AFTER a week when the Queen, in a meeting with the Archbishop of Canterbury and representatives of eight other UK faiths, talked happily about faith playing “a key role in the identity of many millions of people”, it is perhaps salutary to remember just how secular our nation’s Christians feel themselves to be.

The latest opinion poll of UK citizens who opted to identify themselves as Christians in last year’s census shows that:

Three-quarters of UK Christians strongly agree (or tend to agree) that religion should not have special influence on public policy (compared to the one in eight who think that it should)

79 per cent of UK Christians strongly agree (or tend to agree) that governments should not interfere in religion (with only eight per cent strongly disagreeing or tending to disagree)

More UK Christians oppose than support the idea of the UK having an official state religion, with nearly half (46 per cent) against and only a third (32 per cent) in favour. The same pattern is repeated with the question of seats being reserved for Church of England bishops in the House of Lords: 32 per cent of respondents oppose, with only 25 per cent in favour.

I would therefore, be very grateful if you would allow me to invite thoughtful Oxford Mail readers to visit our website thinkweek.co.uk and consider coming along to one or more of the thought-provoking talks and discussions that local people without faith have organised for them throughout this week, until Sunday. Every event is free – although the Richard Dawkins evening tonight is fully booked.

JOHN WHITE, chairman, Oxford Humanists, High Street, Chalgrove