THE BRITISH EMPIRE: — UNITED KINGDOM
The following summary of statistics of Nonconformist churches (England and Wales, Channel Islands, and Isle of Man) in 1915 is taken from the 'Free Church Year-Book ' 1'pr 1916. It only claims to present an approximation of the actual condition. Figures relating to the Anglican Church are appended :-
Sunday
Sitting
Full Members
Ministers
Local
Sunday
School
Denomination
accommo-
in
and Lay
School
Scholars
dation
Charge.
Preachers
Teachers
and Bible
Class
Wesjeyan Methodist
2,371,937
469,095
2,513
22,500
130,107
922,773
Primitive Methodist
1,058,134
200,549
1,104
15,238
56,772
437,936
United Methodist .
628,532
148,927
6S5
5,119
40,325
285,681
I ndependent Methodist
47,690
9,016
411
2
3>106
26,677
Wesleyan Reform Union
52,595
8,526
25
500
2,641
23,172
Congregational
1,726,131
453.13S 1
2,923
4,928
68,928
624,589
Baptist ....
1,410,021
388,252 a
1,955
5.003
55,883
526, S92
Presbyterian .
189,456
8S.166
340
-
8,492
78,585
Calvinistic Methodist .
559,615
184,843
7S6
457
27,189
177,67$
Moravian
12,433
3,959
34
665
—
5,48?
Free Episcopal-" .
9,300
1,500
23
25
361
4,500
Reformed Episcopal 3 .
6,000
1,278
28
—
256
2,600
Lady Huntingdon's Con-
nexion
13,310
2,294
24
■ —
392
3,439
Churches of Christ
25,000
15,228
—
—
2,083
18,749
Disciples of Christ
6,000
1,643
12
12
215
1,485
Society of Friends
—
IS, Si '.4
—
2,814
21,098
Total of above
8,116,144
1,995,278 ■<
10,8m
54,449
399,624
8,181,791
Total Anglican
7,307,118
2,359,599
14,079
—
3.003,-187
' 45 Churches have not made returns. a 283 Chinches have not made returns.
9 Approximate only. •» Does not include members on trial.
The Unitarians have about 350 places of worship, the Catholic Apostolic Church about 80, the New Jerusalem Church about 75. The Salvation Army, a religious body with a semi-military organisation, carries on both spiritual and social work at home and abroad, and had (December, 1919) about 24,600 officers and employi*, 11,170 corps and outposts, and 71,400 local officers: then- places of worship in the United Kingdom have-about 550,000 sittings. There are about 260,000 Jews in the United Kingdom with about 200 synagogues
Roman Catholics in England and Wales are estimated at 1,900,000. There are (1920) four archbishops (of whom one is a cardinal), thirteen bishops, and one archbishop and three bishops-auxiliary ; about 3,900 priests (not all officiating) ; and about 1,920 churches, chapels, and stations.
2. Scotland.
The Church of Scotland (established in 1560 and continued in 1688) is presbyterian, the ministers all being of equal rank. There is in each parish a kirk session, consisting of the minister, aiid of several laymen railed elders. There are 8-1 presbyteries (formed by groups of parishes), meeting frequently throughout the year, and these are grouped in 16 synods, which meet half-yearly and can be appealed to against the derisions of the presbyteries. The supreme court is the Cenrral Assembly, which con- sists of over 700 members, partly clerical and partly lay. . hosm by the different presbyteries, royal burghs, and universities. It meets annually in May (under the presidency of a Moderator appointed by the Assembly, the Sovereign 1 >i • i 1 1 - represented by a nobleman known as Lord High Commis- sioner), and sits for fen days, any matters not decided during this period being left to a < 'omniissioii.
The number of parishes is 1,461, and the number of churches, chapels, and stations about 1,700. Under regulations enacted by the General
