifteenth century founded by a guru, Guru Nanak and nine enlightened men who decided to follow him. Followers also wear turbans and take great care of their hair and appearance in general. Although they do not have a day of worship, they sometimes meet in their temple and bring various offerings such as money or food. It is based on respect for God and people, sincerity, honesty, hard work, and the willpower to be good citizens and serve others.
Judaism in England
After the conquest of Normandy, in the year 1066, England has the presence of Jews. Despite this, Judaism was not always accepted and between the 13th and 17th centuries the Jewish religion was prohibited. Times change, thankfully, and there are now some 55 synagogues in England.
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Buddhism in England
We cannot forget that England has an important historical link with the countries of Southeast Asia, especially in the 17th and 18th centuries. This, together with the fact that it has received immigrants of all kinds, has motivated the growth of Buddhism in England where, since 1924, the London Buddhist Society has been founded.
As we have seen in the United Kingdom there is a potpourri of religious beliefs and practices of the most varied and plural nature. The good news is that at the same time there is a good coexistence between the faithful of one religion and another, not being a territory especially prone to conflict.
On the other hand, this multiculturalism makes the United Kingdom a place of great cultural, heritage and artistic wealth. It is worth visiting the United Kingdom and experiencing first-hand all that religious and worship freedom.
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