Christianity in Britain (WJEC Eduqas GCSE Religious Studies): Revision Note

Christianity in Britain today

• Christianity is the majority religion in the UK, but numbers are declining

  • In the 2011 Census, 59% identified as Christian

  • In 2021, this number had reduced to 46%, and there was a rise in those with no religion (around 37%)

  • There has also been a growth of other faiths (Islam, Hinduism, Sikhism, etc.) due to immigration and diversity

• Christianity continues to have a role in public life

  • The Church of England is the established “state church” in England

  • In the House of Lords, there are 26 bishops (Lords Spiritual) 

  • The King is the Supreme Governor of the Church of England

  • Christian services continue to mark occasions such as Remembrance Day, royal weddings and funerals

• Christianity also has an influence on education

  • Many schools in Britain are Church schools (Church of England or Catholic)

  • By law, all state schools must offer collective worship of a broadly Christian character (though often adapted in practice)

  • Religious Education must be taught in schools, with Christianity included

  • Main school holidays are often around Christian festivals, Easter and Christmas

• Christianity is also involved in social action and community support

  • Churches play a role in charity and social care. For example, local churches may:

    • Provide spaces for worship, support groups and community events

    • Organise foodbanks 

    • Run homeless shelters and debt advice centres

    • Have links to organisations that campaign for justice (e.g. Christian Aid, CAFOD)

• Christian worship styles within the UK vary between different denominations

  • Attendance at traditional churches is falling, but there is growth in Evangelical churches 

• There are some challenges for Christians in today’s society

  • There is an increase in secularisation and a decline of religion’s influence in society

  • Society is more pluralistic, so Christians must co-exist with many religions and worldviews

  • There is a declining church attendance amongst younger generations

  • There are also opportunities with new forms of worship (online, digital churches) 

Christianity & links to UK laws, festivals & traditions

Christianity and UK Laws

• The UK is historically a Christian country, and Christian principles have influenced many laws

  • For example, the Ten Commandments have shaped British law (with laws against murder and theft)

  • Oaths in court are often taken on the Bible

• Sunday is traditionally a Christian day of rest, which has restricted Sunday shopping hours, although this has now relaxed

• Human rights and equality laws are sometimes debated in relation to Christian beliefs, such as marriage laws, abortion and assisted dying

Christian festivals

• Christian festivals continue to impact upon British society

  • Christmas is a national holiday that celebrates the birth of Jesus

    • There are many traditions that continue around this time, including nativity plays, carols, Christmas trees and gift-giving

    • Christianity is both a religious festival and a secular cultural event

  • Easter is the most important Christian festival

    • Easter celebrates Jesus’s crucifixion and resurrection

    • Good Friday and Easter Monday are public holidays

    • Traditions include: church services, Easter eggs (symbol of new life) and processions

• These festivals show Christianity’s deep influence on UK culture and the calendar

Christian traditions

• There are many Christian traditions that continue to be shaped by Christianity

  • National ceremonies often include Christian services, such as Remembrance Day church services and prayers for the fallen

  • Royal weddings, funerals and coronations take place in Christian churches

  • Collective worship in schools must be broadly Christian in character

  • Charitable traditions are often inspired by Christian values 

    • For example, food banks, Christian Aid Week and harvest festivals

  • There are also Christian symbols in society, such as crosses on churches across towns and Christian hymns at state events

The role of the church in local communities

The importance of the church in local communities

• The main function of a local church or chapel is to be a place for people to worship

  • This includes people attending church services or visiting the church for private prayer

• The local church has always had an important role in society

  • Historically, it has been where key messages were communicated and information was shared

  • Nowadays, it helps bring people together and unites them within communities

• The local church is important because it:

  • Unites the community

  • Provides support and comfort

  • Can provide advice from a person who has religious authority

  • Gives a sense of identity and belonging to an individual

• There are also many other religious functions that take place in a church, such as rites of passage ceremonies, which include:

  • Baptism

  • Marriage

  • Funerals

• Many Bible study groups for both children and adults, such as Sunday school, can also take place in local churches and chapels

• Christian churches are often open all day for quiet reflection, and services are regularly held with all being made welcome

  • In this way, churches can help those who are lonely and provide support

The role of the Christian church in the local community

• Christians believe that it is part of their duty to act in a moral way, and this involves helping others around them

• They believe this because Jesus taught the importance of helping others who are less fortunate

• The Christian Church can play a vital role in helping others in three main areas

  • Parish activities

  • Outreach work

  • Ecumenism 

Parish activities

• A parish is an area that has its own church and clergy

• Parish churches aim to support the local community by:

  • Offering space and facilities for activities, such as youth clubs, parent and toddler groups and other social gatherings

  • Supporting any local Christian primary and secondary schools by providing space for activities when necessary

  • Creating a space for Bible discussion groups so that Christians may reflect on important teachings

• The church is also used for many activities that support the community 

  • Crèche facilities

  • Youth groups

  • Community meeting places (e.g. keep fit classes)

  • Adult education classes

  • Charity events

  • Coffee mornings

  • Birthday parties

  • Concerts

Outreach work

• Outreach work is putting faith into action by intentionally reaching out to help and serve others in practical ways. Parish churches may give help to people in need by:

  • Providing support and advice for low-income people or struggling families 

  • Providing temporary financial support

  • Running food banks and providing homeless shelters

  • Giving relationship advice to couples

• According to Peter in the Bible, parish churches have a duty to provide this support because Jesus set an example of looking after people in need

• Some Christians volunteer as street pastors, going out onto the streets at night to care for those in need and those who are at risk of harm

• The Salvation Army is an example of a Christian denomination that work in the community to help others

  • The Salvation Army sets up food kitchens, organises toy collections at Christmas and offers an advice network

  • The organisation has set up affordable nurseries so that parents of young children can return to work easily and provide for their family

  • It also runs summer camps and after-school clubs to provide children with a safe environment to gain independence and life skills

  • It seeks to represent the vulnerable in society and attends political conferences

  • It provides addiction support and fights to end modern-day slavery, and it also provides support for the elderly, such as activities to prevent old people from feeling isolated

  • They do this because they are following the biblical teaching to “love your neighbour as yourself” (Mark 12:31)

Ecumenism

• Christians believe that Jesus was the ultimate example of reconciliation because his crucifixion and resurrection healed the broken relationship between God and humanity

  • Many Christians try to follow Jesus’s example by working for reconciliation in the world and trying to bring the different denominations of Christianity together

• The ecumenical movement aims to unite all Christian denominations into one Church

  • It was founded in 1910 at the World Missionary Conference in Scotland and has led to more cooperation between denominations

  • Examples include different denominations sharing the same church building and ecumenical services, where different denominations worship together

• The World Council of Churches is a fellowship of churches that works towards ecumenism

  • Each year, the global organisation holds a week of prayer devoted to Christian unity, remembering Jesus’s teaching that they may be one so that the world may believe (John 17:21)

  • The organisation runs campaigns to promote unity and works with other religions

• Ecumenism refers to a movement towards unity between churches

  • Local churches often try to connect and come together with other churches in the area or further afield

  • This creates opportunities for churches to work together to tackle social issues on a local or national level