The Christian population of England and Wales has fallen by four million to 33.2 million in the past decade, the 2011 census reveals.
It comes as the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, says English cathedral congregations have grown in recent years.
The number of people describing themselves as having no religion rose from 15% to 25% of the population.
The British Humanist Association said it was a "significant cultural shift."
Nick Spencer, research director at think-tank Theos, said:
"These figures show that we have a plural religious landscape but that doesn't mean we're atheists. Digging deeper, we see that even those who say they have no religion often have a variety of spiritual beliefs but they don't want to associate these to religious institutions."
Theos - The public theology think tank
Clear thinking on religion and society
hello@theosthinktank.co.uk@theosthinktank020 7828 7777
Reports
Is there a “Religious Right” emerging in Britain?
Andy Walton looks at whether there is a "Religious Right" emerging in Britain
Media Monitoring
Blasphemy Charges Becoming New Weapon Against Egyptian Christians
In latest example, female social studies teacher faces trial
Theos in the Media
Census: Number of Christians down
11th December 2012
The Christian population of England and Wales has fallen by four million to 33.2 million in the past decade, the 2011 census reveals.
It comes as the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, says English cathedral congregations have grown in recent years.
The number of people describing themselves as having no religion rose from 15% to 25% of the population.
The British Humanist Association said it was a "significant cultural shift."
Nick Spencer, research director at think-tank Theos, said:
"These figures show that we have a plural religious landscape but that doesn't mean we're atheists. Digging deeper, we see that even those who say they have no religion often have a variety of spiritual beliefs but they don't want to associate these to religious institutions."
BBC | Read full article at www.bbc.co.uk
Photo by Khairil Zhafri