Massive Public Support for Church Buildings

Despite a decline in the number of Christians in the UK, the public overwhelmingly support the nation’s 39,000 churches, chapels and meeting houses, according to the findings of a new opinion poll commissioned by the National Churches Trust.

The Savanta opinion poll surveyed 2,061 UK adults online between 9 and 12 December 2022.

Key results

Three quarters (75%) of UK adults agree that churches, chapels and meeting houses are important for society as they provide a space for activities and support for local people, such as foodbanks and warm spaces.
A large majority of UK adults (73%) also agree that the UK’s churches, chapels and meeting houses are an important part of the UK’s heritage and history.
A majority of UK adults (50%) agree that the Government should give financial support to churches, chapels and meeting houses to help pay for building repairs to keep them open. Only 22% disagree, with 25% neither agreeing nor disagreeing.
More adults in England (52%) than in Scotland (41%) agree that the Government should give financial support to churches, chapels and meeting houses to help pay for building repairs to keep them open.
UK adults are slightly more likely to agree that repairs to churches, chapels and meeting houses should be supported with money from local taxes (45%) than with money from national taxes (40%).

Claire Walker, CEO of the National Churches Trust said:

“With an increasing number of churches under threat of closure, the findings of our Savanta opinion poll show that church buildings have the overwhelming backing of the UK public.

“They know that churches provide important benefits to society and are also a key part of our history and heritage. The public also agree that Government should give financial support to help pay for building repairs to help keep churches open.

“The high cost of keeping churches open and in good repair, many of which are historic buildings, can often be an important factor leading to their closure.

“Fixing a leaking roof can cost over half a million pounds. With few sources of funding, it can be extremely hard for local worshippers to find the money needed for urgent repairs.

"Unlike many other countries, the UK’s churches and chapels are the responsibility of local people, not the state or local government, and receive no regular public funding.

“More Government funding of church repairs, such as the £30 million provided through the post-Covid Heritage Stimulus Fund, could help stop church closures and ensure that more remain open providing community support such as foodbanks and warm spaces, as well as being key places for prayer and reflection and an important part of our magnificent national heritage."

Further findings

Visiting churches

More than half of UK adults (54%) visited a church in the past year.
A quarter (25%) visited for a religious service.
One in five (22%) for a non-religious community activity or service such as a foodbank, playgroup, lunch club, concert or meeting.
One in six (17%) went to a church, chapel or meeting house as a visitor or tourist.
Younger respondents are more likely than older respondents to have visited these buildings for a non-religious community activity or service (18-34s, 32%; 35-54s 24%; 55+ 12%).
Muslims (38%) are more likely than Christians (22%) to have visited a church, chapel or meeting house for a non-religious community activity or service.

Popular features

When people are asked what would make them more likely to visit churches, chapels or meeting houses as a tourist or visitor, the features they most often select as one of their top three choices are:

Free entry (28% included this in their top three choices).
A café where they could have a drink or light snack (26%).
Being sure of a warm welcome (25%).
Information about the building’s architecture and heritage (24%).
Knowing that the church, chapel of meeting house was open every day of the week for visitors (21%).

The benefits of churches

When asked to choose the top three benefits that churches provide:

Six in ten (59%) selected providing space for community activities and services (including foodbanks, warm spaces and playgroups).
Half (50%) said being a place of worship.
47% chose being a part of local history and identity.
Respondents aged 18-34 (50%) were less likely than those aged 35-54 (59%) and 55+ (64%) to choose providing space for community activities and services as one of the top three benefits.
Christians (62%) and atheists (58%) are both more likely than members of non-Christian religious groups (46%) to select the option of providing space for community activities and sertvices as one of the top three benefits.