Evidence boundary
These statistics cover England and Wales, not the whole UK. Religious affiliation is not the same as belief, practice or attendance.
GCSE case study · Christianity
Christianity in Britain: reading the census carefully
The 2021 census shows how religious identity is changing in England and Wales — and why statistics must be read carefully.
01 · Case
Case outline
In England and Wales, Christian affiliation fell from 71.7 per cent in 2001 to 59.3 per cent in 2011 and 46.2 per cent in 2021. Christianity was still the largest religious response in 2021, while 'No religion' reached 37.2 per cent.
Those figures show a substantial change in self-identified affiliation, but the census question is voluntary and does not measure belief, practice or attendance. 'No religion' does not automatically mean atheist, either. The conceptual pressure is simple: statistics can describe a pattern without explaining every person inside it, and figures for England and Wales are not figures for the whole United Kingdom.
02 · Establish
Secure what the evidence can establish
Start with the boundary, then attach every claim to its receipt.
- 01 · source fact
Christian affiliation in England and Wales was 71.7 percent in 2001, 59.3 percent in 2011 and 46.2 percent in 2021.
Sources: Office for National Statistics - 02 · source fact
In 2021 Christianity remained the largest religious response and No religion reached 37.2 percent.
Sources: Office for National Statistics - 03 · source fact
The census religion question is voluntary and records self-identified affiliation, whether or not a person believes or practises.
Sources: Office for National Statistics
03 · Test
Challenge the easy version
Use the language carefully, find the tempting errors and inspect the complete evidence trail.
Concepts
religious affiliationsecularisationreligious diversitychurch growth
Misconceptions
01. 46.2 percent means 46.2 percent attend church.
02. No religion means atheist.
03. England and Wales figures describe the whole United Kingdom.
Evidence trail
Open the sources
Test the claims above and notice what each source can — and cannot — show.
- Religion, England and Wales: Census 2021
Office for National Statistics · official statistics
The voluntary question measures self-reported affiliation, not belief, observance or attendance. Checked 2026-08-18. - GCSE Religious Studies Route A specification, Version 4
Eduqas · assessment authority
Controls required content; it is not evidence that every named view is uncontested. Checked 2026-08-18.
04 · Apply
Turn evidence into an answer
Attempt each question in your notes or on paper before opening its indicative guidance.
- 01 · Assessment objective 1 · 2 marks
State two accurate facts about Christianity in Britain: reading the census carefully.
Indicative guidance
Credit two distinct, source-supported facts. Do not credit an organisation claim as independently verified impact.
- 02 · Assessment objective 1 · 5 marks
Explain how Christianity in Britain: reading the census carefully connects with religious affiliation, secularisation, religious diversity, church growth.
Indicative guidance
Develop at least two accurate case-to-concept links. Naming a concept without explaining the link is insufficient.
- 03 · source_analysis · 4 marks
What can one source in this fact file establish, and what can it not establish on its own?
Indicative guidance
Identify the source and type, make one supported utility point and one precise limitation. Generic claims that a source is biased earn no credit without explanation.
- 04 · Assessment objective 2 · 15 marks
'Census change shows that Christian mission has failed.' Evaluate this statement.
Indicative guidance
Use the case accurately as evidence, test more than one perspective and reach a justified conclusion. Case knowledge is evidence, not a substitute for reasoning.
Guidance is indicative, not an official mark scheme. This page does not collect or save answers.