According to a census by the Office for National Statistics, Christians are now in the minority in England and Wales. Fewer than half of the population in Britain declare themselves as Christians.
According to reports, the UK has become less white and less religious in the past decade. A 5.5 million drop in the number of Christians was reported in the Census. The fall equates to an almost 17 percent decrease in Christians in England.
Despite the anti-Islamic movements throughout the world, a rise of 1.2 million in the number of people embracing Islam has been reported. The total population of Muslims in Britain reaches 3.9 million, increasing the total Muslim population to about 44 percent.
Moreover, Hindus in English have increased from 1.5 percent to 1.7 percent. The percentage of atheists has also increased from 25 percent to 37 percent. The dramatic growth of the non-religious has made the UK one of the least religious countries in the world.
Archbishop of York Stephen Cottrell, one of the most senior clerics in the Church of England, stated that the census was not a surprise. He further said that the census is indeed a challenge for them to work harder on their faith.
“We have left behind the era when many people almost automatically identified as Christian, but other surveys consistently show how the same people still seek spiritual truth and wisdom and a set of values to live by,” he added.