Religion

The Church of England

• The Church of England is the established (official) church in England
• It is a Protestant church, formed when Henry VIII broke from the Church of Rome
• The monarch is the head of the Church of England
• The Archbishop of Canterbury is the spiritual leader
• The monarch is not the head of the Church of Scotland

The Church of Scotland

• The Church of Scotland is a Presbyterian church
• It is the established church in Scotland
• The monarch is not its head (unlike the Church of England)

Religious Diversity

• The UK has a policy of religious freedom and tolerance
• Everyone has the right to practise their religion or have no religion at all
• Major religions represented in the UK:
  • Christianity (largest, approximately 60%)
  • Islam
  • Hinduism
  • Sikhism
  • Judaism
  • Buddhism

Key Points

• There is no place for extremism or intolerance in British society
• Religious tolerance is one of the five fundamental principles of British life
• People can choose whether or not to have a religion — this is protected by law
• Northern Ireland and Wales do not have established churches