There are two "official" churches in the UK: the Church of England (Anglican Church) and the Church of Scotland (Presbyterian Church). In addition, various religions and countless denominations can find their representation in the UK.
The vast majority of British people practice Christianity, although the number of worshippers attending church services is not high, with only about 1.1 million attending weekly. Muslims are the largest non-Christian group in the UK (over 1.5 million), and there are also significant numbers of Buddhists, Hindus, Sikhs, and Jews, with their numbers continuously growing.
The rich and diverse religious history has also resulted in the breathtaking churches, temples, and monasteries found throughout the UK. The Glasgow Abbey was a place where Celtic religious activities were held and played an important role in the legendary stories of King Arthur; Canterbury Cathedral is also steeped in dramatic history, as it is said that St. Augustine arrived in the UK from Rome in 597 AD to spread the Gospel, and five years later, he oversaw the construction of Canterbury Cathedral.
Many distinctive historical figures have emerged from the religious history of the UK, including Henry VIII, who initiated the Protestant Reformation in England, the mysterious St. Patrick, whose feast day is celebrated worldwide every year; and the legendary King Richard the Lionheart from the famous Robin Hood tales in the twelfth century.
The above is a related introduction to religion in the UK, which we hope will be helpful to new immigrants in the UK.
