“We saw lots of people re-examine their faith during the pandemic” – Christians in Salford react to news of declining faith

Christians in Salford say a fall in the number of people identifying as Christian in the UK presents challenges but also opportunities.

The release of the 2021 census results revealed that less than half – 46.2 per cent – of the population in England and Wales now identify as Christian, down from 59.3 per cent in the last census in 2011.

More than a third – 37.2 per cent – have no religion – a rise of 12 per cent.

The data from The Office for National Statistics also showed small increases in those identifying as Muslim (4.9% to 6.5%) and Hindu (1.5% to 1.7%).

A spokesperson for the Diocese of Salford said: “The reduction in those identifying as Christian in the 2021 Census is not surprising.

“For Christian faiths it does present a challenge but one that we are ready to face.

“In our own diocese we saw lots of people re-examine their own faith during the pandemic and many people reconnected with their local parishes in new ways.

“We will continue to encourage this culture of welcome.”

There has been a strong response from Salford’s religious community.

James Houston, president of the University of Salford Christian Union, said: “We can see it as a depressing thing that less than half of the country are Christians but that provides us with an opportunity to share our personal experiences of God and share the [Christian] gospel with them.”

Some believe the Census result is a consequence of secularisation.

Emily Jacques, a member of Audacious Church in Salford, said: “There’s a pressure to conform to the majority nowadays.

“I think modern society and culture are so forceful on dismantling faith to fit their own narratives that the true message of the [Christian] gospel gets misconstrued for new generations.”

Tom Clarke, a member of City Church, said: “Although I think it’s sad to see the figures released about the amount of people who consider themselves Christian, I also believe in a God who is in control of every circumstance.

“I am also thankful that we live in a society where we can speak freely about what we believe to each other without feeling like society is forcing us to believe something.”

The results suggest that the UK is becoming one of the least religious countries in the world.

For more information on the full census and the decrease in Christianity, see here Census 2021 results – Census 2021