The Post-Christian State

More than a decade ago, a leading politician opined that “to call yourself a Christian in contemporary Britain is to invite pity, condescension or cool dismissal. In a culture that prizes sophistication, non-judgmentalism, irony and detachment, it is to declare yourself intolerant, naive, superstitious and backward” (“In defence of Christianity,” The Spectator, April 4, 2015).

Fast-forward to 2026, and the Church of England is in turmoil, having become largely irrelevant. It was without an Archbishop of Canterbury, its principal religious leader, for more than a year, as the lengthy search for a new occupant included some six months to form the committee responsible for choosing a replacement. It was more months before the committee submitted a preferred candidate to the Prime Minister, who then took it to King Charles III for approval. The new Archbishop, Sarah Mullally, takes office in January and is to be installed in March.

Justin Welby resigned from the office of Archbishop of Canterbury over the handling of a child abuse scandal. During Welby’s tenure, a church official had abused boys and young men in three countries over several decades. Welby faulted himself for not doing more about the situation when it was brought to his attention. But “safeguarding” issues, as the prevention of abuse is known in the United Kingdom, is not the only problem facing the Church of England, which seems largely to consider the Holy Bible irrelevant as it seeks to foster what it perceives as a more just and inclusive society. Parishes are neglected, often without a vicar or with one who attends inadequately to the needs of multiple parishes.

The Church of Wales, since 1920 a province of the Church of England, has just appointed a new Archbishop as well, following the former Bishop of Bangor’s resignation for failure to act over behavioral and safeguarding issues. Incoming Archbishop Cherry Vann, the first woman elected to the office, was also among the first women ordained as Church of England priests in 1994. Openly lesbian, Vann lives with her civil partner—as her church does not perform same-sex “marriages”—and has been said to have “a passion for justice and reconciliation” (“First female leader of Church in Wales announced,” BBC, July 30, 2025).

Her appointment is likely to create further troubles with African provinces of the Anglican community, which oppose same-sex “marriages.” But will she be able to make Christianity more relevant to Britain? One recent statistic suggests that many may be open to a religious revival: A poll by YouGov reveals that religious belief has tripled in four years among the 18- to 24-year-old section of the populace. Their level of religious commitment is considered to be greater than that of their grandparents. For once, the believers in that age group outnumber its unbelievers (“Why are the young turning to God?,” The Spectator, August 18, 2025).

Britain’s Shifting Religious Landscape

Passing Interests in Religion

Admittedly, the poll sampled a small number, so some are treating its results with suspicion. Others attribute the result to the mass immigration that Britain is experiencing. But the data shows that the increase is bigger than any effect from migration. Not only does it show a notable increase in young people attending Roman Catholic services—it shows that many prefer the old Latin Rite, rather than modern liturgies now favored by the Vatican. Why? One reason given is “authenticity.” As one young convert noted, “It feels like they’re not selling me a car.” The Latin Mass has been described as “the antithesis to a culture which gives you what you think you like, rather than what you may grow to love” (“What the media misses with its cynical take on ‘Gen Z’ embracing traditional Catholicism,” The Catholic Herald, February 15, 2024).

Will this fascination with the Latin Mass last? A breakdown of the demographic shows that it is the “affluent and the fashionable” who have become religious (The Spectator). This is also the section of the population most susceptible to changes of tastes and ideas. Time will tell whether this is a continuing trend.

Patchwork Political Involvement

North of the border, the Church of Scotland seems to have disappeared as a force in Scottish life. Public discourse sounds purely secular, with the church seen as part of an oppressive past. Northern Ireland has lost firebrands such as Ian Paisley and most recently Martin Smyth. Their successors appear more interested in politics than preaching from the word of God.

The Church of England still holds a place in government, with 26 of the 42 current diocesan bishops of the church seated in the House of Lords. These bishops are referred to as the Lords Spiritual. Yet their involvement in the House of Lords is minimal. Calls have been made even amongst the church’s priesthood for the Lords Spiritual to be abolished and for disestablishment—for the monarch to cease functioning as the head of the Church of England.

Islam on the Rise?

Islam, on the other hand, is a growing political force within the UK. Presently, four independent members sitting in Parliament were elected on issues affecting the Islamic community, including support for Gaza and Hamas. For these members of parliament, Islamic theology rather than the party line offers the solution to any problem. In addition, another 21 parliamentarians are Muslim by religion. The current Labour government, to which most British Muslims have gravitated in the past, is desperate to keep hold of that section of the electorate.

Current legislation and foreign policy decisions show a deference for Muslim sensitivities. Legislation now before parliament includes a definition of Islamophobia that would essentially prevent anything being said or written against Islam or its adherents, granting Islam a privileged position within UK law. The UK, after decades of seeking to be a secular state, now seems to be transforming into a sectarian state as candidates are elected based on their religious affiliation.

Population growth is another area affected by the Islamic community. “Muhammad” is currently the most popular name for boys born in the UK, highlighting that the Islamic community is the only section of the demographic showing significant growth. While government statisticians do not classify births by religion, other evidence points to the Muslim birth rate exceeding that of the rest of the population: “There are more Muslims than all the other minority faiths put together. The Muslim population increased by 1.2 million between 2011 and 2021. This accounts for 32% of the overall growth of the UK population in these ten years” (“British Muslims in Numbers,” Muslim Council of Britain, March 2025).

“Destroyed for Lack of Knowledge”

What of the comment we started with? The UK risks a future in which, if the Bible is discussed at all, it will be to ask what it was. For a view of Christianity that challenges the assumptions inherent in a post-Christian state, you can read our informative booklet What Is a True Christian?

God warned His people Israel not to forget His laws and covenants (Deuteronomy 8:11–19). While acknowledging a biblical heritage and basis for their society, the people of the UK appear determined to forget the origins of that society (“Is the UK a Christian Country?,” Theos, September 6, 2023). The prophet Hosea was inspired to write, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being priest for Me; because you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children” (Hosea 4:6). In the modern UK, these words seem to be coming to life again.