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An Overview
The Land
The United Kingdom consists of England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales and is rich in history, tradition, and culture. More than 60 million people reside within a land area of only 93,000 sq. miles.1 Although the region is small, the geography is varied and beautiful. Meadowlands and pastures are separated by rivers and rolling hills. The white cliffs of Dover paint the southeastern coastline, the mountains and lakes of Cumbria’s Lake District in the north provide a photographer’s paradise, and the fog-shrouded castles in the remote moors of Yorkshire and Devonshire evoke an air of mystery. The historical capital city, London, is regarded by many around the world as a dream-vacation destination.
The History and Culture
During the region’s many years of existence, the people have seen their fair share of conflict—even at the hands of their rulers and religious leaders. The concept of a unified monarchy over the many tribes in the land dates back to the early AD 800s. A single monarch has reigned in the United Kingdom since King James VI of Scotland (I of England) acquired England in 1603. Today the country is ruled by a constitutional monarchy, in which the monarch adheres to a constitution, and law is made by Parliament.2
These years of existence have led to an infusion of tradition, seen both in the home and in religion. No one thinks of the UK without reflecting on the quaintness that makes it a unique place. Obviously the country’s history and monarchy are an important part of this reflection, but you’ll never escape its teatime with scones, clotted cream, and jam. This tradition leads to a much more relaxed atmosphere than the busyness that is pervasive in U.S. culture.
The Church
The church has its own set of traditions—a fact that can be either positive or negative, depending on how a person adheres to those traditions. The 2001 British census revealed that 72 percent of the population of England and Wales identified themselves as Christians. The next-highest percentage,
22 percent, either listed themselves as non-practitioners of religion or they did not answer this question at all. The other 6 percent identified themselves as being Muslim or as practitioners of other non-Christian religions.3 Three observations can be made from these statistics.
First, it is challenging to discern how many of the 72 percent who identified themselves as Christians understand that to be Christian is to be “Christlike” and subsequently to know Christ fully—to truly be like Him. This is especially challenging because observation and analysis show that no more than
12 percent of the population actually attend a church . . . and this number drops steadily year after year.
Second, the growth trend of other religions in the UK is staggering. Sources indicate that out of the
6 percent of people in the UK who practice other religions, 38 percent (1.5 million) are Muslim. By 2020 the predicted number of those who say they practice no religion will increase from 22 percent to
40 percent—and the number of practicing Muslims could increase to 46 percent of those who practice other religions (2.8 million). 3
The Problem
The Christian foundation is slipping away—and the religious trend in British society is changing for the worse. The family is floundering, which is not unlike the trend in the United States. Some of the issues at the forefront of the culture include divorce and remarriage, increased sexual promiscuity, tolerance of homosexuality, and an increased number of unwed women becoming pregnant at younger ages.
In these staggering trends, where are the 72 percent who say they are Christian?
Who confronts these problems and welcomes those who are struggling?
A Solution
Insight for Living remains committed to teaching biblical truth and its application to a needy and hostile world. The ministry seeks to present the message of truth in a culturally relevant manner, honoring the good traditions within different ethnic groups and within these groups’ own countries. Having an
Insight for Living office in the UK—just as we have in Canada, Australia, and Brazil—has been a longtime dream of Chuck and Cynthia Swindoll. Many years of praying toward this end finally came to fruition in 2006 when a focused effort was directed to the creation of the Insight for Living-United Kingdom office.
The purpose of this UK-based ministry is to come alongside local pastors, ministers, missionaries, and laypersons and serve as a local resource center to the Insight for Living radio program. The office will make it possible to personally meet the needs of so many that come face-to-face with the problems addressed above. Product requests, ministry information, counseling, theological inquiries, and a listening ear will be warmly provided by Insight for Living staff in the United Kingdom.
1. “United Kingdom,” The World Factbook, www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/uk.html, accessed December 12, 2006.
2. Royal Household at Buckingham Palace, “Kings and Queens of the United Kingdom (from 1603),” The British Monarchy, www.royal.gov.uk/output/Page13.asp, accessed December 12, 2006.
3. Peter Brierley, 12 Trends in British Society (London: Christian Research, 2005), 13. | 
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