from Christian Today
Anxiety about immigration and cultural change is closely linked to how people view British identity and Christianity’s place in national life, according to a new report by the religion and society think tank Theos.
The research found that these concerns extend beyond those it identifies as closest to “Christian nationalists”, with some people who reject a Christian national identity also expressing unease about immigration.
However, concern was strongest among those most attached to Britain’s Christian identity, who were called ‘Identity Integrationists’ in the report and accounted for 11% of the sample. A majority of this group (83%) were very concerned about immigration levels, while 70% said they felt like strangers in their own country.
Written by Dr Nick Spencer and Dr Yinxuan Huang, “Beyond ‘Christian nationalism’: Measuring attitudes to Christianity and Britishness today” draws on a survey of 1,765 UK adults conducted by research agency RED C in April 2026.
In addition to Identity Integrationists, the report identifies four other groups with differing views about the relationship between Christianity and Britishness.
Identity Integrationists see Christianity as fundamental to Britishness and want to defend the country’s Christian heritage against perceived threats.
Within this group, 85% are very concerned about the number of asylum seekers, 67% about the number of Muslims in Britain, and 54% about a lack of integration among migrant communities.
“This is clearly the most anxious of all the groups,” the report says.