Express & Star

Black Country folk ‘more religious’ than those living in countryside

Some of the most religiously-minded people in Britain are to be found in the Black Country, according to new research.

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Bishop of Wolverhampton Clive Gregory

A survey of 21,000 has uncovered deep religious divides – and also identified how views differ between urban areas and those living in the countryside.

According to experts behind the research, people living in cities tend to have stronger religious sentiments than those in rural communities.

Participants were asked whether they agreed or disagreed with the statement “all morals are grounded in religious teachings”, which the publisher UnHerd, which carried out the survey alongside pollster FocalData, said may correspond to the strength of religious feeling.

The results found that the Walsall North and Wolverhampton South East parliamentary constituencies were among the most religious areas in Britain, ranking second and third out of 632.

In Wolverhampton as a whole, 31 per cent were classed as religious and 27 not.

The rest said they weren’t sure.

In Dudley 30 per cent agreed with the statement compared with 29 per cent who did not.

Some 31 per cent of people in Walsall are classed as religious, while 29 per cent are not.

Fewer people classed themselves as religious in more rural Staffordshire.

In South Staffordshire it was 27 per cent compared to 35 per cent who disagreed with the statement. In Stafford, 25 per cent were religious and 39 per cent not.

The Bishop of Wolverhampton Clive Gregory said he believed religion still plays an important part in many people’s lives.

He said: “It’s true to say even though some of the Christian denomination don’t have so many people going on a regular basis, within the Black Country there is still a lot of people who regard their church as an important place for family weddings, christenings and funerals.

“A lot of people don’t necessarily come to church but it still has significance to them.”

As we enter the third decade of the 21st century, Mr Gregory said the Christian faith was still relevant to our society today.

He said: “I have just been involved in a lot of Christmas services and we have had packed churches.

“A lot of people want their children to be brought up knowing right and wrong and to be taught elements of the Christian faith.”

The constituencies were ranked based on how many agree versus disagree, with UnHerd linking a higher ranking to more widespread religious belief.

Across Britain, 34 per cent of people agreed with the statement while 32 per cent disagreed, with the rest undecided.

Westminster North in London came in at number one, with 41 per cent agreeing and just 29 per cent disagreeing.

The area with the least faith was Edinburgh South, where 23 per of residents agreed compared to 49 per cent who disagreed.