Belief in modern Britain
Britain today is more religiously diverse and less religiously affiliated than fifty years ago. Both statements are true at once, and the evidence shows why.
Lesson overview
What you'll learn in this lesson
Describe the place of religion and belief in modern Britain using evidence
Key learning points
- • What the data shows
- • Religion in public life
- • Living together
This lesson at a glance
- 25 minutes
- 20 parts to scroll through
- 4 quick checks
- Marked quiz at the end
- Gentle pace: short sittings with pauses
Words to know
Scroll down — the lesson carries on below
Watch & discover
Part 1 of 20
Visual introductionPicture this
Belief in modern Britain
Britain today is more religiously diverse and less religiously affiliated than fifty years ago. Both statements are true at once, and the evidence shows why.
In a nutshell
Describe the place of religion and belief in modern Britain using evidence
Learning cycle
Part 2 of 20
Learning cycle 1 of 2
Part 1 · What the data shows
A short piece of teaching, then a check to make sure it has landed.
Explore the idea
Part 3 of 20
Learn
What the data shows
Census results since 2001 show a large fall in the proportion identifying as Christian, a rise in those recording no religion, and growth in several minority faith groups, concentrated in particular cities. National figures hide big regional differences.
Reset break
Part 4 of 20
Pause
That's sitting 1 of 5 done
Stretch, get a drink, look out of the window. There is no timer and nothing is counting down — your place is saved, so you can come back in five minutes or tomorrow.
Explore the idea
Part 5 of 20
Learn
Religion in public life
The Church of England is the established church, bishops sit in the House of Lords, and the monarch has a religious role. At the same time, equality law protects religion and belief, including non-belief, and schools must teach RE without promoting any single faith.
Quick check
Part 6 of 20
Quick check
Part 7 of 20
Reset break
Part 8 of 20
Pause
That's sitting 2 of 5 done
Stretch, get a drink, look out of the window. There is no timer and nothing is counting down — your place is saved, so you can come back in five minutes or tomorrow.
Learning cycle
Part 9 of 20
Learning cycle 2 of 2
Part 2 · Living together
A short piece of teaching, then a check to make sure it has landed.
Explore the idea
Part 10 of 20
Learn
Living together
Interfaith work, shared community projects and faith-based charities are a significant part of British civic life. So are tensions: religiously motivated hate crime is recorded and prosecuted. Describing both is more accurate than describing either alone.
Quick check
Part 11 of 20
Reset break
Part 12 of 20
Pause
That's sitting 3 of 5 done
Stretch, get a drink, look out of the window. There is no timer and nothing is counting down — your place is saved, so you can come back in five minutes or tomorrow.
Quick check
Part 13 of 20
Explore the idea
Part 14 of 20
Worked example
Worked example: writing an evidenced paragraph
Religious affiliation in England and Wales has changed sharply this century. Census data record a fall in Christian identification and a rise in 'no religion', while Muslim, Hindu and Sikh populations have grown, particularly in large cities. This suggests two trends at once — secularisation and diversification — so a single description like 'less religious' misses half of what the data shows.
Challenge round
Part 15 of 20
Game · Sort it
Which of these are true?
Drag each card into the right column. Tap a card first if dragging is fiddly.
True
Not true
Reset break
Part 16 of 20
Pause
That's sitting 4 of 5 done
Stretch, get a drink, look out of the window. There is no timer and nothing is counting down — your place is saved, so you can come back in five minutes or tomorrow.
Challenge round
Part 17 of 20
Game · Fill the gaps
Finish the sentences
Choose the word that belongs in each gap.
Census results since 2001 show a large fall in the proportion identifying as Christian, a rise in those recording no ____, and growth in several minority faith groups, concentrated in particular cities.
At the same time, equality law protects religion and ____, including non-belief, and schools must teach RE without promoting any single faith.
Challenge round
Part 18 of 20
Game · Recall cards
Which two trends do census data show together?
Card 1 of 4
Mastery quiz
Part 19 of 20
Marked quiz
End of lesson quiz: Belief in modern Britain
4 questions, marked with the reasoning shown. No timer.
1. Which two trends do census data show together?
2. What does 'established church' mean?
3. What does equality law protect?
4. Why are national figures alone misleading?
Lesson round-up
Part 20 of 20
Lesson round-up
Ready when you are
Quiz score
Not sat
Games
Not played
Points this lesson
0
Best run
0 in a row
Luna: 0 out of 4 on the practice checks. Only if you feel up to it — one more?
Ask LunaPart 1 of 20 · Watch & discover