Christians, even nominal ones, are now a minority in the UK, according to a new survey. The decline in the number of self-identified Christians has taken place almost entirely among Anglicans.

Findings from the British Social Attitudes survey show that just over half (52pc) of the population identify with any faith, while 48pc of people say they have no religious beliefs.

Only 20pc of people now identify as Church of England, compared to 40pc in 1983, while the percentage of Catholics and other Christians has barely budged in that time, at nine percent (down from 10pc) and 17pc respectively, the Daily Telegraph reports.  

The study also shows a threefold increase in the numbers identifying with other religions, including Islam, Judaism, Hinduism and Sikhism.

In 1983, when the survey started, only two percent identified as belonging to another religion. According to this year’s study, six percent now identify as being of one of these religions.

Meanwhile, the number saying that they are of no religion has risen from 31pc in 1983 to 48pc.  

However, this rate of increase has varied, the study suggests.

According to the figures, the number of those identifying as non-religious had risen to 45pc by 1998, but this fell back to 40pc by 2000, and then shot up to 51pc by 2009.