In Depth:  Rod Badams

In spite of secularism, the 'multi-faith' society, and the decline of biblical standards of morality and decency, more than 37 million people in England and Wales still claim Christianity as their religion.

The figures come from the 2001 Census, the results of which were published in February. This was the first time since 1851 that a 'religious allegiance' question had appeared in Britain's ten-yearly official Census and, like its predecessor of 150 years ago, the 'religion' question attracted its fair share of controversy.