Michael Brooks
Catholicism is the largest religion in Europe and the Americas, with approximately 1.4 billion members worldwide. In England, the number of Catholics has fluctuated over the centuries, from 4% of the population in 1700 to 1% in 1800. Large-scale Irish migration in the 19th century, particularly during the Great Famine, boosted Catholic numbers in England. According to various sources, there are currently between 3.8 million and 6.2 million Catholics in England and Wales, with 1.75 million regularly attending Mass. This makes Catholicism the largest religious minority in the region, and recent studies suggest that it is gaining popularity among young people, with Catholics outnumbering Anglicans 2 to 1 among Gen Z.
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What You'll Learn
Catholic migration to England
The Catholic Church in England and Wales has approximately 6.2 million members, making it the largest religious minority in the region. This figure includes both those who identify as Catholic (3.8 million) and those who were raised Catholic (6.2 million). The Catholic percentage of the total population has remained fairly stable over the last 30 years.
Historically, the Catholic Church in England and Wales can trace its origins back to the 6th century, when Pope Gregory I intensified the evangelization of the Kingdom of Kent, linking it to the Holy See in 597 AD. However, this communion was broken by King Henry VIII in 1534, marking the start of the English Reformation. During this period, the Church of England broke away from the authority of the Pope and adopted Protestant theology and liturgy. As a result, many Catholics in England went underground or migrated to other countries.
One notable wave of Catholic migration to England occurred in the 19th and 20th centuries, with hundreds of thousands of Irish people migrating across the channel during the Great Irish Famine. These migrants established Catholic communities in cities such as London, Liverpool, Manchester, and Glasgow, as well as in towns and villages across the country. This influx of Irish Catholics gave Catholicism in England a significant boost in numbers.
In addition to Irish migration, Eastern European migration, particularly from Poland, has also contributed to the Catholic population in England in more recent years. As of 2017, up to 900,000 Polish immigrants have arrived in the UK since Poland's accession to the European Union in 2004. However, only about 10% of these newly arrived Poles regularly attend Catholic church services.
Overall, the migration of Catholics to England, including those from Ireland and Eastern Europe, has played a significant role in shaping the religious landscape of the country and has contributed to the growth of the Catholic Church in the region.
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Catholic demographics in England
Catholicism is the largest religion in Europe and the Americas, with approximately 1.4 billion members worldwide. In England and Wales, there are approximately 6.2 million Catholics, making it the largest religious minority. This accounts for 8.3% of the adult population, and 13.7% were raised Catholic. Of these, 1.75 million Catholics attend Mass on a regular basis, with Mass attendance across England, Wales, and Scotland standing at roughly 829,000 on a "typical Sunday" in 2019.
Historically, the Catholic Church in England included about 50,000 people from traditional ("recusant") Catholic families, who generally kept a low profile. In the 19th century, large-scale Irish migration, particularly to Liverpool, boosted Catholicism in England. This was further increased by the arrival of poor Irish immigrants escaping the Great Irish Famine, with numbers rising from 224,000 in 1841 to 419,000 in 1851.
Today, the most Catholic areas in England are Greater London and the Northwest. In the Northwest, one in five people are Catholic. Women make up more of the Catholic population than men, with 59% women to 41% men. Among 18- to 24-year-olds, 41% identify as Catholic, compared to 20% who identify as Anglican.
The Catholic Church in England and Wales has 22 dioceses and almost 3,000 churches. There are also over 2,100 Catholic educational institutions, including nurseries, schools, special schools, colleges, and universities.
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Catholic schools in England
There are approximately 6.2 million Catholics in England and Wales, making Catholicism the largest religious minority in the region. The Catholic Church has approximately 1.4 billion members worldwide and is the largest religion in Europe and the Americas.
In England, the Catholic Church runs over 2,100 educational institutions, including nurseries, schools, special schools, colleges, and universities. These schools constitute 10% of the state-funded sector, making the Catholic Church the largest provider of secondary education and the second-largest provider of primary education in England and Wales. Catholic schools in England are under the jurisdiction of their local diocese, which can inspect the religious education and acts of worship of the school under Section 48 of the Education Act 2005. The Catholic Education Service provides central coordination for these schools under the Bishops' Conference.
The history of Catholic schools in England is closely tied to the religious landscape of the country. During the Reformation, Catholic schools were established on the European continent to cater to the educational needs of children from Catholic families in Britain. The 18th century saw the establishment of colleges for training priests in Scotland, such as Scalan and Lismore Seminary. The Education Act of 1944 in England and Wales led to the construction of state-funded Catholic schools.
Today, Catholic schools in England are open to pupils of all faiths or none, although oversubscription may result in priority being given to Catholic children. The curriculum in these schools includes religious education and acts of worship, with many schools founded and maintained by religious orders. Examples of Catholic primary schools in England include All Saints in Cambridge, The Bishops' School in Chelmsford, and Emmaus School in Liverpool. St. Edward's Royal Free School in Windsor is a joint middle school, while secondary schools include St Cuthbert Mayne School in Torquay and St Augustine in Taunton.
While Catholic schools have faced some controversy, with critics advocating for their closure or the adoption of "shared campuses" with non-denominational schools, they have also been recognized for their academic achievements and contributions to social welfare. The Catholic Church in England has diocesan social welfare agencies, such as Nugent in Liverpool and Catholic Care in Leeds, that actively support the community.
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Catholic places of worship in England
There are approximately 6.2 million Catholics in England and Wales, making Catholicism the largest religious minority in the region. This number includes 3.8 million persons who identify as Catholics and 6.2 million who were raised Catholic. The most Catholic areas are Greater London and the North West of England, where one in five people are Catholic. This is due to the high number of English recusants in Lancashire and the large-scale migration of Irish people to cities like Liverpool in the 19th century.
The Catholic Church in England and Wales has 22 dioceses with almost 3,000 churches. These churches are sacred spaces for Catholic worshippers to practise their faith and celebrate important life events, such as baptisms, marriages, and funerals. In addition to churches, there are over 2,100 Catholic educational institutions in England and Wales, including nurseries, schools, special schools, colleges, and universities.
One notable Catholic place of worship in England is Westminster Cathedral, where an annual Mass in Support of Migrant Workers has been held since 2006. The cathedral is also significant as the location where the Archbishop of Westminster, Cardinal Newman, acknowledged the doctrine of papal infallibility. Another important Catholic site in England is the original Polish Catholic church on Devonia Road in Islington, London. This church is unique as it is the only Polish parish or quasi-parish in England and Wales, with all other Polish communities of worship represented by the Polish Catholic Mission.
The history of Catholic places of worship in England has been marked by periods of persecution and discrimination. From 1534 to 1555, King Henry VIII ended communion with the Roman Catholic Church, resulting in the seizure of Catholic property and the suppression of Catholic practices. During the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, the Ecclesiastical Titles Act of 1851 denied arms and legal existence to territorial Catholic sees. Catholics were treated with suspicion and discriminated against in significant ways, with their civil rights severely curtailed. However, in 1829, the Roman Catholic Relief Act was passed, granting Catholics equal civil rights and lifting the main disabilities they had faced.
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Catholic mass attendance in England
The number of Catholics attending Mass in England and Wales has increased in recent years. In 2022, 503,308 people attended Mass, and this number rose to 554,913 in 2023, an increase of approximately 50,000. This may be due to an influx of new people joining the Church, according to Professor Stephen Bullivant of St Mary's University, Twickenham. However, it is worth noting that these numbers may be an underestimation as some parishes may not have submitted their figures.
Historically, Catholic mass attendance in England has fluctuated. During the 1800s, the percentage of the population that was Catholic may have declined from 4% in 1700 to 1% in 1800. By 1825, the Bishop of Chester estimated the number of Catholics in England to be around half a million. In the 19th century, large-scale Irish migration to cities like Liverpool and towns and villages across England boosted Catholicism in the country.
In more recent times, weekly mass attendance in England and Wales fell by nearly a third (30.7%) between 1993 and 2010. In 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic, 389,960 people attended Mass in England and Wales. During the pandemic, the number of families attending Mass decreased, and the number of people returning to Mass post-pandemic was lower than expected. As of 2023, the number of Mass attendees has not returned to pre-pandemic levels.
According to a survey conducted in late 2019, around three in ten British Catholics (31%) reported attending Mass on a weekly basis. Among those who considered the Church to be an important part of their life, 72% attended Mass weekly. However, this number dropped to 31% for those who considered the Church to be quite important, and only 5% for those who considered it unimportant. There was no significant difference in weekly attendance between those raised as Catholics and those who converted (33%). Additionally, 25% of weekly Mass attendees were women over the age of 65.
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Frequently asked questions
It is estimated that there are 4.15 million Catholics in England and Wales.
According to the Catholic Directory, about one million Catholics in England and Wales regularly attend Mass. However, other sources state that 1.75 million Catholics attend Mass regularly.
8.3% of the adult population in England and Wales identify as Catholic. This equates to about one in twelve people.
6.2 million people in England and Wales were raised Catholic, which is 13.7% of the population.
A study from the United Kingdom found that 41% of Gen Z identify as Catholic.
