A new poll by the National Churches Trust shows that 60 % of British adults back the Government providing financial support for churches, chapels and meeting houses in order to protect their heritage and history for future generations.
Key findings include:
- More than four in five Britons (84%) agree that the UK’s churches, chapels and meeting houses are an important part of the UK’s heritage and history. That is an increase of 5 percentage points compared to a similar poll conducted in December 2014.
- The majority of British adults (83%) agree that churches, chapels and meeting houses are important for society as they provide a space in which community activities can take place, as well as worship. That is an increase of 9 percentage points compared to a similar poll conducted in December 2014.
- 60% of British adults agree that the Government should give financial support to churches, chapels and meeting houses in order to protect their heritage and history for future generations. This question was not asked in a similar poll conducted in December 2014.
- Women are significantly more likely than men to agree that the Government should give financial support to churches, chapels and meeting houses (68% vs 52%)
- Almost three in five British adults (57%) say that they have visited a church, chapel or meeting house for any reason in the last year. That includes religious services (such as Sunday worship, weddings and funerals), non-religious activities (such as playgroups, cultural events, meetings and lunch clubs), or as a visitor or tourist. That is an increase of 9 percentage points compared to a similar poll conducted in December 2014.
- Adults in Wales were the least likely (45%) and adults in the North East the most likely (64%) to have visited a church, chapel or meeting house for any reason in the last year.
- Almost one in five British adults say that they have visited a church, chapel or meeting house for a non-religious activity (such as playgroups, cultural events, meetings and lunch clubs) in the last year (18%), an increase of 5 percentage points since December 2014 (13%).
- Women are more likely than men to say that they have visited a church, chapel or meeting house for a religious service (such as Sunday worship, weddings and funerals) in the last twelve months (40% vs 34%).
- More than two in five British adults (43%) say that a friendly welcome would encourage them to visit a church, chapel or meeting house for any reason, including religious services, non-religious activities (such as playgroups, cultural events, meetings and lunch clubs) or as a visitor or tourist.
- 34% said that the provision of toilets and 32% said that a Café or refreshment area would encourage them to visit a church, chapel or meeting house for any reason, including religious services, non-religious activities (such as playgroups, cultural events, meetings and lunch clubs) or as visitor or tourist.
- 29% said that comfortable seating and 28% said that access to useful visitor information (e.g. details of things to see or do, opening hours, directions) would encourage them to visit a church, chapel or meeting house for any reason, including religious services, non-religious activities (such as playgroups, cultural events, meetings and lunch clubs) or as a visitor or tourist.
- Younger adults (those aged 18-34) are considerably more likely than their older counterparts (aged 65+) to say that WiFi would encourage them to visit a church, chapel or meeting house (27% compared to 5%).
- However, 46% of British adults agreed that it is difficult to find useful visitor information about churches, chapels and meeting houses, such as directions, opening hours and details of things to see and do.
Download key findings
National Churches Trust news
