5
5. SECULARISATION &
RELIGION IN THE GLOBAL
CONTEXT
A-level Sociology – Beliefs in society
Abstract
This topic includes: The secularization debate in Europe and in the USA, Fundamentalism and
economic development
, Secularisation in the UK & Europe – The Evidence
Wilson defines secularisation as ‘the process whereby religious beliefs, practices and institutions lose their social
significance’. By this he is referring to the decline in the importance of religion that he claims has been occurring in
the UK since the 1960s. This page will outline the evidence that supports his claim.
Church attendance and affiliation statistics
One of the most commonly stated pieces of evidence to prove that secularisation is occurring in the UK, are church
attendance and affiliation statistics. Here is a brief summary of what these statistics suggest:
Church Attendance statistics
Church of England attendance has declined significantly from the 1800’s to the 1960s. It is believed that
around 40% of the population went to church before industrialisation, compared to around 15% in the
1960’s.
In 2015, only around 4% of the population regularly attended a church service on a Sunday.
Weddings in churches have halved since 1971
Fewer people are having their children baptised.
There has been an increase in ‘Bogus baptisms’ where older children are baptised to assist their enrolment
into a good school
Religious affiliation statistics
The 2001 Census showed that 72 % of the population stated that they were a Christian, this declined to 59%
in the 2011 Census.
The British Social attitudes survey in 2015 suggested that half of all adults asked, stated that they do not
belong to any religion
The largest declines are seen within the Anglican (Church Of England) whereas other forms of Christianity,
such as Catholicism have benefitted from increased migration
Decline of the number of the clergy
It is claimed that one of the biggest problems for the traditional Christian Churches in the UK is the reducing number
of professional clergy that work within the churches. Between 1965 and 2011, the number of catholic priests fell by a
third and similar trends are occurring in the Church of England. The average age of the clergy is also increasing with a
lack of recruitment for young replacements, only 12% on the current Anglican Clergy are under the age of 40.
Davies also discusses a decline in status for professional clergy within society as the public no longer hold them in
the highest regard. This has not been helped by allegations of child abuse by priests within the Catholic Church over
recent generations.
Terry Sanderson believes that the Church of England is losing its ‘Core business’ of people who attend what he calls
the ‘Hatch, Match and Dispatch’ services. Sanderson claims that regular church attendance has been declining for
years however, the church has benefitted from a ‘core business’ of people who attend specific services such as
Christenings, Weddings and funerals. However, people are now increasingly abandoning the church and pursuing
civil alternatives such as naming ceremonies and celebration of life parties that are secular in nature.
5. SECULARISATION &
RELIGION IN THE GLOBAL
CONTEXT
A-level Sociology – Beliefs in society
Abstract
This topic includes: The secularization debate in Europe and in the USA, Fundamentalism and
economic development
, Secularisation in the UK & Europe – The Evidence
Wilson defines secularisation as ‘the process whereby religious beliefs, practices and institutions lose their social
significance’. By this he is referring to the decline in the importance of religion that he claims has been occurring in
the UK since the 1960s. This page will outline the evidence that supports his claim.
Church attendance and affiliation statistics
One of the most commonly stated pieces of evidence to prove that secularisation is occurring in the UK, are church
attendance and affiliation statistics. Here is a brief summary of what these statistics suggest:
Church Attendance statistics
Church of England attendance has declined significantly from the 1800’s to the 1960s. It is believed that
around 40% of the population went to church before industrialisation, compared to around 15% in the
1960’s.
In 2015, only around 4% of the population regularly attended a church service on a Sunday.
Weddings in churches have halved since 1971
Fewer people are having their children baptised.
There has been an increase in ‘Bogus baptisms’ where older children are baptised to assist their enrolment
into a good school
Religious affiliation statistics
The 2001 Census showed that 72 % of the population stated that they were a Christian, this declined to 59%
in the 2011 Census.
The British Social attitudes survey in 2015 suggested that half of all adults asked, stated that they do not
belong to any religion
The largest declines are seen within the Anglican (Church Of England) whereas other forms of Christianity,
such as Catholicism have benefitted from increased migration
Decline of the number of the clergy
It is claimed that one of the biggest problems for the traditional Christian Churches in the UK is the reducing number
of professional clergy that work within the churches. Between 1965 and 2011, the number of catholic priests fell by a
third and similar trends are occurring in the Church of England. The average age of the clergy is also increasing with a
lack of recruitment for young replacements, only 12% on the current Anglican Clergy are under the age of 40.
Davies also discusses a decline in status for professional clergy within society as the public no longer hold them in
the highest regard. This has not been helped by allegations of child abuse by priests within the Catholic Church over
recent generations.
Terry Sanderson believes that the Church of England is losing its ‘Core business’ of people who attend what he calls
the ‘Hatch, Match and Dispatch’ services. Sanderson claims that regular church attendance has been declining for
years however, the church has benefitted from a ‘core business’ of people who attend specific services such as
Christenings, Weddings and funerals. However, people are now increasingly abandoning the church and pursuing
civil alternatives such as naming ceremonies and celebration of life parties that are secular in nature.
