“The Church remains relevant. We in the Church, and all who love the Church, need to keep finding ways to show and tell those who say they have ‘no religion’ that faith — faith in the God who loves them still — can make that life-transforming difference for them and for the world,” Bayes said.
Survey data from NatCen’s British Social Attitudes has revealed that for the first time ever, the number of people in Britain who say that they have no religion is over half the population, or 53 percent.
Despite the study’s findings, Church of England bishops have told The Christian Post that God remains relevant and vow to continue spreading Jesus Christ’s message of peace and justice.
NatCen, an independent social research agency, reported on Monday that the survey data, collected from 2016, shows that the number of British people with no religion has hit the highest ever levels.
The data showed that the non-religious population made up a 48 percent share in 2015, and only stood at 31 percent in 1983, when the survey began.
More than seven-in-10, or 71 percent of young people aged 18–24 said that they have no religion, which is also an increase from the 62 percent number in 2015.
The Bishop of Liverpool, the Rt. Rev. Paul Bayes, said in comments sent to CP that “God remains relevant.”
“The Church remains relevant. We in the Church, and all who love the Church, need to keep finding ways to show and tell those who say they have ‘no religion’ that faith — faith in the God who loves them still — can make that life-transforming difference for them and for the world,” Bayes said.
The survey found that the Church of England has been hit particularly hard in past decades, with now only 15 percent of Britons describing themselves as Anglican.
The data tables showed that Roman Catholic representation has remained unchanged for decades, at 9 percent of the population. The “Other Christian” category made up 17 percent in 2016, while non-Christian religions made up 6 percent of the total.
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