The British Muslim
Ireland. There is a Bishops’ Conference of England
community also has a number of associations of
and Wales, and a Bishops’ Conference of Scotland.
religious scholars – ulema – and shariah councils
The Irish Episcopal Conference includes the whole
that provide religious legal rulings on matters
of Ireland. The Bishops’ Conference is a
such as matrimonial disputes.
permanent institution of the Catholic Church
whereby the bishops of a country exercise together
The Network of Sikh Organisations (NSO) was
pastoral, legislative and teaching offices as defined
formed in 1995 to facilitate co-operation between
by the law of the Church.
British Sikhs. It provides a forum for organising the
celebration of major events in the Sikh calendar,
There are 22 territorial Catholic dioceses in
and works with government departments and a
England and Wales and eight in Scotland.
number of national organisations to represent Sikh
Northern Ireland is covered by seven dioceses,
interests at a national level.
some of which have territory in the Irish Republic.
Each diocesan bishop is appointed by the Pope
and governs according to Canon Law and through
Places of worship
reference to a Council of Priests, College of
Consultors and a Pastoral Council.
There are 16,000 Anglican churches (the earliest
dating from the seventh century) and 42 Anglican
The Network of Buddhist Organisations links
cathedrals, which serve as focal points of the
various Buddhist educational, cultural, charitable
dioceses. They have a rich history and significance
and teaching organisations. The Buddhist Society
in British architecture. Examples include Salisbury
promotes the principles, but does not adhere to
Cathedral, which has the tallest spire in England at
any particular school of Buddhism.
123 metres.
210
Social and cultural affairs
15 Religion
The Church of Scotland and the Church in Wales
both have over 1,500 churches. There are also
Continuity and change
a large number of churches belonging to other
Walking tours of the East End of London often
Christian denominations.
pause outside a building on the corner of Fournier
Street and Brick Lane. It was originally built in 1742
Since 1969 over 1,500 churches in England have
as a chapel for the Protestant Huguenots who had
become redundant and from their disposal,
settled in the area after escaping persecution in
around £31.3 million has been raised. Redundant
France. By 1809 many of the Huguenots had moved
churches are increasingly being used for
on and it became a Methodist chapel. In 1897 it
residential property or as civic, cultural and
was bought by the Machzikei Hadath society and
community centres. The Churches Conservation
became the Spitalfields Great Synagogue. The
Trust, funded jointly by the Government and the
Jewish population in this part of the East End was
Church of England, preserves Anglican churches
eventually replaced by Bengalis and in 1975 the
of particular cultural and historical importance
building became the London Jamme Masjid
that are no longer used as regular places of
(Mosque).
worship. At present over 325 churches are
maintained in this way. Many outstanding
buildings from other denominations and faiths
There are over 200 gurdwaras or Sikh temples in
are cared for by the Historic Chapels Trust. The
the UK, the vast majority being in England and
Friends of Friendless Churches is a voluntary
Wales. The largest is in Southall, Middlesex.
organisation also caring for a number of
Gurdwaras cater for the religious, educational,
redundant Anglican churches and for chapels and
welfare and cultural needs of their community.
churches in Wales.
A granthi is usually employed to take care of the
building and to conduct prayers.
In the UK there are numerous Buddhist centres at
which meditation or worship take place, although
In April 2001 the Government announced a new
it is not considered essential to go to a temple and
grant for repairs to listed buildings used as places
worship can take place at home.
of worship. While not a tax rebate, it will have the
same effect as if the level of VAT (value added tax)
The first Hindu temple, or mandir, was opened in
for repairs had been reduced from 17.5 per cent to
London in the 1950s and there are now over 160
5 per cent.
in the UK; many are affiliated to the National
Council of Hindu Temples (UK). The
Swaminarayan Hindu Temple in north London is
the largest and was the first purpose-built Hindu
Religion and society
temple in Europe.
The influence of Christianity and other religions in
Jewish synagogues in the UK number slightly
the UK has always extended far beyond the
fewer than 300, but there are additional
comparatively narrow spheres of organised and
congregations that do not have their own