Residual Religiosity on a Hull Council Estate

Abstract

In the 1960s it was widely assumed that a process of secularisation was taking place and was likely to continue. Recent empirical data about a council estate, which among other things relate religious variables to age, are thought to throw light on such questions. These findings demonstrate that ‘religiosity’ tends to increase with age, but that for certain purposes important elements of residual religiosity remain. The decline in Sunday School is particularly noteworthy, and suggests a movement in the direction of a ‘voluntary’ church. Remaining churchgoers have a high level of commitment, suggesting that a move from church to sect can operate in the mainstream church.