to think the census data on religion should mean some changes to how we view the Church of England in this country

[cakeorwine]

ONS data on religion released today

For the first time in a census of England and Wales, less than half of the population (46.2%, 27.5 million people) described themselves as “Christian”, a 13.1 percentage point decrease from 59.3% (33.3 million) in 2011; despite this decrease, “Christian” remained the most common response to the religion question.

“No religion” was the second most common response, increasing by 12.0 percentage points to 37.2% (22.2 million) from 25.2% (14.1 million) in 2011.

You can find out about your area here

www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/culturalidentity/religion/bulletins/religionenglandandwales/census2021

An interesting map is available - you can zoom in to local areas
The number of Christians is falling. Still a high percentage but less than half the population of England and Wales say they are Christian.

Christianity could mean Catholicism, C of E and other Christian faiths.

So should this mean we look at 'the State Religion', having Bishops in the House of Lords and the link between the Monarch being the Head of the Church of England. Basically - look at distestablishing the Church of England from the State.

If the trend continues it'll get harder and harder to justify having a state religion.

@OMG12

I think there's a number of things going on in that dream. I had to post it because it was poignant on one level and funny on another and it reflects my good and bad impulses.

The congregation in the car park - an organisation of sorts will continue, just in reduced and very different circumstances. I think all belief systems that have have meaning are organised to some degree so I don't find 'organised religion' to be a bad thing in itself.

The demolished church - it was a nice building but no one recognised that any longer. A lot of what I'm familiar with - especially music - is just about a living tradition, but only just. I accept that people's experiences of church will vary but Anglicanism has been really good for me. I don't see anything replacing it, either within Christianity or elsewhere that would be equally as good - for me at least. Also the C of E is a huge reservoir of English cultural tradition - it will die with the C of E. Not many people will notice - that's how these things happen.

The cats' ears and tail = a lack of seriousness / profundity.