The UK is one of the last western democracies with a state religion: the Church of England.
The Church's entanglement with the state is bad for both.
Join our campaign to disestablish the Church.
CAMPAIGN ALERT: Support the disestablishment bill
In November 2023, a private member's bill to disestablish the Church of England was selected in the ballot.
Please write to your MP and urge them to support this bill, to make the UK are more equitable and democratic country for people of all religions and beliefs.
Since our founding in 1866, one of our primary objectives has been disestablishment of the Church of England: its formal separation from the state.
More than 150 years later, census figures show most people in England and Wales are not Christian. Surveys consistently reveal a similar picture in Scotland. The case for disestablishment has never been stronger.
Disestablishment means the Church would no longer have privileged input into government - but also that government could not involve itself in the running of the Church. Both sides would gain autonomy. This is why support for Church-state separation can be found within the CofE itself.
There have been many proponents, religious and non-religious, for church-state separation, and there are a wide variety of motivations for supporting this reform.
The existence of a legally-enshrined national religion privileges one part of the population, one institution and one set of beliefs. Removing all symbolic and institutional ties between government and religion is the only way to ensure equal treatment to citizens of all religions and none.
The Church of England has enjoyed significant privileges relating its established status for many centuries. These privileges have remained largely unchanged despite the massive and continuing reduction in support for the Church in the UK. It is highly likely that this trend will continue for the foreseeable future, making the Church of England's continuation as the established church unsustainable.
- Christians are a minority in Britain. In Wales and Scotland the majority have no religion.
- Just 1% of 18-24 year olds say they belong to the Church of England.
- Less than 1% of the population regularly attend Church of England church services.
The Church of England is also out of step with the UK public on several key issues: it remains opposed to same-sex relationships and allows parishes to reject women as bishops and priests. These discriminatory positions cannot be reconciled with the Church's status as part of the UK state.
And no institution with the shameful historical record of the Church of England safeguarding and abuse should retain its privileged role in the British establishment.
The existence of a legally enshrined national religion privileges one part of the population, one institution and one set of beliefs. Removing all symbolic and institutional ties between government and religion is the only way to ensure equal treatment of citizens of all religions and none.
Take action!
1. Write to your MP
Ask your MP to support the separation of church and state
2. Share your story
Tell us why you support this campaign, and how you are personally affected by the issue. You can also let us know if you would like assistance with a particular issue.
3. Join the National Secular Society
Become a member of the National Secular Society today! Together, we can separate religion and state for greater freedom and fairness.
Latest updates
Labour MP calls for state intervention in Church affairs over women bishops
Posted: Thu, 14 Mar 2013 13:03
Labour MP Diana Johnson has attempted to over-rule the Church of England by introducing legislation allowing for women to be consecrated as bishops.
Introducing the ten minute rule bill in Parliament on Wednesday, Ms Johnson said: "I certainly do not seek to have Parliament intervene in Church affairs lightly but in matters of discrimination it is very serious and we must speak up."
Responding to those who claim that the matter is solely for the Church, Ms Johnson said the Church was the "national established Church, headed by our Head of State, Queen Elizabeth, the Defender of the Faith and the Supreme Governor... We have 26 bishops sitting in the other place in recognition of the Church of England's important role in lawmaking in this country. We have prayers every day in this place, led by a Church of England chaplain."
Ms Johnson accused the Church of causing an "enormous amount of hurt to women who have a calling to be ordained and serve" and warned: "Our established Church risks going down the path to becoming a sect—a movement becoming a monument."
Despite this, Ms Johnson said she though the Church had a "big role" to play in Parliament and that Parliament had a "big role" to play in the Church of England.
Opposing the bill, Edward Leigh, a Catholic, said he was "agnostic" on this issue of women bishops, but said the Church should be "entirely independent" of Parliament. However, the Conservative MP made it clear that he still "strongly approved" of establishment "because it is important that we give an impression that we are still a Christian country".
Stephen Evans, campaigns manager at the National Secular Society, said: "Members of parliament involving themselves in church affairs is the very antithesis of secularism – and when they start threatening to do so, it's a clear sign that disestablishment is overdue.
"Rather than glibly proclaiming to be 'on the side of faith', political leaders should seek ways to ensure that our political structures reflect the reality of changing times, and give serious consideration to separating religion from the state. Not only would this signal the state's clear commitment to an open society free from religious privilege, it would also free the Church of any regulation of their activities by the state – so long as they acted within the law."
Romanian secularists want an end to state sponsorship of churches
Posted: Thu, 14 Feb 2013 16:35
Twenty-three civic organisations in Romania have asked parliament to end the public financing of religious denominations, saying the money would be better spent on health or education.
"Under the constitution,Romania is a secular state and has no state religion. So, there is no legal ground for churches in the country to continue receiving public money," Toma Patrascu, vice-president of the Secular Association, said.
There are 18 officially recognised religious denominations in Romania, with the Orthodox and Catholic Churches, respectively, the largest. The Romanian Orthodox Church claims that more than 85 per cent of Romania's population of 19.5 million are members. The recognised denominations receive around 540 million euro every year from the state. Most of the money is for clergy salaries, but it is also for building new churches.
"This public money would be better used on improving conditions in schools and hospitals," Patrascu added.
Many people oppose the initiative, however, which was made public at the same time that parliament started the debate over this year's budget. "There is nothing wrong with getting support from the state, as the churches have a traditional role in educating people and in helping the poor and people who are in need," a theologian, Radu Preda, said.
While politically neutral, the Orthodox Church has close relations with politicians, many of whom support Church initiatives in the hope of electoral advantage.
Recently, the Orthodox Church drew criticism for its plan to build a 107-metre-high cathedral, the tallest in south-eastEurope, and seeking help from the cash-strapped state for the project.BucharestCity Halllast year announced plans to allocate around 2.5 million euro for the construction of the new cathedral. The cathedral is scheduled for completion this year and the Church plans to borrow half the money from banks and guarantee the loans against Church forests, buildings and other properties. Funds are also expected from donations and collection plates.
Similar donations have already been made or announced by other public institutions, including the government. By law, the state has to provide support for church construction and renovation of dilapidated buildings.
The Orthodox Church, which has seen a revival since Communism fell in 1989, remains the most trusted public institutions inRomania, according to opinion polls. But it has often been marred by allegations of corruption and nepotism.
