Study reveals which UK cities are the most religious - and Doncaster is fourth
Religion continues to play a significant role in many people’s lives across the UK, but just how religious are the nation’s cities?
A new study takes a closer look at where faith matters most, from participation in religious life to the presence of worship and community organisations.
To find the answer, MyCounselor.Online which provides neuroscience informed Christian counseling analysed the UK’s most religious cities using four key metrics: the percentage of the religious population according to the 2021 UK Census; the number of religious events per 10,000 residents; the number of places of worship per 10,000 people; and the number of religious charities per 10,000 people.
Brighton and Hove tops the list of the UK’s most religious cities with a total score of 58.12. Around 37.7 percent of the population identifies as religious according to the 2021 Census, but the city stands out for its extremely high number of religious events, with 69 per 10,000 residents, and an impressive 456 religious charities per 10,000 people, showing that faith is not just a belief but an active part of community life.
Chelmsford comes in second, scoring 57.41. About 53 percent of its residents identify as religious, and the city has a strong religious infrastructure with 9.6 places of worship per 10,000 people. Chelmsford also hosts 93 religious events per 10,000 residents, making it a city where faith and community activities are clearly intertwined.
Bradford ranks third with a score of 55.21. Around 66.3 percent of its population consider themselves religious, and it has 10.99 places of worship per 10,000 people, reflecting the city’s rich cultural and religious diversity. While the number of religious events is lower at 19.38 per 10,000 residents, Bradford’s high levels of religious adherence and places of worship keep it near the top.
Doncaster is fourth with a score of 51.85. About 54.9 percent of its population identifies as religious, and it has 11.13 places of worship per 10,000 residents, one of the highest in the top 10. The city also hosts 39.21 religious events per 10,000 people, making faith a visible part of daily life.
Peterborough ranks fifth, scoring 47.02. Around 61.8 percent of residents are religious, and while the city has fewer places of worship at 5.94 per 10,000 people, it makes up for it with 72.22 religious events and 9.61 religious charities per 10,000 residents, showing an active faith community.
Methodology
This study ranked UK cities by religiosity using four key metrics that reflect both religious affiliation and the visibility of faith-based activity within local communities. Each metric was scaled and assigned a weight based on its relative importance in capturing overall religiosity. The weighted scores were then combined to produce a final ranking for each city.
The metrics and their respective weights are as follows:
Percentage of religious population – 30%
Number of places of worship per 10,000 people – 30%
Religious events per 10,000 residents – 20%
Number of religious charities per 10,000 people – 20%
Sources: House of Commons Library (UK Census), Office for National Statistics (ONS), Charity Commission for England and Wales, Eventbrite