Modern paganism in the United Kingdom

Last updated • 5 min readFrom Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia
Modern paganism in the United Kingdom
Stonehenge back wide.jpg
Stonehenge is an important part of certain modern neo-druidic practices. [1]
Total population
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom: 126,980 – 0.2%
(2021/22 Census)
[lower-alpha 1] [2] [3] [4]
Regions with significant populations
Flag of England.svg  England 99,500 – 0.2% (2021)
Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland 19,113 – 0.4% (2022) [lower-alpha 2]
Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales 7,033 – 0.2% (2021)
Northern Ireland 1,334 – 0.1% (2021)
Religions
Also includes Heathenry, Druidy, Pantheism, Witchcraft, Animism and Reconstructionist
Related ethnic groups
Modern paganism in Ireland

The Modern Pagan movement in the United Kingdom is primarily represented by Wicca and Neopagan witchcraft, Druidry, and Heathenry. 74,631 people in England, Scotland and Wales identified as either as Pagan or a member of a specific Modern Pagan group in the 2011 UK Census. [5] [6]

Contents

Demographics

A study conducted by Ronald Hutton compared a number of different sources (including membership lists of major organisations within the United Kingdom, major events attendance, subscriptions to magazines, etc.), and used standard models for calculating likely numbers of Pagans within the United Kingdom. This estimate accounted for multiple membership overlaps as well as the number of adherents represented by each attendee of a Pagan gathering. Hutton estimated that there are 250,000 Pagan adherents in the United Kingdom, roughly equivalent to the national Hindu community back in 2001 when it was much smaller than it is today (there are presently over a million Hindus in the United Kingdom). [7]

A smaller number is suggested by the results of the 2001 Census, in which a question about religious affiliation was asked for the first time. Respondents were able to write in an affiliation not covered by the check-list of common religions, and a total of 42,262 people from England, Scotland, and Wales declared themselves to be Pagans by this method (or 23% of the 179,000 adherents of "other religions" in the results). These figures were not released as a matter of course by the Office for National Statistics, but were released after an application filed by the Pagan Federation (Scottish branch). [8] With a population of around 59 million, this gives a rough proportion of 7 Pagans per 10,000 inhabitants of the United Kingdom.

The 2001 UK Census figures did not allow an accurate breakdown of traditions within the Pagan heading, as a campaign by the Pagan Federation before the census encouraged Wiccans, Heathens, Druids and others all to use the same write-in term 'Pagan' in order to maximise the numbers reported. The 2011 census however made it possible to describe oneself as Pagan-Wiccan, Pagan-Druid and so on. The figures for England, Wales and Scotland are as follows: [9] [10]

DescriptionEnglandWalesScotland
Pagan53,1723,4483,467
Wicca11,026740949
Druid3,946243245
Pantheism2,105111135
Heathen1,86791150
Witchcraft1,1938381
Shamanism6123892
Animism4875444
Reconstructionist 2232831
Total74,6314,8365,194

The overall numbers of people reporting Pagan or one of the other categories in the table above rose between 2001 and 2011. In 2001 about seven people per 10,000 UK respondents identified as pagan; in 2011 the number (based on the England and Wales population) was 14.3 people per 10,000 respondents.

Research conducted by Dr Leo Ruickbie suggested that the south-east of England had the highest concentration of Pagans in the country. [11]

2021 census

Pagan movementFlag of England.svg  England
(2021) [2]
Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland
(2022) [3]
Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales
(2021) [2]
Northern Ireland
(2021) [4]
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom
(2021/22) [lower-alpha 3]
Pagan 68,62919,1135,10484093,686
Wicca 11,946To be published,
only 2011 figures
available [12]
86724313,056
Shamanism 7,624265157,904
Heathenry 4,478243704,791
Druidry 2,268222372,527
Pantheism 2,158141812,380
Witchcraft 9677701,044
Animism 7336948850
Reconstructionist 697450742
Total99,500TBC7,0331,334126,980

Religions

Modern Paganism in the UK is dominated by Wicca, the modern movement of Druidry, and forms of Heathenry.

Wicca

Wiccans gather for a handfasting ceremony at Avebury in England. Paganavebury.jpg
Wiccans gather for a handfasting ceremony at Avebury in England.

Wicca was developed in England in the first half of the 20th century. [13] It is generally a duotheistic religion which worships the Horned God and Moon Goddess. Although it had various terms in the past, from the 1960s onward the name of the religion was normalised to Wicca. [14]

Heathenry

Heathenry consists of a variety of modern movements attempting to revive Germanic paganism, such as that practiced in the British Isles by the Anglo-Saxon and Scandinavian peoples prior to Christianisation. Asatru UK was founded in 2013 and operates as a country-wide group for all inclusive Heathens. [15] [16]

Druidism

Druids' ritual at Stonehenge. Druids celebrating at Stonehenge (0).png
Druids' ritual at Stonehenge.

During the Iron Age, Celtic polytheism was the predominant religion in the area now known as England. Neo-Druidism grew out of the Celtic revival in 18th century Romanticism. Its first organised group was the Ancient Order of Druids, founded in London in 1781 along Masonic lines as a mutual benefit society and still extant today. It is not a neo-Pagan group. It was followed in 1792 by the Gorsedd of Bards of the Isle of Britain, also founded in London. This was the brainchild of Welsh stonemason, student of Welsh language, culture and heritage, and literary forger, Edward Williams, better known by his assumed name, Iolo Morganwg. It also survives to this day, its rituals forming an important part of the annual Welsh National Eisteddfod. Its members included Queen Elizabeth II and former archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams. It is a cultural institution, not a neo-Pagan one. Inasmuch as it has a religious element, that element is Christian.[ dubious discuss ] The Ancient Druid Order, founded circa 1909, was the first that could be characterised as neo-Pagan, its founder being influenced by the occult movement of the late 19th century. The Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids, which split from the Ancient Druid Order in 1964, began to develop a more neo-Pagan style of Druidry, partly through the friendship between its founder, Ross Nichols, and the founder of modern Wicca, Gerald Gardner. More overtly Pagan Druid groups began to develop in the UK from the late 1970s onwards. These include the British Druid Order, The Druid Network and numerous other smaller groups. [17]

Organisations

Modern Pagan organisations in Great Britain:

See also

Notes

  1. Includes all followers who are followers of the broad Modern Paganism movement, i.e. not just Modern paganism.)
  2. Only includes those identified as followers of Paganism, does not include other faiths in the broader Modern Paganism movement
  3. Excluding Scotland, with the exception of the Pagan religious group where 2022 census data is available.

    Footnotes

    1. Khouri, Andrew (2010-06-21). "Thousands celebrate solstice". NBC News. Archived from the original on March 5, 2016. Retrieved 2010-10-03.
    2. 1 2 3 "TS031: Religion (detailed)". Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 5 April 2023.
    3. 1 2 "Scotland's Census 2022 - Ethnic group, national identity, language and religion - Chart data". Scotland's Census. National Records of Scotland. 21 May 2024. Retrieved 21 May 2024. Alternative URL 'Search data by location' > 'All of Scotland' > 'Ethnic group, national identity, language and religion' > 'Religion'
    4. 1 2 "MS-B21 Religion - full detail". Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency. Retrieved 30 November 2023.
    5. Office for National Statistics, 11 December 2012, 2011 Census, Key Statistics for Local Authorities in England and Wales . Accessed 12 December 2012.
    6. Office for National Statistics, 11 December 2012, 2011 Census, Scotland's Census 2011 - National Records of Scotland, Religion (detailed) All people , Accessed 20 March 2015.
    7. Hutton (2001)
    8. Pagan Federation, Scotland (25 March 2004). "The Pagan Federation in Scotland - Census Results". Archived from the original on 13 January 2010. Retrieved 4 April 2010.
    9. Office for National Statistics, 11 December 2012, 2011 Census, Key Statistics for Local Authorities in England and Wales . Accessed 12 December 2012.
    10. Office for National Statistics, 11 December 2012, 2011 Census, Scotland's Census 2011 - National Records of Scotland, Religion (detailed) All people , Accessed 20 March 2015.
    11. Ruickbie, Leo (2004). Witchcraft Out of the Shadows. Robert Hale. p. 170. ISBN   0-7090-7567-7.
    12. "2011 Detailed Table- Religion" (PDF). National Records of Scotland. Retrieved 10 February 2018.
    13. Hutton, Ronald (1999). The Triumph of the Moon: A History of Modern Pagan Witchcraft . Oxford, NY: Oxford University Press. p.  vii. ISBN   0-19-820744-1.
    14. Seims, Melissa (2008). "Wica or Wicca? - Politics and the Power of Words". The Cauldron (129).
    15. "Home | Welcome to the website of Asatru UK". Asatru UK. Retrieved 2021-05-16.
    16. "Asatru UK". Facebook. Retrieved 18 December 2021.
    17. Professor Ronald Hutton, The Druids, Hambeldon Continuum, 2007; Blood & Mistletoe: The History of The Druids in Britain, Yale University Press, 2009.

    Related Research Articles

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Heathenry in the United States</span> Religious movement in the United States

    Heathenry is a modern Pagan new religious movement that has been active in the United States since at least the early 1970s. Although the term "Heathenry" is often employed to cover the entire religious movement, different Heathen groups within the United States often prefer the term "Ásatrú" or "Odinism" as self-designations.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Modern paganism</span> Religions shaped by historical paganism

    Modern paganism, also known as contemporary paganism and neopaganism, spans a range of new religious movements variously influenced by the beliefs of pre-modern peoples across Europe, North Africa, and the Near East. Despite some common similarities, contemporary pagan movements are diverse, sharing no single set of beliefs, practices, or religious texts. Scholars of religion may study the phenomenon as a movement divided into different religions, while others study neopaganism as a decentralized religion with an array of denominations.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Wicca</span> Modern syncretic pagan religion based on white magic, occultism and paganism

    Wicca, also known as "The Craft", is a modern pagan, syncretic, earth-centered religion. Considered a new religious movement by scholars of religion, the path evolved from Western esotericism, developed in England during the first half of the 20th century, and was introduced to the public in 1954 by Gerald Gardner, a retired British civil servant. Wicca draws upon ancient pagan and 20th-century hermetic motifs for theological and ritual purposes. Doreen Valiente joined Gardner in the 1950s, further building Wicca's liturgical tradition of beliefs, principles, and practices, disseminated through published books as well as secret written and oral teachings passed along to initiates.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Wheel of the Year</span> Annual cycle of seasonal festivals observed by modern pagans

    The Wheel of the Year is an annual cycle of seasonal festivals, observed by a range of modern pagans, marking the year's chief solar events and the midpoints between them. Modern pagan observances are based to varying degrees on folk traditions, regardless of the historical practices of world civilizations. British neopagans popularized the Wheel of the Year in the mid-20th century, combining the four solar events marked by many European peoples, with the four midpoint festivals celebrated by Insular Celtic peoples.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Ronald Hutton</span> English academic

    Ronald Edmund Hutton is an English historian specialising in early modern Britain, British folklore, pre-Christian religion, and modern paganism. A professor at the University of Bristol, Hutton has written over a dozen books, often appearing on British television and radio. He held a fellowship at Magdalen College, Oxford, and is a Commissioner of English Heritage.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Celtic neopaganism</span> Modern paganism based on ancient Celtic traditions

    Celtic neopaganism refers to any type of modern paganism or contemporary pagan movements based on the ancient Celtic religion. One approach is Celtic Reconstructionism (CR), which emphasizes historical accuracy in reviving Celtic traditions. CR practitioners rely on historical sources and archaeology for their rituals and beliefs, including offerings to spirits and deities. Language study and preservation are essential, and daily life often incorporates ritual elements. While distinct from eclectic pagan and neopagan witchcraft traditions, there is some overlap with Neo-druidism.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Religion in England</span>

    Religion in England is characterised by a variety of beliefs and practices that has historically been dominated by Christianity. Christianity remains the largest religion, though it makes up less than half of the population. As of the 2021 census, there is an increasing variety of beliefs, with irreligious people outnumbering each of the other religions. The Church of England is the nation's established state church, whose supreme governor is the monarch. Other Christian traditions in England include Roman Catholicism, Methodism, Presbyterianism, Mormonism, and the Baptists. After Christianity, the religions with the most adherents are Islam, Hinduism, Sikhism, Judaism, Buddhism, modern paganism, and the Bahá'í Faith. There are also organisations promoting irreligion, including humanism and atheism. According to the 2021 census, Shamanism is the fastest growing religion in England.

    Modern paganism in the United States is represented by widely different movements and organizations. The largest modern pagan religious movement is Wicca, followed by Neodruidism. Both of these religions or spiritual paths were introduced during the 1950s and 1960s from Great Britain. Germanic Neopaganism and Kemetism appeared in the US in the early 1970s. Hellenic Neopaganism appeared in the 1990s.

    Philip Shallcrass, often known by his Druid name, Greywolf, is Chief of the British Druid Order. He is an English artist, writer, poet, musician and singer-songwriter who pioneered a "shamanic" Druidism.

    Many neo-pagan religions such as Wicca, Druidry and Celtic polytheism have active followings in Ireland, although the number of declared adherents is likely quite small. It has been claimed to be the fastest growing religion in Ireland.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Heathenry in Canada</span>

    "Heathenry" as it is expressed in Canada is used as a universal term to describe a wide range of Germanic Neopaganism. Those who practice the religions or folk-ways of Ásatrú, Forn Sed, Odinism or Theodism are all considered part of a greater Heathen umbrella. In Canada, Heathenry takes a socially liberal standing in its philosophy. The exclusion of adherents on the basis of ethnic origin, sexual orientation, other group affiliation as well as other discriminatory factors is opposed by most Canadian Heathen groups, although there are, as in the United States a small number of racially minded groups that limit their membership to those of "Nordic ancestry".

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Druidry (modern)</span> Modern nature-based spiritual movement

    Druidry, sometimes termed Druidism, is a modern spiritual or religious movement that promotes the cultivation of honorable relationships with the physical landscapes, flora, fauna, and diverse peoples of the world, as well as with nature deities, and spirits of nature and place. Theological beliefs among modern Druids are diverse; however, all modern Druids venerate the divine essence of nature.

    <i>The Pagan Religions of the Ancient British Isles</i> Book by Ronald Hutton

    The Pagan Religions of the Ancient British Isles: Their Nature and Legacy is a book of religious history and archaeology written by the English historian Ronald Hutton, first published by Blackwell in 1991. It was the first published synthesis of the entirety of pre-Christian religion in the British Isles, dealing with the subject during the Palaeolithic, Neolithic, Bronze Age, Iron Age, Roman occupation and Anglo-Saxon period. It then proceeds to make a brief examination of their influence on folklore and contemporary Paganism.

    <i>The Triumph of the Moon</i> Book by Ronald Hutton

    The Triumph of the Moon: A History of Modern Pagan Witchcraft is a book of religious history by the English historian Ronald Hutton, first published by Oxford University Press in 1999. At the time, Hutton was a Reader in History at Bristol University, and had previously published a study of ancient pre-Christian religion, The Pagan Religions of the Ancient British Isles (1991) as well as studies of British folk customs and the Early Modern period.

    <i>A Community of Witches</i> Book by Helen A. Berger

    A Community of Witches: Contemporary Neo-Paganism and Witchcraft in the United States is a sociological study of the Wiccan and wider Pagan community in the Northeastern United States. It was written by American sociologist Helen A. Berger of the West Chester University of Pennsylvania and first published in 1999 by the University of South Carolina Press. It was released as a part of a series of academic books entitled Studies in Comparative Religion, edited by Frederick M. Denny, a religious studies scholar at the University of Chicago.

    Pagan studies is the multidisciplinary academic field devoted to the study of modern paganism, a broad assortment of modern religious movements, which are typically influenced by or claiming to be derived from the various pagan beliefs of premodern Europe. Pagan studies embrace a variety of different scholarly approaches to studying such religions, drawing from history, sociology, anthropology, archaeology, folkloristics, theology and other religious studies.

    <i>Modern Paganism in World Cultures</i> 2005 book edited by Michael F. Strmiska

    Modern Paganism in World Cultures: Comparative Perspectives is an academic anthology edited by the American religious studies scholar Michael F. Strmiska which was published by ABC-CLIO in 2005. Containing eight separate papers produced by various scholars working in the field of Pagan studies, the book examines different forms of contemporary Paganism as practiced in Europe and North America. Modern Paganism in World Cultures was published as a part of ABC-CLIO's series of books entitled "Religion in Contemporary Cultures", in which other volumes were dedicated to religious movements like Buddhism and Islam.

    <i>Enchanted Feminism</i> Anthropological study of the Reclaiming Wiccan community of San Francisco

    Enchanted Feminism: The Reclaiming Witches of San Francisco is an anthropological study of the Reclaiming Wiccan community of San Francisco. It was written by the Scandinavian theologian Jone Salomonsen of the California State University, Northridge and first published in 2002 by the Routledge.

    Heathenry in the United Kingdom consists of a variety of modern pagan movements attempting to revive pre-Christian Germanic religiosities, such as that practised in the British Isles by Anglo-Saxon and Nordic peoples prior to Christianisation.

    References