Nearly four out of 10 people in Britain are likely to attend a church this Christmas, an opinion poll suggested today.
A survey has shown 39% of adults in England, Scotland and Wales attended a church or place of worship at Christmas last year.
This compared to a level of 33% for Christmas 2000.
The figures were compiled in an opinion poll conducted by Opinion Research Business on behalf of the Church of England and English Heritage.
The poll of 1,004 adults aged over 18 was conducted by telephone and took place between October 15 and 19.
The highest Christmas church attendance rate by area last year was in Scotland at 48%.
The lowest was in Wales and the south west where 25% said they had attended a church or a place of worship over Christmas 2002.
The young – 18 to 24-year-olds – were the least likely age group to have gone to church at Christmas last year, registering only a 24% attendance rate.
The poll found 83% of people regard their local church as a place of worship.
Nearly six in 10 – 59% – thought of it as a local landmark and 53% saw it as an historic place.
Some 63% said they would be concerned if their local church or chapel was no longer there.
Figures released by the Church of England today showed the number of people attending churches and cathedrals on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day remained static between 2001 and 2002 at 2.6 million.
The Rt Rev Richard Chartres, Bishop of London and chairman of the Church Heritage Forum, said: “Two messages emerge from this research. A surprising number of people are involved, occasionally if not regularly, in Christian worship, especially over Christmas.
“Secondly, church buildings have an important place in local affections, with an impact on cultural and community life which extends far beyond the worshipping congregation.”
Simon Thurley, chief executive of English Heritage, said: “For many individuals and congregations, the spiritual significance of our churches is beyond measure, but their historical and architectural importance is also immense.
“In particular, English parish churches make a unique and special contribution to European civilisation.
“Along with ecclesiastical buildings of all denominations, they often stand at the centre of village and inner city life, providing a sort of ‘social glue’ for local communities.
“This survey shows just how special they are and how much they are loved and valued, even by those who consider themselves non-Christian.”