Government survey shows Christianity continues to decline in England and Wales

A new Government-sponsored survey of 10,000 people shows that Christianity continues to decline in England and Wales – the numbers who define themselves as Christian has fallen 10% in five years. Those who say they have no religion rose from 15% to 21% in the same period.

The research also showed that Christians are less than half as likely to attend a place of worship as followers of other faiths.

The report said: "While Christianity remained the most prevalent faith in England and Wales, between 2005 and 2010 there was a steady decrease in the proportion of people who identified themselves as Christian.

"Christian people were much less likely than all the other main religions to say that they practised their religion, while Muslim people were the most likely to practise their religion."

The annual Citizenship Survey was set up in 2001 by a previous Labour government to try to measure levels of prejudice in society, but the present Government has decided to axe it, saying the £4 million cost is "unsustainable".