The number of Christians in England is close to falling below 50 per cent for the first time, as atheists now account for more than a third of “faith” groups.

Just over half of the population in England and Wales, some 51 per cent, reported their religion as Christian in 2019 – a decline of nearly 8.3 per cent since the 2011 Census, the last time a comprehensive survey of the nation’s different religions took place. The results of the next Census will be published next year.

However, in the most detailed government analysis in over a decade, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) published data showing that no religion – including not stated – was the second most common response in 2019, rising from 32.3 to 38.4 per cent of the population.