Religion and patron saints

The UK has Christian history, but people have the legal right to practise a religion or not practise a religion.

Learn it in this order

• Freedom of religion
• Church of England
• Church of Scotland
• No established Church in Wales or Northern Ireland
• Patron saints and dates

The idea

The UK has Christian history, but people have the legal right to practise a religion or not practise a religion.

The test often checks institutional details: Church of England, Church of Scotland, and the patron saint for each UK country.

Test facts to know

• The UK is historically Christian, but many religions are practised.
• People have the legal right to choose a religion or not practise a religion.
• The Church of England is the established Church in England and is Protestant.
• The monarch is head of the Church of England; the Archbishop of Canterbury is its spiritual leader.
• The Church of Scotland is Presbyterian and is governed by ministers and elders.
• There is no established Church in Wales or Northern Ireland.
• Patron saints’ days are 1 March for St David in Wales, 17 March for St Patrick in Northern Ireland, 23 April for St George in England and 30 November for St Andrew in Scotland.
• Only Scotland and Northern Ireland treat their patron saint’s day as an official holiday.

How questions may test it

• Identify the established Church in England.
• Distinguish Church of England from Church of Scotland.
• Match patron saints and dates to UK countries.
• Recognise legal freedom of religion and non-religion.

Key terms

Church of England, Anglican, Archbishop of Canterbury, Church of Scotland, Presbyterian, Moderator, St David, St Patrick, St George, St Andrew, Westminster Abbey.