Sikhism in England

Last updated
Sikhism in England Flag of England.svg
Khanda (Sikh Symbol).svg
Smethwick - Guru Nanak Gurdwara - panoramio.jpg
Total population
520,092
0.92% of the total population (2021)
Regions with significant populations
West Midlands 172,398 (2.90%)
London 144,543 (1.64%)
South East 74,348 (0.80%)
East Midlands 53,950 (1.11%)
East 24,284 (0.38%)
Religions
Sikhism
Languages
British EnglishPunjabi
HindiUrdu

English Sikhs number over 520,000 people and account for 0.9% of England's population in 2021, forming the country's fourth-largest religious group. In 2006 there were 352 gurdwaras in England. [1] The largest Sikh populations in the U.K. are in the West Midlands and Greater London.

Contents

Nagar Kirtan Convoy in Barking, London. Simon King Sikh Sikhi Nagar Kirtan Convoy.jpg
Nagar Kirtan Convoy in Barking, London.
Sikh Population History
in England
YearPop.±%
2001 327,343    
2011 420,196+28.4%
2021 520,092+23.8%
Source: Office for National Statistics
[2] [3]

History

The permanent arrival of Sikhism in England is dated to 1850 A.D. with the arrival of Maharajah Duleep Singh (last ruler of the Sikh Empire). The first Sikh place of worship, called a Gurdwara, was opened in 1911 in London and this was partly funded by the Maharaja of Patiala. [4] Prior to this the first Sikh Society called Khalsa Jatha was formed in 1908. [5]

In 2019, the statue of Sikh soldier was unveiled in the West Yorkshire to commemorate the Sikhs martyrs in the World War I and World War II. [6]

Demographics

Geographical Distribution

Top ten English local authorities by Sikh population, 2021 [7]
Local authorityPopulation
Sandwell 39,252
Birmingham 33,126
Wolverhampton 31,769
Ealing 28,491
Hillingdon 26,339
Hounslow 24,677
Slough 17,985
Redbridge 17,622
Coventry 17,297
Walsall 17,148
Top ten English local authorities by Sikh proportion, 2021 [8]
Local authorityPercentage
Wolverhampton 12.0%
Sandwell 11.5%
Slough 11.3%
Hillingdon 8.6%
Hounslow 8.6%
Gravesham 8.0%
Ealing 7.8%
Oadby and Wigston 7.5%
Walsall 6.0%
Redbridge 5.7%
English Sikhs by region (2001−2021)
Region 2021 [9] 2011 [10] 2001 [11]
Pop. %Pop.%Pop.%
West Midlands 172,398133,681103,870
London 144,543126,134104,230
South East 74,34854,94137,735
East Midlands 53,95044,33533,551
East 24,28418,21313,365
Yorkshire and the Humber 24,03422,17918,711
North West 11,8628,8576,487
South West 7,4655,8924,614
North East 7,2065,9644,780
Flag of England.svg England520,092420,196327,343

National and Ethnic Origins

Between 2001 and 2011, the proportion of English Sikhs who identified as Indian declined from 91.6% to 74.0%, while the proportion of English Sikhs who identified as "Other Asian" rose from 4.6% to 12.0% and the proportion of English Sikhs who identified as "Other Ethnic group" rose from 0.7% to 9.5%.

English Sikhs by National and Ethnic Origins
2001 2011 2021
Number %Number %Number %
Asian 315,144366,033422,906
Indian 299,717310,845383,954
Pakistani 3433,268585
Chinese 761,00085
Bangladeshi 112657174
– Other Asian14,89650,26338,108
White 6,6257,2323,269
British 5,9535,2202,479
Irish 14614770
Irish Traveller 8982
Roma 42
– Other White5261,776596
Mixed 2,7225,0256,906
– White and Asian2,0833,7685,516
– White and Black Caribbean63269102
White and Black African 3010451
– Other Mixed5468841,237
Black 6141,426300
– African408553139
– Caribbean140347108
– Other Black6652653
Arab 49480
Other Ethnic group 2,23839,98686,830
TOTAL327,343420,196

Sikh Schools

There are currently 13 Sikh Schools in England that teach the national curriculum alongside Sikh values. These schools are often oversubscribed and outperform regular schools, for example the Nishkam High School in Birmingham was recently rated by Ofsted as outstanding in every area. [12] The Nishkam School Trust is also developing a sister school in West London, which is an area with a large Sikh community, which is due to open in September 2016. [13]

The schools include:

Gurdwaras

Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha, Southall, London. Gurdwara.Sri.Guru.Singh.Sabha.Southall.jpg
Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha, Southall, London.

Southall, in London, is home to the largest Sikh temple outside India, known as Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha. [14] It opened in 2003 after almost three years construction and a cost of £17 million. [15] Another large Gurdwara in Gravesend began construction in 2001, and was officially opened in November 2010 . [16] In Sunderland, a former Church of England church has been transformed into a Sikh Gurdwara by the Sunderland Sikh Association. [17]

Many cities, especially those with large Sikh communities, now have several Gurdwaras to cater to their growing congregations. For example, Bradford is a city that now has 6 Gurdwaras. Many Gurdwaras will have had other uses and have been converted from industrial buildings to even former churches that have closed down. Increasingly, Gurdwaras are being purposely built, The Guru Gobind Singh Gurdwara in Bradford is an example of a purpose built Gurdwara. [18]

Notable British Sikh organisations

In addition to Gurdwaras there are now a variety of additional organisations which have been setup by Sikhs to support the community:

Sikh Media

Sikhs in England have managed to establish a range of media outlets to propagate and encourage dialogue between Sikhs across the country, predominantly in Punjabi, although increasingly media is produced in English to include the new generation. Many Sikhs still speak Punjabi as a first and second language. In England there are currently no less than 4 Sky channels including, Sikh Channel, Sikh TV, Akaal Channel and Sangat TV, all are also broadcast worldwide and on the internet. [19] There are now also radio stations, which broadcast Gurbani at different times during the morning and evening hours.

In radio there are numerous stations broadcast on analogue in areas with large Sikh communities as well as internationally on the Sky platform, since 2001 Sukh Sagar on Sky channel 0150 is one such station that was also the world's first 24-hour Gurbani (Sikh prayer) radio station. [20]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sikhism</span> Monotheistic religion originating in Punjab, India

Sikhism, also known as Sikhi, is a monotheistic religion and philosophy that originated in the Punjab region of the Indian subcontinent around the end of the 15th century CE. It is one of the most recently founded major religious groups and among the largest in the world with about 25–30 million adherents.

The following outline is provides an overview of Sikhism, or Sikhi.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Damdami Taksal</span> Sikh cultural and educational organization

The Damdamī Ṭaksāl, Jatha Bhindra(n), or Sampardai Bhindra(n) is an orthodox Khalsa Sikh cultural and educational organization, based in India. They are known for their teachings of vidya as well as gurbanisanthiya. Its headquarters are located in the town of Mehta Chowk, approximately 40 km north of the city of Amritsar. It has been described as a seminary or “moving university” of the Sikh countryside.

The Akhand Kirtani Jatha, alternatively romanized as the Akhand Keertanee Jathaa and abbreviated as AKJ, is a jatha and sect of Sikhism dedicated to the Sikh lifestyle. The Jatha follows a strict discipline in keeping the Rehat of Guru Gobind Singh. They also enjoy an active style of Keertan recited by Sikhs in a collective manner in front of Guru Granth Sahib. This style of Keertan is relatively simple, and the entire congregation devotionally participates in singing along.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sikh music</span>

Sikh music, also known as Gurbani Sangeet , and as Gurmat Sangeet, or even as Shabad Kirtan, is the classical music style that is practised within Sikhism. It exists in institutional, popular, and folk traditions, forms, and varieties. Three types of Sikh musicians are rababis, ragis, and dhadhis. Sikh music exists in various melodic modes, musical forms, styles, musicians, and performance contexts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Granthi</span> A person who read Sikhism holy book to worshipers

A Granthi is a person, female or male, of the Sikh religion who is a ceremonial reader of the Guru Granth Sahib, which is the holy book in Sikhism, often read to worshipers at Sikh temples called a Gurdwara.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha Southall</span> Gurdwara in Southall, London

Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha Southall (SGSS) is a Sikh Gurdwara situated on Guru Nanak Road and Park Avenue, Southall, in the London Borough of Ealing. It is the largest Sikh temple in London. Building work at the Havelock Road site commenced in March 2000 and the Gurdwara opened on Sunday 30 March 2003, in order to accommodate Southall's growing Sikh community. The Gurdwara cost £17.5 million to build. It was funded by donations from members of the local Sikh community.

Rehat refers to the rules and traditions which govern the unique Sikh lifestyle and determines correct Sikh orthodoxy and orthopraxy. The Sikh Rehit Maryada is a code of conduct and conventions for Sikhism. The final version of the Rehat Maryada was controversially approved by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, Amritsar in 1945. The Rehat Maryada was created to provide guidance to Sikhs on practical and functional aspects of daily life, including the operations of Sikh Gurdwaras, and religious practices to foster cohesion throughout the community. Rehitnāma is a Punjabi term that refers to a genre of Sikh religious literature which expounds upon specifying an approved way of life for a Sikh.

The Sikhs engage in various rites and services. Sikh rites include activities they consider essential to the group practice of Sikhism or the expression of egalitarianism, such as kirtan or taking karah parshad. Many rites in Sikhism involve prayer (ardas) or reciting scripture (paath). Some Sikh rites are meant to be practiced in a gurdwara congregation, while others are practiced at home or in other contexts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sikhism in the United Kingdom</span> Overview of the presence of Sikhism in the United Kingdom

British Sikhs number over 535,000 people and account for 0.8% of the British population as of 2021, forming the United Kingdom's fourth-largest religious group. According to the 2021 United Kingdom census, British Sikhs numbered 535,517, with 520,092 in England, 10,988 in Scotland, 4,048 in Wales, and 389 in Northern Ireland. The largest Sikh populations in the United Kingdom are in the West Midlands and Greater London.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Guru Nanak Nishkam Sevak Jatha</span> Gurdwara in Birmingham, England

The Gurdwara Sahib is a Sikh place of worship or Gurdwara in Handsworth, Birmingham, England. It was built in the late 1970s under the spiritual guidance of Sant Baba Puran Singh ji and the leadership of Norang Singh. The Spiritual leadership of the jatha is now continued through the vision of Mohinder Singh.

The following list consists of concepts that are derived from both Sikh and Indian tradition. The main purpose of this list is to disambiguate multiple spellings, to make note of spellings no longer in use for these concepts, to define the concept in one or two lines, to make it easy for one to find and pin down specific concepts, and to provide a guide to unique concepts of Sikhism all in one place.

Followers of Sikhism do not have a preference for meat or vegetarian consumption. There are two views on initiated or "Amritdhari Sikhs" and meat consumption. "Amritdhari" Sikhs can eat meat. "Amritdharis" that belong to some Sikh sects are vehemently against the consumption of meat and eggs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sikhism in Scotland</span> All aspects of Sikh life and Sikhism in Scotland

Sikhism in Scotland includes all aspects of Sikh life and Sikhism in Scotland. Sikhs have been present in Scotland for over a century, with the first documented Sikh, Maharaja Daleep Singh, arriving in Perthshire in 1855. The next wave of migration was in early-to-mid 1920s when prominent Sikhs of the Bhat/Bhatra community established themselves in Glasgow and Edinburgh. However, the bulk of Sikhs in Scotland come from families who immigrated during the late 20th century. In Scotland, Sikhs represented about 0.2% of the population (10,988) in the 2022 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur</span> Sikh gurdwara in Kartarpur, Pakistan

Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur, also called Kartarpur Sahib, is a gurdwara in Kartarpur, located in Shakargarh, Narowal District, in the Punjab province of Pakistan. It is built on the historic site where the founder of Sikhism, Guru Nanak, settled and assembled the Sikh community after his missionary travels and lived for 18 years until his death in 1539. It is one of the holiest sites in Sikhism, alongside the Golden Temple in Amritsar and Gurdwara Janam Asthan in Nankana Sahib.

The arrival of Sikhism in Wales is relatively recent. As of the 2021 United Kingdom census there were 4,048 Sikhs in the country representing 0.1% of the population.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Idolatry in Sikhism</span> View of idolatry in Sikhism

Sikhism prohibits idolatry, in accordance with mainstream Khalsa norms and the teachings of the Sikh Gurus, a position that has been accepted as orthodox.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The 52 Hukams of Guru Gobind Singh</span> Commands of Guru Gobind Singh Ji

The 52 Hukams are a set of instruction in Sikhism set by Guru Gobind Singh in Nanded, Maharashtra, India in 1708. These edicts sum up the ideal way of life of the Khalsa and serve as a code of conduct for the Khalsa Panth. Members of the Khalsa aim to follow all the 52 edicts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sects of Sikhism</span> Sub-traditions within Sikhism

Sikh sects, denominations, traditions, movements, sub-traditions, also known as sampardai in the Punjabi language, are sub-traditions within Sikhism that believe in different approaches to practicing the religion. All sampradas believe in the One Creator God typically rejecting both idol worship and caste systems. Different interpretations have emerged over time, some of which have a living teacher as the leader. The major historic traditions in Sikhism, says Professor Harjot Oberoi, have included Udasi, Nirmala, Nanakpanthi, Khalsa, Sahajdhari, Namdhari Kuka, Nirankari and Sarvaria.

References

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  13. Nishkam Schools Trust on West London site, accessed 1 October 2014
  14. museumoflondon.org.uk, accessed 15 January 2009
  15. "£17m Sikh temple opens". BBC News. 30 March 2003. Retrieved 27 April 2011.
  16. "Gurdwara open to Gravesend Sikhs after eight years work". BBC News. 19 November 2010. Retrieved 13 May 2013.
  17. "Community spirit boosted by Sikh Temple". BBC. 18 May 2006. Retrieved 27 April 2011.
  18. Gurdwaras in Bradford, accessed on 1 October 2014
  19. Future of Sikh Media, accessed on 1 October 2014
  20. Sukh Sagar radio station, accessed on 1 October 2014