Key facts
- Christian nationalism in Britain is driven by people who rarely attend church, a report by Theos found.
- The "identity integrationists" group, resembling Christian nationalists, made up 11% of respondents.
- Only 13% of this group attended church weekly, compared to 11% across all surveyed.
- This group showed strong hostility to immigration and Islam.
- A more religiously observant group, "belief integrationists," comprised 13% of respondents and held more inclusive views.
- 90% of the Christian nationalist group believed defending Britain's Christian culture was important, versus 18% of belief integrationists.
Christian nationalism in Britain is largely driven by individuals who seldom attend church services and are more concerned with preserving the nation's Christian heritage, according to research by the thinktank Theos. The report, based on a survey of 1,765 adults conducted in April 2026, identified five distinct groups based on their attitudes toward Christianity and British national identity.
The group whose views most closely aligned with Christian nationalism, termed "identity integrationists," constituted 11% of respondents. While 81% of this group identified as Christian, only 13% attended church weekly, a figure only slightly above the overall average of 11%. Furthermore, less than a third prayed weekly, and 47% expressed an interest in the Bible. This group also displayed strong opposition to immigration and Islam, with only 19% agreeing that Christian values necessitate supporting asylum seekers and 30% supporting the equal treatment of religions in public life.
In contrast, a group labeled "belief integrationists," comprising 13% of respondents, demonstrated higher levels of religious observance and a more welcoming stance towards immigration and religious diversity. Among belief integrationists, 31% attended church weekly, 46% prayed weekly, and 62% expressed interest in the Bible. Nearly half (48%) believed Christian values supported welcoming asylum seekers, and 63% supported equal religious treatment in public life. However, only 18% of this practicing Christian group felt defending Britain's Christian culture was important, compared to 90% of the identity integrationists.
The research challenges the notion that the rise of Christian nationalism signifies a Christian revival, suggesting instead that Christianity is being used as a symbol of British identity amid anxieties about immigration, Islam, and cultural shifts. The findings also noted that over half of Britons surveyed would be unhappy if their local church became a mosque, and over a third agreed with the 'great replacement' conspiracy theory.
Nick Spencer, a co-author of the report, suggested that differences in religious practice and ethnic composition might explain the contrasting attitudes towards asylum seekers between the two highly affiliated Christian groups. He highlighted the distinction between "Christianity as an idea and Christianity as an embodied practice," noting that active participation in church life fosters a more humane perspective.
Arun Arora, the Church of England bishop of Kirkstall, echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the difference between cultural Christianity and practicing faith. He observed that while some nationalists display crosses, they show less interest in self-denial and following Jesus' teachings. Arora urged church leaders to actively engage with communities rather than passively waiting for people to attend services.
Rev Dr Helen Paynter, a theologian specializing in the far-right's use of Christianity, stressed the importance of churches welcoming people across the political spectrum. She reminded that Christianity is inherently multi-ethnic and multinational, and that the "average" Christian globally is likely poor, female, and black, contrasting with the nationalist portrayal. Paynter concluded that Christian faith is not merely an identity but an encounter with transcendence that should transform values.