The Church of England has welcomed the publication of the latest Census figures which confirmed that Christianity remains the largest religion in England in 2011, with 31.5 million people (59.4 per cent of the population) self-identifying as Christians.

In an initial comment on the  data, Bishop Tim, says: “The situation in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly closely follows the national trend, with almost 60% of people still firmly stating their religion to be Christian.

“The patterns of religious affiliation are very much in line with expectations. They indicate a changing pattern of religious life in which traditional or inherited identities are less taken for granted than they used to be. At the same time religious diversity is increasing and the numbers indicating ‘no religion’ have grown.

“It is, however, worth remembering that the work of the Church of England is not limited to those who declare Christian affiliation. As a Church we continue to serve people of all faiths and none, in parishes, schools, community projects and through the thousands of hours of voluntary work that our congregations contribute to the local community.”

Office for National Statistics Report: Religion in England & Wales 2011

Church of England: Response to the ONS Report