UK Think Tank Finds 11 Percent of Britons Hold Christian Nationalist Views, Church of England Responds

A new study from the UK think tank Theos has found that approximately 11 percent of British adults hold views that align with Christian nationalism, a finding that has prompted a formal response from Church of England bishops.

The report, released in October 2026, defines Christian nationalism as the belief that national identity and Christian faith should be fused, often in ways that exclude religious minorities or immigrants. Researchers found that most of those who hold these views are culturally Christian rather than regular churchgoers.

Church of England bishops said the findings were concerning and called for a clear distinction between genuine Christian faith and the political co-opting of religious symbols.

"Christianity does not belong to any political movement," one bishop said in a statement. "We are committed to welcoming all people, and we reject any use of our faith to justify exclusion or hostility."

The Theos report noted that Christian nationalist sentiment in the UK is lower than in the United States but has grown in recent years, particularly among voters who feel culturally displaced by demographic change.

Researchers said the group is largely motivated by nostalgia for a perceived Christian Britain rather than active religious practice. Many respondents who expressed nationalist views reported rarely or never attending church services.

The Church of England said it plans to increase public education efforts to clarify its teachings on immigration, hospitality, and the nature of Christian community. Several dioceses have already launched outreach programs aimed at countering far-right recruitment in church-adjacent spaces.

The Theos report is available in full on the organization's website and has been shared with members of Parliament ahead of upcoming debates on national identity and religious freedom.