Data from a new analysis of the 2021 England and Wales census, show that around 285,000 households have at least two different faiths living together.

Furthermore, 81,800 (0.3%) had people belonging to three or more faiths; 3.1 million (12.6%) contained someone who was Christian and someone who had no religion; and 7.5 million people did not have any religion.

The highest proportion of multi-faith households are in the capitals: Hounslow and Westminster (5.5% each) and Barnet and Harrow neighbourhoods (both at 5.1%) in London, and Cardiff (1.8%) in Wales.

Recognising the difference

“What the statistics really reveal is that in an age when we often look at religion as a problem, as somehow divisive, many people live with this difference very well every day" said Richard Sudworth, the Church of England's national inter-religious affairs adviser.

Sudworth told Premier Christian news that “the best way we can live together is to recognise the difference, not see it as an obstacle, but see something to respect and treasure".

“As Christians, we dig deep into our own traditions. So let’s pray, read the Bible, and go to church, but let's put our walls down so we can be alongside", he added.

Christians, the oldest

The 2021 Census data analysis also showed earlier this year that among people of faith in England and Wales, Christians are the oldest, with an average age of 51.

Muslims are the youngest at 27 on average, followed by " people of no religion " with an average age of 32.

For the of the director of the UK Evangelical Alliance (EAUK), Peter Lynas, “census breakdown figures on age and religion are a challenge, but also an opportunity, in the chaotic and contested moment people are looking for hope”.

EAUK CEO, Gavin Calver, agreed that “there’s a clear challenge in these results for us as the church to engage younger moving forward”.