Religion in Northern Ireland
Encyclopedia
Christianity
is the largest religion in Northern Ireland
. According to a 2007 Tearfund
survey, Northern Ireland
is the most religious part of the UK
, with 45% regularly attending church
.
The Church of Ireland in recent years has seen a drop in members along with the Methodists. The Presbyterian Church has seen a minor increase, the Roman Catholic Church has increased by up to 3%.
There are also small Muslim, Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist and Jewish communities. There is a Muslim Mosque, Jewish Synagogue, Sikh Gurdwara and two Hindu Temples in Belfast
. There is another Sikh Gurdwara in Derry
. The Muslim community is the fastest growing non-Christian faith in Northern Ireland. Jews in Northern Ireland are small in number, about 500, down from 1,310 in 1967.
The Roman Catholic Church in Ireland
is the largest single church though there is a greater number of Protestants and Anglicans overall. The Church is organised into four provinces though these are not coterminous with the modern political division of Ireland. The seat of the Archbishop of Armagh, the Primate of All Ireland, is St. Patrick's Cathedral, Armagh
.
The Presbyterian Church in Ireland
, closely linked to the Church of Scotland in terms of theology and history, is the second largest church and largest Protestant denomination. It is followed by the Church of Ireland
(Anglican) which was the state church of Ireland until it was disestablished by the Irish Church Act 1869. In 2002, the much smaller Methodist Church in Ireland
signed a covenant for greater cooperation and potential ultimate unity with the Church of Ireland.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (see Mormonism in Ireland
) has about 5,334 members in Northern Ireland. This is a higher number than the Republic of Ireland and twenty-one other European states, who have a larger population than Northern Ireland. With membership more than doubling in the last 16 years.
Smaller, but growing, Protestant denominations like the Association of Baptist Churches in Ireland
and the Assemblies of God Ireland
are also organised on an all-Ireland basis, though in the case of the AOG this was the result of a recent reorganisation.
s already living in what became Northern Ireland in 1921, the bulk of Muslims in Northern Ireland today come from families who immigrated during the late 20th century. At the time of the 2001 Census there were 1,943 living in Northern Ireland
, though the Belfast Islamic Centre claims that as of January 2009, this number had increased to over 4,000. The Muslims in Northern Ireland come from over 40 countries of origin, from Western Europe all the way through to the Far East. This situation is reflected in comparably complex institutional arrangements.
beyond the island and on the island. The members of the religion elected its first Bahá'í Local Spiritual Assembly in 1949 in Belfast. The Bahá'ís held an international conference in Dublin in 1982 which was described as “…one of the very few occasions when a world event for a faith community has been held in Ireland”. By 1993 there were a dozen assemblies in Northern Ireland. By 2005 Bahá'í sources claim some 300 Bahá'ís across Northern Ireland.
families in the region. There are, however, 3 Mandirs in Belfast
.
Source: UK 2001 Census
.
was a period of ethno-political conflict in Northern Ireland
which spilled over at various times into Great Britain
and the Republic of Ireland
. The duration of the Troubles is conventionally dated from approximately 1968 to the signing of the Belfast Agreement
in 1998. Violence nonetheless continued beyond this period and still manifests on a small-scale basis.
The principal issues at stake in the Troubles were the constitutional status of Northern Ireland
and the relationship between the mainly-Protestant Unionist and mainly-Catholic Nationalist communities in Northern Ireland. The Troubles had both political and military (or paramilitary) dimensions. Its participants included politicians and political activists on both sides, republican
and loyalist
paramilitary
organisations, the Royal Ulster Constabulary
(RUC), the British Army
and the security forces of the Republic of Ireland
.
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
is the largest religion in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
. According to a 2007 Tearfund
Tearfund
Tearfund is a UK Christian relief and development agency which works in over 50 countries. It is a founding member of both the Micah Network and the Disasters Emergency Committee.-History:...
survey, Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
is the most religious part of the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, with 45% regularly attending church
Church service
In Christianity, a church service is a term used to describe a formalized period of communal worship, often but not exclusively occurring on Sunday, or Saturday in the case of those churches practicing seventh-day Sabbatarianism. The church service is the gathering together of Christians to be...
.
The Church of Ireland in recent years has seen a drop in members along with the Methodists. The Presbyterian Church has seen a minor increase, the Roman Catholic Church has increased by up to 3%.
There are also small Muslim, Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist and Jewish communities. There is a Muslim Mosque, Jewish Synagogue, Sikh Gurdwara and two Hindu Temples in Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
. There is another Sikh Gurdwara in Derry
Derry
Derry or Londonderry is the second-biggest city in Northern Ireland and the fourth-biggest city on the island of Ireland. The name Derry is an anglicisation of the Irish name Doire or Doire Cholmcille meaning "oak-wood of Colmcille"...
. The Muslim community is the fastest growing non-Christian faith in Northern Ireland. Jews in Northern Ireland are small in number, about 500, down from 1,310 in 1967.
Christianity
Christianity is the main religion in Northern Ireland. The 2001 UK census showed 40.3% Roman Catholic, 20.7% Presbyterian Church, with the Church of Ireland having 15.3% and the Methodist Church 3.5%. 13.8% gave no religion, and other religions were 0.3%.The Roman Catholic Church in Ireland
Roman Catholicism in Ireland
The Catholic Church in Ireland is part of the worldwide Catholic Church, the Christian Church with full communion with the Pope, currently Benedict XVI...
is the largest single church though there is a greater number of Protestants and Anglicans overall. The Church is organised into four provinces though these are not coterminous with the modern political division of Ireland. The seat of the Archbishop of Armagh, the Primate of All Ireland, is St. Patrick's Cathedral, Armagh
Armagh
Armagh is a large settlement in Northern Ireland, and the county town of County Armagh. It is a site of historical importance for both Celtic paganism and Christianity and is the seat, for both the Roman Catholic Church and the Church of Ireland, of the Archbishop of Armagh...
.
The Presbyterian Church in Ireland
Presbyterian Church in Ireland
The Presbyterian Church in Ireland , is the largest Presbyterian denomination in Ireland, and the largest Protestant denomination in Northern Ireland...
, closely linked to the Church of Scotland in terms of theology and history, is the second largest church and largest Protestant denomination. It is followed by the Church of Ireland
Church of Ireland
The Church of Ireland is an autonomous province of the Anglican Communion. The church operates in all parts of Ireland and is the second largest religious body on the island after the Roman Catholic Church...
(Anglican) which was the state church of Ireland until it was disestablished by the Irish Church Act 1869. In 2002, the much smaller Methodist Church in Ireland
Methodist Church in Ireland
The Methodist Church in Ireland is a Wesleyan Methodist church that operates across both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland on an all Ireland basis, It is the 4th largest Christian denomination in both jurisdictions and on the island as a whole...
signed a covenant for greater cooperation and potential ultimate unity with the Church of Ireland.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (see Mormonism in Ireland
Mormonism in Ireland
Mormonism has had a presence in Ireland since at least 1840, when the Mormon missionary John Taylor preached in Belfast. He and other missionaries converted a number of Irish. Many of the converted emigrated in order to escape poverty as well as to live in majority Mormon communities. However,...
) has about 5,334 members in Northern Ireland. This is a higher number than the Republic of Ireland and twenty-one other European states, who have a larger population than Northern Ireland. With membership more than doubling in the last 16 years.
Smaller, but growing, Protestant denominations like the Association of Baptist Churches in Ireland
Association of Baptist Churches in Ireland
The Association of Baptist Churches in Ireland is a Republic of Ireland and a United Kingdom based Baptist Christian denomination. It is a group of 121 autonomous Baptist churches on Ireland working and fellowshipping together in evangelism, training and caring ministries...
and the Assemblies of God Ireland
Assemblies of God Ireland
Assemblies of God Ireland is a Pentecostal denomination and a part of the World Assemblies of God Fellowship, the world's largest Pentecostal denomination with a global adherence of 52.5 million people....
are also organised on an all-Ireland basis, though in the case of the AOG this was the result of a recent reorganisation.
Islam
While there were a small number of MuslimMuslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
s already living in what became Northern Ireland in 1921, the bulk of Muslims in Northern Ireland today come from families who immigrated during the late 20th century. At the time of the 2001 Census there were 1,943 living in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
, though the Belfast Islamic Centre claims that as of January 2009, this number had increased to over 4,000. The Muslims in Northern Ireland come from over 40 countries of origin, from Western Europe all the way through to the Far East. This situation is reflected in comparably complex institutional arrangements.
Bahá'í Faith
The Bahá'í Faith in Northern Ireland begins after a century of contact between Irishmen and the Bahá'í FaithBahá'í Faith
The Bahá'í Faith is a monotheistic religion founded by Bahá'u'lláh in 19th-century Persia, emphasizing the spiritual unity of all humankind. There are an estimated five to six million Bahá'ís around the world in more than 200 countries and territories....
beyond the island and on the island. The members of the religion elected its first Bahá'í Local Spiritual Assembly in 1949 in Belfast. The Bahá'ís held an international conference in Dublin in 1982 which was described as “…one of the very few occasions when a world event for a faith community has been held in Ireland”. By 1993 there were a dozen assemblies in Northern Ireland. By 2005 Bahá'í sources claim some 300 Bahá'ís across Northern Ireland.
Hinduism
Hinduism is a relatively minor religion in Northern Ireland with only around 200 HinduHinduism
Hinduism is the predominant and indigenous religious tradition of the Indian Subcontinent. Hinduism is known to its followers as , amongst many other expressions...
families in the region. There are, however, 3 Mandirs in Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
.
Statistics
| Denomination | Adherents | % |
|---|---|---|
| Roman Catholic | 678,462 | 40.2 |
| Presbyterian Church in Ireland Presbyterian Church in Ireland The Presbyterian Church in Ireland , is the largest Presbyterian denomination in Ireland, and the largest Protestant denomination in Northern Ireland... |
348,742 | 20.7 |
| Church of Ireland Church of Ireland The Church of Ireland is an autonomous province of the Anglican Communion. The church operates in all parts of Ireland and is the second largest religious body on the island after the Roman Catholic Church... |
257,788 | 15.3 |
| Methodist Church in Ireland Methodist Church in Ireland The Methodist Church in Ireland is a Wesleyan Methodist church that operates across both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland on an all Ireland basis, It is the 4th largest Christian denomination in both jurisdictions and on the island as a whole... |
59,173 | 3.5 |
| Other Christian (Including Christian Related) | 102,221 | 6.1 |
| (Total non-Roman Catholic Christian) | 767,924 | 45.6 |
| Other Religions and Philosophies | 5,028 | 0.3 |
| 233,853 | 13.9 |
Source: UK 2001 Census
United Kingdom Census 2001
A nationwide census, known as Census 2001, was conducted in the United Kingdom on Sunday, 29 April 2001. This was the 20th UK Census and recorded a resident population of 58,789,194....
.
The Troubles
The TroublesThe Troubles
The Troubles was a period of ethno-political conflict in Northern Ireland which spilled over at various times into England, the Republic of Ireland, and mainland Europe. The duration of the Troubles is conventionally dated from the late 1960s and considered by many to have ended with the Belfast...
was a period of ethno-political conflict in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
which spilled over at various times into Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
and the Republic of Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
. The duration of the Troubles is conventionally dated from approximately 1968 to the signing of the Belfast Agreement
Belfast Agreement
The Good Friday Agreement or Belfast Agreement , sometimes called the Stormont Agreement, was a major political development in the Northern Ireland peace process...
in 1998. Violence nonetheless continued beyond this period and still manifests on a small-scale basis.
The principal issues at stake in the Troubles were the constitutional status of Northern Ireland
Partition of Ireland
The partition of Ireland was the division of the island of Ireland into two distinct territories, now Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland . Partition occurred when the British Parliament passed the Government of Ireland Act 1920...
and the relationship between the mainly-Protestant Unionist and mainly-Catholic Nationalist communities in Northern Ireland. The Troubles had both political and military (or paramilitary) dimensions. Its participants included politicians and political activists on both sides, republican
Irish Republicanism
Irish republicanism is an ideology based on the belief that all of Ireland should be an independent republic.In 1801, under the Act of Union, the Kingdom of Great Britain and the Kingdom of Ireland merged to form the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland...
and loyalist
Ulster loyalism
Ulster loyalism is an ideology that is opposed to a united Ireland. It can mean either support for upholding Northern Ireland's status as a constituent part of the United Kingdom , support for Northern Ireland independence, or support for loyalist paramilitaries...
paramilitary
Paramilitary
A paramilitary is a force whose function and organization are similar to those of a professional military, but which is not considered part of a state's formal armed forces....
organisations, the Royal Ulster Constabulary
Royal Ulster Constabulary
The Royal Ulster Constabulary was the name of the police force in Northern Ireland from 1922 to 2000. Following the awarding of the George Cross in 2000, it was subsequently known as the Royal Ulster Constabulary GC. It was founded on 1 June 1922 out of the Royal Irish Constabulary...
(RUC), the British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
and the security forces of the Republic of Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
.