Religion in Britain
by Milivoje Nesic

HISTORY

Of the religions practiced in modern Britain, Christianity is the most long-established and widely observed. It was first brought to Britain during the days of the Roman empire. There are forty churches still in regular use parts of which date from that period. With the departure of the legions and the Anglo-Saxon invasions of the fifth century, Christianity was reduced to pockets of support in Wales, Scotland and Ireland. This situation changed with the arrival of missionaries sent by the Pope led by Augustine in 597. The next few centuries saw Christianity established throughout Britain. Augustine meanwhile became the first Bishop of Canterbury, the most important figure in the Church of England. By the end of the eleventh century a system of dioceses and parishes,with its bishops, had been established across much of England. This system, with some changes, remains the basis of the structure of the Church of England. The Reformation of the sixteenth century did not disturb this structure. It did, however, fracture the Christian community in the British Isles. Links with Rome were broken and an established church owing its allegiance to the English crown replaced the mediaeval Church in England, Wales and Ireland. In Scotland Roman Catholicism survived in strength only in Ireland. The Reformation was followed by further divisions. Conflicts over theology, church order and freedom of conscience led to a series of secessions from the Church of England in the course of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. These Free Churches, as they are now called, were joined in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries by the Methodist products of the Evangelical Revival. This and resurgence of Roman Catholicism throughout Britain in the course of the nineteenth century , largely as a result of immigration, particularly from Ireland, produced an increasingly diverse religious scene. Further immigration in 19th and 20th centuries has added to this diversity. Orthodox churches have been established by immigrants from eastern Europe and the eastern Mediterranean. There are now over 200 different Christian denominations in Britain. Immigrations has also led to the arrival of a number of other faiths in Britain. In addition to the long-established Jewish community, there are now large and growing communities of Muslims, Sikhs and Hindus as well as a variety of other faiths. Everyone in Britain, whatever their creed, enjoys religious freedom in teaching, worship and proselytisation - without interference from the community or the State.

RELATIONS WITH THE STATE

The largest religious communities in Britain in terms of adherence, are the Church of Scotland north of the border, and the Church of England to the south. These Churches are established by the law in their respective kingdoms, and the Queen is pledged by her coronation oath to defend each in its respective territory. They are thus linked to the State, but are not under its autority.

FUNDING

There are a lot of funds, which were established by different churches to preserve, repair and maintain places of worship, temples and other buildings which are of historical and architectural imortance.

MINISTERING TO THE LOCAL COMMUNITY

An important component of the life of the religious groups in Britain has always been care for the social as well as the spiritual needs of the community. The Salvation army was founded for Christ's sake, to care for the poor, feed the hungry, clothe the naked, love the unloveable and befriend to the friendless, is particulary well known for work with homeless and with alcoholics, and its work in tracing missing persons. Similar work is also carried out by the Church Army, which is part of the Church of England. The churches provide training and counselling services and sheltered housing for the elderly. They work with and provide care for those in great need : the terminally ill, AIDS patients, drug addicts…

MINISTERING TO THE WORLD

Religious groups in Britain have been no less concerned to serve human needs overseas. The largest Church aid agency, Christian Aid, helps towards the relief of refugees and reconstruction of social life in war-torn Europe. Supported by 40 British and Irish churches, it now works in over 70 countries.

RELIGIOUS LIFE

Christian worship varies considerably, from the silence of a Quaker meeting to the ritual and splendour of Mass in a Catholic cathedral. Music has always played an important part in the worship of most Christian traditions in Britain, whether expressed through choral singing hymns, the gospel choirs of the Afro-Caribbean churches or the brassbands of Salvation Army. Worship is personal as well as communal. All the religions, to a greater or lesser extent, stress personal prayer or contemplation. There are a lot of religious group in Britain, and the largest is the Church of England. It's part of worldwide communion of Anglican churches. Other very large community is the Church of Scotland , one of Presbyterian Churches. In Britain there's also the Roman Catholic Church, a lot of the Free Churches and Orthodox Churches. There are all Christian communities, and on the territory of British state there are a lot of other communities: Jewish, Muslim, Sikhs, Hindu, Buddhism and many other faiths.

Religion in Yugoslavia
by Milivoje Nesic

HISTORY

Serbia and Montenegro have been Eastern Orthodox countries ever since they were established. In the 13th century the Serbian arcbishopric got independence. On the top of the church was the archbishop, and it wasn't under direct autority of the Byzantine patriarch. In the 14th century Serbia became an empire , so the church was brought up to the highest level: it became the patriarchate. Now on the top was the patriarch and under him were archbishops and lower priestes. Under his autority were metropolitan provinces with a metropolitan on the top. Metropolitan provinces were divided into eparchies, and each eparchy was divided into parishes with its priest, and they were on all teritory of Serbia and Montenegro. The Serbian church was developing well until the 15th century when the Turkish empire conquered Serbia and Montenegro. Without the country, on which the church had been leaning, the line of Serbian patriarchs was broken off and the metropolitan provinces and the eparchies fell under control of the Ohrid archbishopric. After one century the Serbian church was back on it old rank, but still without country and under Turkish rule. In the next two centuries the Serbian patriarchs were on the side of conquered people and the side of Turkish enemy. All of that led to the church losing its authority and falling under the authority of the Constantinople patriarch. In the 19th century , after the Turkish withdrawal, the church was again established. After the First World War the Kingdom of Serbia , Kingdom of Montenegro, Bosnia, Croatia and Slovenia were united into the kingdom of Yugoslavia. The territory of Croatia and Slovenia were under influence of the Roman Catholic Church, and in Serbia and Montenegro the Orthodox Church was predominant. There were no bigger problems but there was always rivalry. Everything was more or less good until after the Second World War , when the communist regime came to power. In the period from 1945-1990 Serbian people and people of Montenegro were prevented from going to church, not officially, but if somebody went to the Orthodox Church they had many problems with authorities, such as not being able to get promotion at work nor take an active part in political life. A lot of people in that period joined the communist party for various reasons and the party didn't tolerate any links with the Orthodox Church. Only a small number of people continued to go to church and to celebrate the family saint's day. In recent years the situation has changed for the better and people are increasingly returning to church.

RELATIONS WITH THE STATE

Until the Second World War links with the state were excellent the rulers, despots, kings, emperors and again kings, had always given support and help to the Church. But after that period the relationship deteriorated and church and its priests were in an udesirable position. Priests had a lot problems with autorities; there was a very small number of young priests because almost no one was brave enough to enroll in theological schools. However, all of this is now improving, although it has not yet reached the former level of excellence.

FUNDS AND MINISTERING

Because of the position in which the Church has been for the last 50 years, a lot of funds that have been established and still exist are rather modest and people are helped as much as possible. The Church is trying to help and to care for the poor, hungry and in the last few years expecially for the Serbian refugees from Croatia, Bosnia and Kosovo.

RELIGIOUS LIFE

The Serbian Orhodox religion is characterised by celebrating the family saint's day. On that day people cook wheat and make a special cake , and a very big lunch. Worship is personal as well as communal. Sometimes worship is followed by choral singing, but never with music. The interesting and impressive thing, which is characteristic of Serbian Orthodox Church, are its frescoes and icons -- let us just mention the frescoe of White Angel, and numerous monasteries and churches which are over 8 centuries old. In Serbia and Montenegro is the biggest number of christian orthodox believers (more then 80%), the rest are christian catholic, islamic, non-believers and a small number of protestant, judaists and other faiths. All of them have the same rank as the orthodox people, and total freedom of worship.