Michael Brooks
Scotland has a long and complex religious history, with the country's religious demographics changing significantly over the centuries. While Scotland was once a predominantly Catholic country, the arrival of Protestant theology in the early 16th century sparked a religious shift. Today, Scotland is a diverse nation in terms of religious beliefs, with a significant proportion of the population identifying as 'non-religious'. As of the 2022 census, 13.3% of Scots identified as Catholic, a decline from 15.9% in 2011, with the Catholic Church being especially important in West Central Scotland and parts of the Highlands. This decline in religious affiliation has been observed across various faiths, with the number of followers of the Church of Scotland, for instance, decreasing from 32.4% in 2011 to 20.4% in 2022.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Percentage of Catholics in Scotland | 13.3% (2022) |
| Number of Catholics in Scotland | 291,275 (2022) |
| Percentage of Scottish adults identifying with Catholicism | 13% (2019) |
| Number of Catholics in Scotland (2009 estimate) | 850,000 |
| Percentage of Scottish Catholics of Italian, Lithuanian, Ukrainian, and Polish descent | Significant |
| Percentage of Scottish Catholics who are descendants of Irish immigrants | Significant |
| Percentage of Scottish Catholics who are descendants of Scottish Gaelic-speaking migrants from the Highlands and Islands | Significant |
| Percentage of Catholics in Scotland who attend Mass regularly | 184,283 (2008) |
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What You'll Learn
- Catholicism is the second-largest religious affiliation in Scotland
- The Catholic Church was outlawed in Scotland in 1560
- Catholic emancipation in 1829 led to an expansion of Scottish Catholicism
- The Catholic Church is especially important in West Central Scotland
- Polish Catholics have helped bolster church attendance in Scotland
Catholicism is the second-largest religious affiliation in Scotland
The arrival of Catholic Irish immigrants in the 19th century, as well as Scottish Gaelic-speaking migrants from the Highlands and Islands, contributed to the growth of Catholicism in Scotland. The restoration of the Church hierarchy in 1878 and Catholic Emancipation in 1829 further solidified the presence of Catholicism. Significant numbers of Catholics have also emigrated to Scotland from countries such as Italy, Lithuania, Ukraine, and Poland, particularly in recent years.
The Catholic Church was once the dominant religious institution in Scotland, but it was outlawed by the Scottish Reformation Parliament in 1560. Despite this, the Church survived and contributed significantly to Scottish literature and culture. Today, the Church of Scotland, a Presbyterian denomination, is the largest religious affiliation in Scotland, with 20.4% of the population identifying with it. However, like other religious institutions, it has seen a decline in membership, with a significant increase in secularism and those reporting no religious affiliation.
While Catholicism is the second-largest religious affiliation in Scotland, it is important to note that other religions have also established a presence, including Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Sikhism. These religions have seen varying levels of growth, with Islam being the second most followed religion after Christianity, and the number of Muslims increasing to 2.2% of the population in 2022.
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The Catholic Church was outlawed in Scotland in 1560
The Scottish Reformation of 1560, which saw the country break with the Roman Catholic Church, was a pivotal moment in Scotland's religious history. This event had far-reaching consequences and effectively made the Catholic Church illegal in Scotland.
The Scottish Parliament passed the Confession of Faith and the Book of Discipline, which established the Reformed Church, later known as the Church of Scotland. This new church was Presbyterian in nature, with a system of elder-led governance, and it rejected the authority of the Pope, as well as many traditional Catholic practices and beliefs. The Mass was abolished, and a new, simpler form of worship in the native language, Scottish Gaelic or Lowland Scots, was introduced.
The Reformation also brought about a shift in the balance of power. The Scottish monarchy had traditionally been closely tied to the Catholic Church, and the break with Rome weakened the crown's authority. The nobility and the burghs gained more power, and the country became more decentralized. This period also saw a rise in iconoclasm, with statues, stained glass, and other religious art destroyed or removed from churches, as they were seen as symbols of the old religion.
For the Catholic population, the Reformation was a time of persecution and struggle. They faced legal discrimination and were barred from holding public office or teaching in universities. Catholic Mass was illegal, and priests risked arrest and execution if they were discovered performing their duties. Many Catholics chose to emigrate, particularly to continental Europe, to escape the religious persecution. Those who remained practiced their faith in secret, often in private homes or in the remote Highlands, where the Reformation's influence was weaker.
Despite the outlawing of the Catholic Church, Catholicism never completely disappeared from Scotland. In the centuries that followed, there were periodic efforts to restore Catholicism, and the church continued to exist, albeit in a much-reduced form, with clandestine priests and small, discreet congregations. Today, Scotland is a predominantly Protestant country, but a significant Catholic minority remains, with around 15% of the population identifying as Catholic according to recent estimates.
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Catholic emancipation in 1829 led to an expansion of Scottish Catholicism
A search for "what percent of Scotland is Catholic" reveals that as of 2021, around 15.8% of Scotland's population is Catholic. This percentage has fluctuated over time, and one significant period that impacted the number of Catholics in Scotland was the era of Catholic emancipation, which began in 1829.
Catholic emancipation in Britain, which culminated in the Roman Catholic Relief Act of 1829, had a profound impact on the practice and expansion of Catholicism in Scotland. Prior to this, Catholics in Scotland faced numerous legal and social restrictions, and their religious practices were often suppressed. The Act of Supremacy in 1559 had established the Church of England as the state church and made it a criminal offense to practice Catholicism. While the situation in Scotland was somewhat different due to the presence of a strong Presbyterian Church, Catholics still faced discrimination and were largely excluded from public life.
The Roman Catholic Relief Act of 1829 changed this by removing many of the legal disabilities that Catholics faced. One of the most significant changes was the removal of the requirement for public officials to take an anti-Catholic oath, allowing Catholics to serve in public office and play a more active role in politics and government. This opened up new opportunities for Catholics and encouraged greater participation in public life. The Act also allowed for the open practice of Catholicism, leading to the building of new churches and the expansion of Catholic schools and charities.
The expansion of Scottish Catholicism after 1829 was also fueled by immigration. The Irish potato famine of the 1840s led to a significant influx of Irish immigrants to Scotland, many of whom were Catholic. This not only increased the number of Catholics in the country but also contributed to the development of new Catholic communities and the establishment of additional churches and schools to cater to the growing population.
In addition to legal and demographic changes, the Catholic Church in Scotland also underwent internal reforms during this period. The Scottish hierarchy of the Catholic Church was restored in 1878, with the establishment of new dioceses and the appointment of bishops. This provided a more structured organization for the Church and allowed for better coordination of Catholic activities and missions across the country.
As a result of these various factors, the period following Catholic emancipation in 1829 witnessed a significant expansion of Scottish Catholicism. Catholics gained greater visibility and influence in Scottish society, and the Church was able to establish a stronger presence and contribute more actively to the religious and social landscape of the country. This era marked a turning point in the history of Catholicism in Scotland, setting the stage for the continued growth and development of the Catholic community in the decades to come.
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The Catholic Church is especially important in West Central Scotland
The Catholic Church in Scotland has a long and complex history, dating back to the arrival of Christianity in the region in the early 5th century. The country remained Catholic until the arrival of Protestant theology in the early 16th century, which led to the Scottish Reformation Parliament outlawing the Catholic Church in 1560. Despite this, the Catholic Church persevered and played a significant role in the cultural and literary development of Scotland.
In the 19th century, Catholic Emancipation in 1829 and the influx of Irish immigrants contributed to the expansion of Catholicism in Scotland. The restoration of the Catholic hierarchy in 1878 further strengthened the Church's presence. Today, the Catholic Church is particularly important in West Central Scotland and parts of the Highlands. This significance is evident in the high concentration of Catholics in certain areas.
West Central Scotland, including the council areas near Glasgow, has a significant Catholic population. In the 2001 UK Census, Inverclyde reported 38.3% of respondents identifying as Catholic, making it one of the most Catholic areas in the country. North Lanarkshire, West Dunbartonshire, Glasgow City, and the surrounding areas also have large Catholic populations, with numbers close to or surpassing those of the official Church of Scotland.
The presence of the Catholic Church in West Central Scotland is deeply rooted in the area's history and demographics. The eastern suburbs of Glasgow, such as Coatbridge, are predominantly populated by the descendants of Irish Catholic immigrants. Additionally, Scottish Gaelic-speaking migrants from the Highlands and Islands, who settled in the region during the 19th century, also contributed to the growth of Catholicism in this area.
The Catholic Church in West Central Scotland has played a significant role in the cultural and religious life of the local communities. The translation of Sunday liturgies and lectionary readings into Scots Gaelic, for example, enhanced the cultural significance of weekly worship in parishes like Argyll and the Isles. Furthermore, the Catholic Church's resistance to the Highland Clearances and other acts of injustice by Anglo-Scottish landlords has left a lasting impact on the region's history.
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Polish Catholics have helped bolster church attendance in Scotland
According to the 2022 census, 51.1% of Scots have no religion, with only 38.8% identifying as Christian. Of those Christians, 52.5% affiliate with the Church of Scotland, and 34.3% with the Catholic Church. This equates to 13.3% of the total Scottish population identifying as Catholic, down from 15.9% in 2011.
Scotland has seen a significant increase in its minority ethnic population in recent years, jumping from 4.5% in 2001 to 8.2% in 2011, and reaching 12.9% in 2022. Polish immigrants make up a notable proportion of this group, at 1.7% of the population.
Polish Catholics have been credited with helping to bolster church attendance in Scotland. Indeed, immigration has been a key factor in propping up church attendance across the UK. A study by Peter Brierley, based on research in 2010, estimated total UK church membership for 2015 to be 5,190,000, and for 2020 to be 4,860,000. These figures represent an increase of nearly 4% over the five-year period.
In addition to Polish Catholics, other immigrant groups contributing to the growth of church attendance in Scotland include black-led churches and the "fresh expressions" movement, which includes informal gatherings such as "messy church", pub groups, and café churches.
While the number of Catholics in Scotland has declined in recent years, there was a dramatic rise in Mass attendance between 2022 and 2023. This increase may be partly attributed to the efforts of the Catholic Church to adapt and serve people in new ways.
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Frequently asked questions
13.3% of the population.
291,275 people identified as Roman Catholic in the 2022 census.
Yes, the number of Catholics has declined in recent years. In 2019, 13% of the adult Scottish population identified as Catholic, and in 2009, it was estimated that there were about 850,000 Catholics in Scotland.
The number of Catholics in Scotland is higher than the number of Muslims, which stood at 2.2% of the population in 2022. However, the number of Catholics is lower than the number of people with no religion, which was 51% in 2022.
Yes, there are regional variations. For example, in the Western Isles, the Church of Scotland was the most common response (35.3%), while in Inverclyde, Roman Catholic was the most common (33.4%). Additionally, some Scottish Gaelic-speaking areas, such as Barra, Benbecula, and South Uist, are mainly Catholic.
