Bolton experience rise in 'non-religious' under-40s in Bolton

New Census data shows there has a been an increase in under-40s in Bolton identifying as non-religious.

Humanists UK, which campaigned for people to tick "no religion" on the survey in March 2021, said the recent figures – which showed a rise in people under the age of 40 stating they are non-religious – make it clear that the nation faces a "non-religious future".

Office for National Statistics data shows 47,200 people aged under 40 in Bolton selected "no religion" (31 per cent).

However, Christianity was still the top religion with 52,000 under-40s (34 per cent) selecting the faith.

In the previous census in 2011, 53 per cent of the age group selected Christianity and 22 per cent opted for no religion.

But Bolton is  defying the national trend across England and Wales, where 'no religion' was the most selected option for under-40s.

It's the first time Christianity did not hold the top spot for an age group.

About 13.6 million said they were not religious in 2021 while 9.8 million identified as Christian – a reversal from a decade ago when 13.9 million opted for Christianity and 9.4 million were non-religious.

Census data shows there has been a rise in under-40s in Bolton identifying as non-religious (Image: Radar AI)

Cllr John Walsh, Church Warden and Honorary lay Canon at Bolton Parish Church said: “Clearly, we do have a more diverse cultural background to Britain and Bolton is no different to others and it is a worry that the number of people who proclaim themselves as Christians is in decline, no question of that.

“Church attendance shows that over time and speaking from a Church of England point of view, we are looking at a number of new ways of working to try to bring the church to the people with new buildings and new styles of worship across.

“So, the Anglican Church certainly is working hard but all Christian denominations have suffered badly, I can tell you that interestingly that Bolton Parish Church although we have lost because of death and ageing congregation and a number of members from a previous congregation pre covid, we are now actually seen an increase in the number of new worshipers, so the Christian faith is by no means dead.

“There are still those out there who still have a Christian faith and who will continue to worship in churches of all Christian denominations but when you get a tick box of a census document in front of you, it is easy to say I have no religion.

“It doesn’t surprise me and I have seen the figures and I am clearly concerned about it but I think that we are still predominantly Christian in this country and those of Christian faith are fighting hard to maintain that status.”

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Andrew Copson, Humanists UK chief executive, said the recent figures show a significant change in society: “They make plain that the UK faces a non-religious future.

“This is in stark contrast to how our state institutions operate today.

"No other European country has such a religious set-up as we do in terms of law and public policy, while at the same time having such a non-religious population.

“Politicians should look at today’s results and recognise they must renegotiate the place of religion or belief in today’s society.”

The Office for National Statistics said: “Many factors can cause changes in the size of religious groups, including changing age structure, people relocating for work or education, and differences in the way individuals chose to self-identify (or how children’s religious affiliation was reported) between censuses.”

The new census figures also show women in Bolton were more likely to be religious.

About 72 per cent of women in the area chose a religion while 67 per cent of men did.