A think- tank has calculated that by 2035, there will be about 1.96 million active Muslims in Britain, compared with 1.63 million church-going Christians. Figures published in the latest of a series of reports entitled Religious Trends by Christian Research has warned that 4,000 churches could close by 2020 if congregations continue to shrink at current rates. According to the most recent figures from the Church of England, regular Sunday, weekly and monthly attendance each fell by one per cent in 2006. Fewer than a million people attend church every Sunday. Although at the last count there were only 1.6million Muslims living in Britain – compared to 41million Christians – experts have suggested Muslims are more likely to practise their faith. More than half of the Muslims who responded to the 2001 census said they prayed every day, compared to 6.3 per cent of Christians who attend church services each week. Christian Research describes its aim as encouraging “change in Christian culture so that by 2010 more churches are growing”.
