Religion has played a central role in shaping British society, law, and culture. While the UK is increasingly secular, it remains a country of great religious diversity. The test expects you to know about the established churches, patron saints, and religious freedoms.
Key facts
- The Church of England is the established church in England. The monarch is its Supreme Governor.
- The Church of Scotland is a Presbyterian church and is the national church of Scotland.
- There is no established church in Wales or Northern Ireland.
- The patron saint of England is St George (23 April), Scotland is St Andrew (30 November), Wales is St David (1 March), and Northern Ireland is St Patrick (17 March).
- Christianity is the largest religion in the UK, but there are also significant Muslim, Hindu, Sikh, Jewish, and Buddhist communities.
- Everyone in the UK has the legal right to practise their religion freely.
- The Archbishop of Canterbury is the most senior bishop of the Church of England.
- Christmas and Easter are the two main Christian festivals widely celebrated across the UK.
In depth
The Church of England was established in the 16th century when Henry VIII broke away from the Roman Catholic Church. It remains the official state church of England, with the reigning monarch serving as its Supreme Governor and the Archbishop of Canterbury as its most senior cleric. Scotland has its own national church - the Church of Scotland, which follows the Presbyterian tradition and is governed by elders rather than bishops. Wales and Northern Ireland do not have established churches.
While Christianity is the UK's largest religion, the country is home to people of many faiths. There are significant communities of Muslims, Hindus, Sikhs, Jews, and Buddhists, among others. Freedom of religion is protected by law, and discrimination on the basis of religion is illegal. Each of the UK's four nations has its own patron saint: St George for England (celebrated on 23 April), St Andrew for Scotland (30 November), St David for Wales (1 March), and St Patrick for Northern Ireland (17 March). These saints' days are widely recognised and sometimes celebrated with public events.
Remember the UK is a Christian country with an established church but is also very diverse. The Church of England (Anglican) is established in England, with the monarch as its head, while the Church of Scotland is Presbyterian. Other major religions include Islam, Hinduism, Sikhism, Judaism and Buddhism, and many people have no religion.