CofE - Mapping Practising Christians

Mapping Practising Christians September 2017

Methodology • ComRes interviewed 8,150 GB adults aged 18+ online between 17th and 31st March 2017 – of which 4,190 identified as Christians.

• Data were weighted to be demographically representative of all GB adults. ComRes is a member of the British Polling Council and abides by its rules.

• Of this sample 522 were identified as ‘practising’ Christians (those who say they read/listen to the Bible at least once a week, pray at least once a week and attend a church service at least once a month).

• The term active Christian refers to respondents who identify as an active follower of Jesus but do necessarily read/listen to the Bible at least once a week, pray at least once a week and attend a church service at least once a month.

Christians in Britain 51%

14% 6%

Christians

Self-defined (active follower of Jesus) Base: all respondents (n=8150)

Practising

Practising Christians by Levels of Activity

Female practising Christians surveyed are more likely than male practising Christians to say that they pray every day (70% vs 60%).

75%

65%

44% 30%

23% 14%

12% 0 Pray Every day

3%

26%

8% 0

Go to church Three to four times a week

Read/listen to the Bible Once a week

Every month

Base: all respondents who are practising Christians (n=522)

Practising Christians by Age

10% 32%

14%

In this survey of adults in Britain, the mean age of Practising Christians is 51 compared with 47 years old for the general public.

13% 14%

General Public in Britain by Age

12%

22%

17% 14% 16%

17%

18-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65+ Base: all respondents who are practising Christians (n=522)

18%

18-24 25-34 35-44 Base: all respondents (n=8150)

2%

2%Practising Christians in Britain by Denomination 1% 3%

6%

4% 26% 8% 10% 14%

23%

Anglican / Church of England

Roman Catholic

Other

Pentecostal

Baptist

Methodist

Independent / Free Evangelical

Presbyterian

New Churches (e.g. New Frontiers)

Don’t know

Orthodox Base: all respondents who are practising Christians (n=522)

Practising Christians Britain - Age at coming to faith The mean age that respondents reported becoming a Christian varies regionally with people in Wales reporting 17*, people in England reporting 11 and people in Scotland reporting 11.

4%

1%

1% 2%

‘Practising’ Christians (those who say they attend church on a monthly basis, pray and read/listen to the Bible weekly) are more likely than ‘non-active’ Christians to say that they became a Christian at a later age – an average of 12 years old compared to 5 years old.

7% 40%

9%

20% 16%

0-4

35-44

5-10

45-54

11-18 55+

19 - 24 Don’t know

25-34

Base: all respondents who are practising Christians (n=522)

Practising Christians Britain by Social Grade 34% 27%

31%

27% 22%

22%

24%

Practising Christians net: ABC1 65% compared with the general public net ABC1: 54%

13%

AB

C1 Practising Christians

C2

DE

General Public

Base: all respondents (n=8150) Base: all respondents who are practising Christians (n=522)

Practising Christians by Education Level 57%

46% 35%

27%

0% 1%

0% 1%

No formal education

Primary

14% 9%

Secondary school

University degree or equivalent

Practising Christians

3% 3%

Higher university degree

1% 1%

Still in full Prefer not to time answer Education

General Public

Base: all respondents who are practising Christians (n=522)

Base: all respondents (n=8150)

Practising Christians by Ethnicity 91%

82%

18%

White Practising Christians

7% BAME

General Public

Base: all respondents who are practising Christians (n=522)

Base: all respondents (n=8150)

Practising Christians by Ethnicity 82%

91%

Practising Christians by Ethnicity in London 74%

57% 43%

18%

White Practising Christians

24% 7%

BAME General Public

White Pracitising Christians

BAME General Public

Base: all respondents who are practising Christians (n=522) Base: all respondents (n=8150)

As part of the project design respondents who said they previously used to be a member of a religious group were asked ‘At what age did you stop considering yourself to be a member of this religious group?’:

Age of Leaving Christian Faith 1% 0% 1% 4% 6% 10%

34% of those who left the Christian faith were practising Christians

34%

6% 16% 21%

0-4

25-34 Prefer not to say

5-10

35-44 Don't know

11-18 45-54

19 - 24 55+

Base: all respondents who use to be a member of a religious group - wave 1 (n=84)