The UK is one of the last western democracies with a state religion: the Church of England.
The Church's entanglement with the state is bad for both.
Join our campaign to disestablish the Church.
CAMPAIGN ALERT: Support the disestablishment bill
In November 2023, a private member's bill to disestablish the Church of England was selected in the ballot.
Please write to your MP and urge them to support this bill, to make the UK are more equitable and democratic country for people of all religions and beliefs.
Since our founding in 1866, one of our primary objectives has been disestablishment of the Church of England: its formal separation from the state.
More than 150 years later, census figures show most people in England and Wales are not Christian. Surveys consistently reveal a similar picture in Scotland. The case for disestablishment has never been stronger.
Disestablishment means the Church would no longer have privileged input into government - but also that government could not involve itself in the running of the Church. Both sides would gain autonomy. This is why support for Church-state separation can be found within the CofE itself.
There have been many proponents, religious and non-religious, for church-state separation, and there are a wide variety of motivations for supporting this reform.
The existence of a legally-enshrined national religion privileges one part of the population, one institution and one set of beliefs. Removing all symbolic and institutional ties between government and religion is the only way to ensure equal treatment to citizens of all religions and none.
The Church of England has enjoyed significant privileges relating its established status for many centuries. These privileges have remained largely unchanged despite the massive and continuing reduction in support for the Church in the UK. It is highly likely that this trend will continue for the foreseeable future, making the Church of England's continuation as the established church unsustainable.
- Christians are a minority in Britain. In Wales and Scotland the majority have no religion.
- Just 1% of 18-24 year olds say they belong to the Church of England.
- Less than 1% of the population regularly attend Church of England church services.
The Church of England is also out of step with the UK public on several key issues: it remains opposed to same-sex relationships and allows parishes to reject women as bishops and priests. These discriminatory positions cannot be reconciled with the Church's status as part of the UK state.
And no institution with the shameful historical record of the Church of England safeguarding and abuse should retain its privileged role in the British establishment.
The existence of a legally enshrined national religion privileges one part of the population, one institution and one set of beliefs. Removing all symbolic and institutional ties between government and religion is the only way to ensure equal treatment of citizens of all religions and none.
Take action!
1. Write to your MP
Ask your MP to support the separation of church and state
2. Share your story
Tell us why you support this campaign, and how you are personally affected by the issue. You can also let us know if you would like assistance with a particular issue.
3. Join the National Secular Society
Become a member of the National Secular Society today! Together, we can separate religion and state for greater freedom and fairness.
Latest updates
Last person executed for blasphemy honoured in France
Posted: Thu, 13 Apr 2023 10:17
A statue of François-Jean de la Barre, the last person executed for blasphemy in France, has been symbolically erected in front of the Basilica of Sacré Coeur in Montmartre, Paris.
François-Jean de la Barre, also known as the Chevalier de La Barre, was executed at the age of 19 in 1766 for failing to doff his hat in front of a religious procession.
He was tortured, beheaded and burnt with a copy of Voltaire's Philosophical Dictionary nailed to his torso.
The first statue of La Barre was erected in 1897 in front of the Sacré Coeur but was removed under pressure from Catholic Church. It was melted down by the Nazis to make cannons.
The unveiling ceremony for the new statue (pictured) was part of a two-day international conference on secularism in Paris organised by La Fédération nationale de la libre pensée.
National Secular Society president Keith Porteous Wood and chief executive Stephen Evans both spoke at the conference. Keith discussed recent campaigning to hold religious institutions to account for child abuse.
Stephen gave an overview of the situation in the United Kingdom, where the Church of England is established by law. Its bishops sit as of right in the legislature, the head of state is 'Defender of the faith', and worship is mandated in state schools.
The diverse arrangements of church and state in different countries were discussed by speakers from a range of countries, including France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Norway, Portugal, Spain and the United States.
Many speakers highlighted the unjust privileges stemming from concordats: agreements or treaties between the Vatican and a secular government.
Delegates committed to act in their respective countries to achieve the effective separation of religion and state, to promote freedom of conscience for all, and for the abolition of all concordats and blasphemy laws.
NSS chief executive: "A reminder of the importance of defending liberal principles and challenging religious privileges"
Speaking after the conference, NSS chief executive Stephen Evans said: "Both globally and at home institutionalised and fundamentalist religion remains a serious threat to freedom of belief, expression and choice.
"This conference served as a reminder of the importance of defending liberal principles and challenging religious privileges to ensure the flourishing of human rights for all.
"I thank Libre Pensée for putting together such a stimulating event and memorable commemoration of Chevalier de La Barre, which serves not only as a reflection on past horrors, but also a commitment to the future of free expression."
Bill to allow same-sex marriage in Church of England to be tabled
Posted: Wed, 15 Mar 2023 08:48
An MP will seek to introduce a bill next week to permit same-sex marriages to be performed by willing Church of England clergy.
UK law currently prevents its clergy from carrying out same-sex marriages even if they wish to.
Ben Bradshaw, the Labour MP for Exeter and a former cabinet minister, will introduce a Ten Minute Rule Motion on Tuesday making the case for legislation to allow willing CofE clergy to solemnise the marriages of same sex couples. It would not force clergy who are opposed to same-sex marriages to perform them.
Last month, following a six-year consultation, the General Synod voted to allow priests to bless individuals within civil same-sex marriages. Despite this, Anglican doctrine continues to hold that gay sex is a sin and same-sex marriage is incompatible with scripture. The archbishop of Canterbury has said he would rather see the Church disestablished than split over same-sex marriage.
Recent YouGov polling shows most UK Anglicans believe same-sex marriage is "right".
The proposed legislation comes amidst increased criticism of the Church of England's position on same-sex marriage. Some MPs have even suggested repealing the 1919 act that devolves legislative power from parliament to the Church of England, which would be a step toward disestablishment.
Following the Church's recent decision to reject same-sex marriage but back blessings of same-sex couples who are already married, Ben Bradshaw said bishops were "heading for a major constitutional clash with parliament".
"The overwhelming view of MPs on both sides of the House is that it is not sustainable for our established church to be institutionally homophobic and to actively exclude a portion of the population, whom they have a duty to serve", he said.
NSS: 'bill highlights the absurdity of having an officially homophobic institution as a state church'
NSS chief executive Stephen Evans said: "No member of the clergy should be forced to conduct a same-sex marriage. But at the same time, no member of the clergy should be prevented by law from officiating over a marriage involving a same-sex couple.
"Permissive legislation that allows for this would ensure the consciences of everyone can be protected. That this bill is necessary highlights the absurdity of having an officially homophobic institution as a state church."
Image: UK Parliament, CC BY 3.0
