Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1921.djvu/80

 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