A new study by religion think tank Theos has revealed that 17% of adults in the UK see being Christian as a requirement for being “truly British”. 

Just under half of that number (8%) said they "strongly" identified with the statement. 

When asked to choose the most important factor for being British from a list of twelve options, only 1% of respondents selected being Christian. The list also included criteria such as being able to speak English, respecting the law, and making economic contributions.

Sixteen per cent of people agreed with the statement that “people who do not hold Christian values do not belong in Britain,” with 7% strongly agreeing. However, a clear majority of adults disagreed with both statements, and a significant proportion strongly disagreed.

Theos found that attitudes toward a formal relationship between Christianity and British identity are mixed. Four in ten (41%) agreed that “the law in Britain should be based on Christian values,” and the same proportion (40%) said that religious education should prioritise teaching Christianity ahead of other faiths. In both cases, about one in five respondents agreed strongly.

It comes days after a Premier Christian News survey revealed that almost a quarter of its audience would refer to themselves as a "Christian nationalist". 

Research by both Premier and Theos concur that the term "Christian Nationalism" is broad and often ascribed to others. 

Premier Christian News’ special series on Christian nationalism can be listened to on the PremierPlus app: 

Episode 1: What is Christian Nationalism?

Episode 2: How does Christian Nationalism shape our politics?

Episode 3: How can the church respond to Christian Nationalism?