Two-thirds of Anglicans voted for Brexit, a much higher proportion than in the country as a whole. Greg Smith (William Temple Foundation) and Linda Woodhead (Lancaster University) look at the reasons for the disparity and note the divergence between the beliefs of UK evangelicals – including the Archbishop of Canterbury – and ‘normal’ Anglicans.
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, has been busy again attacking the markets and calling for more welfare. His views are at variance with those of ordinary Anglicans, two-thirds of whom think that welfare spending is too high.
Research we have just published reveals an equally significant ‘values gap’ when it comes to the EU. ‘In the run up to the referendum of 2016 Welby was against Brexit but in the vote Anglicans strongly supported it. Our exit poll of 3,242 UK adults, commissioned by Linda Woodhead immediately after the referendum, shows that exactly two-thirds (66%) of the Anglicans in England who cast a vote, voted to leave the EU. That’s higher than for England as a whole, where just over half of voters (53%) chose Leave.

Anglicans are more enthusiastically pro-Brexit than affiliates of other major religions. In England, 55% of Catholics voted Leave, 45% Remain. Amongst other non-Christian faiths – though sample sizes are small – the tendency was to favour Remain over Leave. The increasingly large group who report ‘no religion’ also favoured Remain: 53% Remain, 47% Leave.
Anglican support for Brexit is so high that it’s natural to think that the fact of being Church of England may be disguising other factors. For example, we know that Anglicans tend to be older than the population as a whole, and that older people were more likely to vote Leave. We tested this by correcting for all the factors that might have influenced , including age, region of residence, gender, and social class. This shows that age and social class do make a difference. Nevertheless, even when all these factors are corrected for, the ‘Anglican effect’ remains. Table 1 shows this most clearly.
Table 1: Percentage of voters voting Leave: All England, CofE, None (No Religion)
All | CofE | None | |
---|---|---|---|
All | 53 | 66 | 47 |
Female | 57 | 68 | 50 |
Male | 50 | 64 | 44 |
ABC1 | 46 | 63 | 37 |
C2DE | 64 | 71 | 63 |
Under 40 | 37 | 49 | 35 |
40-59 | 57 | 66 | 51 |
Over 60 | 66 | 72 | 61 |
London | 41 | 57 | 35 |
Earlier surveys carried out by Woodhead in 2013 allow us to test this hypothesis, because they asked about voting intention in a referendum on the EU, as well as frequency of church attendance. They show that Anglicans who go to church regularly (at least once a month) are indeed more likely to say they would vote Remain – but they are still in a minority. The majority of Anglicans in England, churchgoing or not, favour Brexit.
These earlier polls also shed some light on why Anglicans are so pro-Brexit, despite what their leaders tell them. They show that Anglicans are generally centre-right in politics but liberal on matters of personal morality. Newspapers like the Telegraph or Daily Mail reflect their views. They take a generally negative view of the EU, with a quarter saying they can see no benefit at all in being a member. What they object to most are ‘EU rules and regulations’, followed by weak borders and unchecked immigration, and taking power from Parliament. Over half object to every one of these things. After that come economic objections.
In other words, most Anglicans take a positive view of English culture and ethnicity, and regard the EU as a threat to their heritage, values, identity and parliamentary sovereignty. These concerns, which are sometimes lumped together as ‘nativist’ are greater even than their economic ones.
By contrast, none of these concerns figure highly in the statements of the Archbishops.
Greg Smith’s surveys of evangelical opinion in the UK suggest an interesting reason why. He finds that evangelical Christians inthe differ significantly from their counterparts in the US. Both groups are predominantly white, but in the UK evangelicals are generally of much higher socio-economic status and have a more global, cosmopolitan outlook. In the US, the evangelical vote went overwhelmingly to Trump, in the UK, evangelicals were more likely to Remain than Leave.
As an evangelical, Justin Welby’s views reflect the views of British evangelicalism more generally. Evangelicalism is increasingly influential amongst bishops and senior clergy in the Church of England, but appeals to only a minority of the laity.
Over time, as older, more traditional Anglicans die out and the CofE continues its precipitous decline, that balance may change. In the process the CofE from a moderate religion of the people to a more sectarian religion for an evangelical minority. In that case, the views of Church leaders will, eventually, prevail over those of laity.
Linda Woodhead is a Professor of Politics, Philosophy and Religion at Lancaster University.
Greg Smith is an Associate Research Fellow at the William Temple Foundation.
” In the run up to the referendum of 2016 Welby was strongly for Brexit; but in the vote Anglicans were strongly against. Our exit poll of 3,242 UK adults, commissioned by Linda Woodhead immediately after the referendum, shows that exactly two-thirds (66%) of the Anglicans in England who cast a vote, voted to leave the EU.”
There’s something wrong here. Two thirds voting for Brexit can’t be described as being strongly against. Not just a typo because that “but” only makes sense if you believe that the majority of Anglicans held a different view from the archbishop.
Thanks for spotting that, Catherine. It’s now been corrected. In the run-up to the vote the CofE did not take an official view on Brexit but Welby was openly critical of Leave. Since then he has of course been more vocal in his opposition.
Dreadfully written, Justin Welby is presumably anti-Brexit, not pro. Does nobody, even Profs, proof read their stuff any more?
John, I think you misread the article.
“… in the UK, evangelicals were more likely to Remain than Leave.
As an evangelical, Justin Welby’s views reflect the views of British evangelicalism more generally.”
So yes, Welby fits in with other UK evangelicals in being a Remainer. But the evangelicals are not typical Anglicans of the sort that used to be described as the “Tory Party at prayer”.
I think you read a different version to each other, please read the first comments by Catherine & Ros.
Andy, thanks. Sorry I missed that.
SORRY -NO.
This HEADLINE is factually wrong.
I am a Remain Voter and an Anglican.
You cover the problem later in the article, but its really self-determination, and many of those who define as “Anglican” include Biffers who haven’t ever set foot in a Church or know anything about christianity.
I don’t have firm figures, I doubt anyone does, (aside from your 2013 article) but I suspect it’s a lot more balanced than the article headline suggests. Whilst most churches I feel comfortable in are open minded, one or two I know have openly preached – lets say – the differences between Abrahamic Religions. This xenophobia, whilst going against core Christian Beliefs would go some way to explaining how actual Christians were deceived into voting Leave.
Another point that Christian Leavers often raise is the design of the EP building in Strasbourg being based on “The Tower of Babel”. I am at pains to point out Biblically this is incorrect, but it is based on the painting by Pieter Bruegel, which depicts a partially complete Tower of Babel.
The Vote has made me feel more distanced from CofE, as Remain & Open mindedness is my core values and I could never share a common value with the more extreme groups in leavers.
I have long admired Linda Woodheads empirically informed commentary on the COE – the Bishops and their mandarins would be wise to take her counsel rather than waste more time and money on “church growth” consultants.
Having said that I was surprised that so much of her argument here relied on a post referendum survey. Past election polling research has shown a strong desirability bias where respondents are much more likely to claim they voted for the winning candidate or issue on the ballot. A majority of Anglicans probably did vote Leave but over 60 percent seems to be quite high…
Isn’t it quite simple really? The demographic of Anglicans is nearer the demographic of Brexiteers than the general population i.e. whiter and older!
Dear Paul,
The article says “We tested this by correcting for all the factors that might have influenced , including age, region of residence, gender, and social class. This shows that age and social class do make a difference. Nevertheless, even when all these factors are corrected for, the ‘Anglican effect’ remains. ” Assuming they also controlled for being white, that answers your point, provided the method of control was reasonable.
Yes, I did read that but I noticed that they didn’t indicate how much it reduced the effect. I feel this is a slight basis on which to base much generalisation about Anglicans, Brexiteers or anyone else!
Many Anglicans and other Protestants view the EU as a Roman Catholic organisation to which we should not belong and that it’s little better than the politic arm of the RC church.It should be noted that the other northern European countries feel the same way. All of them have caused problems for the EU an some are not even members. It’s the cultural conditioning of the reformed faith with a non-executive ministry which is the root cause of Protestant concerns as this has filtered through to our political thinking. The RC church has executive priests with a military style chain of command. This has filtered through to their political thinking.It is easily demonstrated by the attitude of many EU leaders like Juncker, Barneir, Verhosstad and many others past and present.
All Anglican clergy subscribe to the Articles of Religion when they are preferred to their benefice.
Article XXXVII is pretty straightforward.
“The Queen’s Majesty hath the chief power in this Realm of England and other her Dominions, unto who the chief Government of all Estates of this Realm, whether they be Ecclesiastical or Civil, in all causes doth appertain and is not, nor ought to be, subject to any foreign Jurisdiction …..”
The Archbishops also assent to the Privy Council Oath which requires them to uphold the sovereignty of the Crown against all foreign powers whatsoever.
I do not see how anybody making either or both of these solemn commitments can in good faith simultaneously advocate submission to the institutions of the EU.
It appears that the laity who were polled have, on the whole, a clearer idea on this than the clergy who subscribe to the Articles so they may draw their stipends..
Dear Edward,
Surely there is nothing in Article XXXVII to prevent the Queen’s Majesty delegating some of her power to the EU, by the European Communities Act or otherwise? This does not make her subject to the EU as the delegation can be withdrawn at any time, as is now happening.
While it is certain that Brexit will have impending consequences once it becomes final in March 2019, two-thirds of businesses are still not preparing for it. In a Brexit seminar organized by the Guardian, Suren Thiru, head of economics and business finance at the British Chamber of Commerce, said this is understandable because it is hard to make plans for something that has five or six different potential outcomes.
Although there is truth in that statement, there are ways businesses can be ready no matter what.