What we can tell you · Derivable
How many places of worship are there of each religion in England and Wales?
Derivable No publication gives the figure, but it can be calculated from official figures. The calculation is shown as a Civometry calculation with its numerator, denominator and formula.
Why
The General Register Office publishes the list of places recorded under the Places of Worship Registration Act 1855 (ODS, latest 5 June 2026, 29,339 rows) with name, address, registration district and a free-text denomination for each; grouping the denomination strings gives a count by religion for certified non-Anglican buildings. The strings are self-declared (4,987 distinct values) and need harmonisation, and Church of England and Church in Wales buildings are outside the Act. No aggregate table by religion is published, and the Valuation Office Agency publishes no count of exempt places of worship.
What is known
What is not known
- Anglican churches (held by the Church of England, not a public authority)
- Uncertified buildings
- An official harmonised denomination classification
Who holds the data
- General Register Office (HM Passport Office)
- Valuation Office Agency (exempt hereditaments, unpublished)
Would a Freedom of Information request help?
Unlikely. The list is already published; a harmonised classification is unlikely to exist as a held record.
Privacy and disclosure restrictions
None stated by the publisher.
Official sources checked
- https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/places-of-worship-registered-for-marriage
- https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/non-domestic-rating-stock-of-properties-2024/non-domestic-rating-stock-of-properties-background-information
Last reviewed 2026-09-02. Availability changes; if a publication now answers this question, challenge the classification below.