More people attend mosques than Church of England:
Census
("Hindustan Times," January 26,
2004)
More people in Britain attend mosques than the Church
of
England. It is for the first time that Muslims have
overtaken Anglicans.
According to figures 930,000
Muslims attend a place of worship at least once
a
week, whereas only 916,000 Anglicans do the same.
Muslim leaders are now
claiming that, given such a
rise of Islam in Britain, Muslims should receive
a
share of the privileged status of the Church of
England.
A
spokesman for David Hope, the Archbishop of York,
second in the church
hierarchy, said the archbishop
had conceded defeat, but added: "He believes
that many
more people have an affinity to the church than the
number
recorded as having attended once on a Sunday."
The figures were compiled from
government and academic
resources.
According to the 2001 census,
three-quarters of the
British population regards itself as
Christian.
Although there are no registers kept at mosques
regarding
attendance, but the census had included a
question about religious adherence.
Those figures have
been further supported by surveys to give the
first
assessment of worshipping Muslims.
Although the census recorded
1.59 million Muslims but
Ceri Peach, professor of social geography at
Oxford
University said the census could not record the
correct balance
because the question was voluntary.
Academics believe the figure to be at
least 1.8
million.
Tariq Modood, a professor of sociology at
Bristol
University has found that 62 per cent of Muslims pray
in places of
worship. The figure, after excluding
young children, most of whom do not
worship in
mosques, is about 930,000. The figure is said to
underestimate
the number of practising Muslims. Many,
it is said, pray at
home.
Immigration from Eastern Europe and conversions are
believed to
be adding to the number of Muslims. Lord
Ahmad Patel, a Labour peer said 10
extra seats should
be allocated to other religions. The Church of
England
has 26 seats in the House of Lords. However, the
recent figures do
not include Catholics. The Catholic
church has 1.5 million British
worshippers
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