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Catholics Now No. 1 in Britain

Anglicans second to Catholicism for first time in 400 years

By Dustin Lushing,  Newser Staff

Posted Dec 23, 2007 12:47 PM CST

(Newser) – For the first time in 400 years, Catholicism has more adherents than the Church of England in Great Britain, the Sunday Telegraph reports. Immigrants from Eastern Europe and Africa have filled the pews of Catholic churches, while attendance at Anglican Sunday services has dipped 20% since 2000, according to a survey of English churches.

Sunday Mass averaged 861,000 people last year, compared with 852,000 Anglican worshipers. Changing UK demographics have also been a boon to Pentecostal churches, now the nation's third-largest Christian denomination. The Church of England renounced papal authority in 1534 under King Henry VIII after the Vatican refused to annul his marriage to Catharine of Aragon.

Pope Benedict XVI shakes hands with British Prime Minister Tony Blair during a private audience with Blair and wife Cherie at the Vatican, in this Saturday June 3, 2006 file photo. Blair's weekend appointment with the pontiff has added to speculation that the British leader will formally become a Roman...
Pope Benedict XVI shakes hands with British Prime Minister Tony Blair during a private audience with Blair and wife Cherie at the Vatican, in this Saturday June 3, 2006 file photo. Blair's weekend appointment...   (Associated Press)
Pope Benedict XVI acknowledges cheers from faithful and pilgrims during the weekly general audience inside the Paul VI hall at the Vatican Wednesday, Dec. 19, 2007. (AP Photo/Plinio Lepri)
Pope Benedict XVI acknowledges cheers from faithful and pilgrims during the weekly general audience inside the Paul VI hall at the Vatican Wednesday, Dec. 19, 2007. (AP Photo/Plinio Lepri)   (Associated Press)
Catholics now outnumber members of the Church of England in the UK -- including recent convert Tony Blair.
Catholics now outnumber members of the Church of England in the UK -- including recent convert Tony Blair.   (Getty Images (by Event) Individuals)
Pope Benedict XVI meets with outgoing British Prime Minister Tony Blair during a private audience at the Vatican, June 23, 2007. Blair held long talks with the pope, fueling rumors that he planned to become a Roman Catholic. (AP Photo/L'Osservatore Romano, HO)
Pope Benedict XVI meets with outgoing British Prime Minister Tony Blair during a private audience at the Vatican, June 23, 2007. Blair held long talks with the pope, fueling rumors that he planned to...   (Associated Press)
Pope Benedict XVI, left, meets with outgoing British Prime Minister Tony Blair during a private audience at the Vatican Saturday June 23, 2007. The Vatican on Saturday bid farewell to Tony Blair as British prime minister, wishing him well on what it said were his plans to work for Middle...
Pope Benedict XVI, left, meets with outgoing British Prime Minister Tony Blair during a private audience at the Vatican Saturday June 23, 2007. The Vatican on Saturday bid farewell to Tony Blair as British...   (Associated Press)
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COMMENTS
Showing 1 of 1 comment
NxBigmouthery
Dec 24, 2009 3:03 AM CST
The Anglicans sing all the verses to the hymns. The Catholics knock it off around verse two or three and get on with the show. This may account for some of it too, as they share the same dirges with which to praise their god.

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