1. Lesson 1: Religion, Immigration & Diversity
Britain Today
Lesson 1:
Religion, Immigration & Diversity

2. Religion in Britain Today
Christian: 71.7%
None: 14.6%
Not Stated: 7.7%
Muslim: 3.1%
Hindu: 1.1%
Sikh: 0.7%
Jewish: 0.5%
Buddhist: 0.3%
Other: 0.3%

3. Christianity in Britain
Christianity is the main type of religion in Britain today

4. The Early Christian Church
Christianity first arrived in Britain between 100 and 200 AD and existed independently of the Church of Rome.

5. St Augustine The Pope sent Saint Augustine from Rome in 597.
He established his church in Canterbury, the capital of Kent, and became the first Archbishop of Canterbury.

6. “Unification”
The Roman system introduced by Augustine gradually absorbed the pre-existing Celtic Christian churches (e.g. the Church of Ireland)
England became “Roman Catholic”

7. Separation from Rome
England remained a Roman Catholic country for nearly a thousand years.
It separated from Rome in 1534 during the reign of King Henry VIII.

8. Modern Anglican Church
Today, the Church of England is the “official” church in England.
It is divided into two provinces, York and Canterbury.
It has 43 dioceses and approximately 27 million members.
The Queen is the head, followed by the Archbishops of Canterbury and York.
Queen Elizabeth 2
Canterbury York

9. Multiracial Britain - Immigrants
Before and after WW2, most immigrants to the UK were from former colonies.
Many came from the Caribbean and Indian subcontinent.
These people filled a gap in the UK labour market for unskilled jobs.

10. Immigration Restrictions
In 1962, new laws restricted the freedom of passage into the UK from other parts of the Commonwealth.
By 1972 only holders of work permits, or people with parents or grandparents born in the UK could gain entry.

11. Demographics Population Ethnicity Place of birth male: 23,922,144
female: 25,216,687
total: 49,138,831
Place of birth
UK: 90.7%
EU: 2.3%
Outside EU: 6.9%
Ethnicity
White: 90.9%
Indian: 2.1%
Pakistani: 1.4%
Mixed: 1.4%
Black Caribbean: 1.1%
Black African: 0.9%
Chinese: 0.4%
Black Other: 0.2%