Great Britain

===Religion===
{{Further|Religion in England|Religion in Scotland|Religion in Wales}}
{{See also|Religion in the United Kingdom}}
[[File:Canterbury Cathedral - Portal Nave Cross-spire.jpeg|thumb|alt=stone cathedral oblique view showing two west towers and central tower|[[Canterbury Cathedral]], seat of the [[Church of England]] – the island's largest denomination]]
[[Christianity]] has been the largest religion by number of adherents since the [[Early Middle Ages]]: it was introduced under the ancient Romans, developing as [[Celtic Christianity]]. According to tradition, Christianity arrived in the [[Christianity in the 1st century|1st]] or [[Christianity in the 2nd century|2nd century]]. The most popular form is [[Anglicanism]] (known as [[Scottish Episcopal Church|Episcopalism]] in Scotland). Dating from the 16th-century [[English Reformation|Reformation]], it regards itself as both [[Catholic]] and [[Reformed church|Reformed]]. The Head of the Church is the monarch of the United Kingdom, as the [[Supreme Governor of the Church of England|Supreme Governor]]. It has the status of [[established church]] in England. There are just over 26&nbsp;million adherents to Anglicanism in Britain today,<ref>{{cite web|title=Global Anglicanism at a Crossroads|url=http://pewresearch.org/pubs/896/global-anglicanism-at-a-crossroads|publisher=PewResearch.org|access-date=15 August 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110813045413/http://pewresearch.org/pubs/896/global-anglicanism-at-a-crossroads|archive-date=13 August 2011|date=19 June 2008}} Retrieved on 1 February 2009.</ref> although only around one million regularly attend services. The second largest Christian practice is the [[Latin Church]] of the [[Catholic Church]], which traces its history to the 6th century with [[Augustine of Canterbury]] and the [[Gregorian mission]]. It was the main religion for around a thousand years. There are over 5&nbsp;million adherents today, 4.5&nbsp;million [[Catholic Church in England and Wales|Catholics in England and Wales]]<ref>{{Cite news|title=People here 'must obey the laws of the land'|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1578212/People-here-must-obey-the-laws-of-the-land.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1578212/People-here-must-obey-the-laws-of-the-land.html |archive-date=10 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|work=[[The Daily Telegraph]] | location=London | date=9 February 2008 | access-date=4 May 2010}}{{cbignore}} Retrieved on 1 February 2009.</ref> and 750,000 in [[Roman Catholic Church in Scotland|Scotland]],<ref>{{cite web|title=Cardinal not much altered by his new job|url=http://living.scotsman.com/features/Cardinal-not-much-altered-by.2573781.jp|publisher=Living Scotsman|access-date=15 August 2011}} Retrieved on 1 February 2009.</ref> although fewer than a million Catholics regularly attend [[Mass (liturgy)|mass]].<ref>{{cite news|title=How many Catholics are there in Britain?|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/11297461|publisher=BBC|access-date=15 September 2010|date=15 September 2010}} Retrieved on 17 October 2011.</ref>

[[File:Glasgow-cathedral-may-2007.jpg|upright=0.8|left|thumb|alt=black weathered stone cathedral showing west front stained glass window|[[Glasgow Cathedral]], a meeting place of the [[Church of Scotland]]]]
The [[Church of Scotland]], a form of [[Protestantism]] with a [[Presbyterian]] system of ecclesiastical [[polity]], is the third most numerous on the island with around 2.1&nbsp;million members.<ref>{{cite web|title=Analysis of Religion in the 2001 Census – Current Religion in Scotland|url=http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2005/02/20757/53570|publisher=Scotland.gov.uk|access-date=15 August 2011|date=28 February 2005}} Retrieved on 1 February 2009.</ref> Introduced in Scotland by clergyman [[John Knox]], it has the status of national church in Scotland. The monarch of the United Kingdom is represented by a [[Lord High Commissioner]]. [[Methodist Church of Great Britain|Methodism]] is the fourth largest and grew out of Anglicanism through [[John Wesley]].<ref>{{cite web|title=The Methodist Church|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/christianity/subdivisions/methodist_1.shtml|publisher=BBC.co.uk}} Retrieved on 1 February 2009.</ref> It gained popularity in the old mill towns of [[Lancashire]] and [[Yorkshire]], also amongst tin miners in [[Cornwall]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Methodism in Britain |url=http://www.goffsoakmethodistchurch.co.uk/page4.html |publisher=GoffsOakMethodistChurch.co.uk |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090131203811/http://www.goffsoakmethodistchurch.co.uk/page4.html |archive-date=31 January 2009 }} Retrieved on 1 February 2009.</ref> The [[Presbyterian Church of Wales]], which follows [[Calvinistic Methodism]], is the largest denomination in [[Wales]]. There are other [[Nonconformist (Protestantism)|non-conformist]] minorities, such as [[Baptists]], [[Quakers]], the [[United Reformed Church]] (a union of [[Congregational church|Congregationalists]] and [[English Presbyterianism|English Presbyterians]]), [[Unitarianism|Unitarians]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Cambridge History of Christianity |url=http://www.cambridge.org/uk/catalogue/catalogue.asp?isbn=9780521815000&ss=exc |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120721000044/http://www.cambridge.org/uk/catalogue/catalogue.asp?isbn=9780521815000&ss=exc |url-status=dead |archive-date=21 July 2012 |publisher=Hugh McLeod }} Retrieved on 1 February 2009.</ref> The first [[patron saint]] of Great Britain was [[Saint Alban]].<ref>Dawkins, ''The Shakespeare Enigma'', 343.</ref> He was the first Christian martyr dating from the [[Romano-British]] period, condemned to death for his faith and sacrificed to the [[Roman mythology|pagan gods]].<ref>Butler, ''Butler's Lives of the Saints'', 141.</ref> In more recent times, some have suggested the adoption of [[Aidan of Lindisfarne|St Aidan]] as another patron saint of Britain.<ref name="aiden">{{cite news|title=Cry God for Harry, Britain and... St Aidan |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/homegrown-holy-man-cry-god-for-harry-britain-and-st-aidan-814057.html |newspaper=[[The Independent]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121023202402/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/homegrown-holy-man-cry-god-for-harry-britain-and-st-aidan-814057.html |archive-date=23 October 2012 |location=London |date=23 April 2008 |url-status=dead }} Retrieved on 1 February 2009.</ref> From Ireland, he worked at [[Iona]] amongst the Dál Riata and then [[Lindisfarne]] where he restored Christianity to [[Northumbria]].<ref name="aiden" />

The three constituent countries of the United Kingdom have patron saints: [[Saint George]] and [[Saint Andrew]] are represented in the flags of [[Flag of England|England]] and [[Flag of Scotland|Scotland]] respectively.<ref name="flaghistory">{{cite web|title=United Kingdom – History of the Flag|url=http://flagspot.net/flags/gb-hist.html|publisher=FlagSpot.net}} Retrieved on 1 February 2009.</ref> These two flags combined to form the basis of the Great Britain royal flag of 1604.<ref name="flaghistory" /> [[Saint David]] is the patron saint of Wales.<ref name="britsaints" /> There are many other British saints. Some of the best known are [[Cuthbert of Lindisfarne|Cuthbert]], [[Saint Columba|Columba]], [[Saint Patrick|Patrick]], [[Saint Margaret of Scotland|Margaret]], [[Edward the Confessor]], [[Saint Mungo|Mungo]], [[Thomas More]], [[Saint Petroc|Petroc]], [[Bede]], and [[Thomas Becket]].<ref name="britsaints">{{cite web|title=Saints|url=http://www.britsattheirbest.com/heroes_adventurers/h_saints.htm|publisher=Brits at their Best}} Retrieved on 1 February 2009.</ref>

Numerous other religions are practised.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/religion/page/0,,818217,00.html |work=The Guardian |title=Guide to religions in the UK |location=London |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110123210954/http://www.guardian.co.uk/religion/page/0%2C%2C818217%2C00.html |archive-date=23 January 2011 }} Retrieved on 16&nbsp; August 2011</ref> The 2011 census recorded that [[Islam]] had around 2.7&nbsp;million adherents (excluding Scotland with about 76,000).<ref name=latestcen>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/culturalidentity/religion/articles/religioninenglandandwales2011/2012-12-11|title = Religion in England and Wales 2011 - Office for National Statistics}}</ref> More than 1.4&nbsp;million people (excluding Scotland's about 38,000) believe in [[Hinduism]], [[Sikhism]], or [[Buddhism]]&mdash;religions that developed in the [[Indian subcontinent]] and [[Southeast Asia]].<ref name=latestcen/> [[Judaism]] figured slightly more than Buddhism at the 2011 census, having 263,000 adherents (excluding Scotland's about 6000).<ref name=latestcen/> Jews have inhabited Britain since 1070. However, those resident and open about their religion were [[Edict of Expulsion|expelled]] from England in 1290, replicated in some other Catholic countries of the era. Jews were permitted to re-establish settlement as of 1656, in the interregnum which was a peak of anti-Catholicism.<ref name="jews">{{cite web|title=From Expulsion (1290) to Readmission (1656): Jews and England |url=http://www.goldsmiths.ac.uk/history/350th-anniversary.pdf |publisher=Goldsmiths.ac.uk |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080626062306/http://www.goldsmiths.ac.uk/history/350th-anniversary.pdf |archive-date=26 June 2008 }} Retrieved on 1 February 2009.</ref> [[History of the Jews in Scotland|Most Jews in Great Britain have ancestors]] who [[refugee|fled for their lives]], particularly from 19th century [[Lithuania]] and the territories occupied by [[Nazi Germany]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Jews in Scotland |url=http://www.british-jewry.org.uk/britishjewry/geography/scotland.htm |publisher=British-Jewry.org.uk |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050509134139/http://british-jewry.org.uk/britishjewry/geography/scotland.htm |archive-date=9 May 2005 }} Retrieved on 1 February 2009.</ref>