Secularisation

• Wilson 1966: Western societies undergoing the process of secularisation. 'a process whereby the religious beliefs, practises and institutions lose social significance'
• Woodhead 2014: 'to put it bluntly, there are no longer enough troopers to keep the show on the road'
• Bruce 2002: 'there is a steady and unremitting decline'. Predicts that by 2030 the methodist church will fold and by then the church of England will merely be a voluntary organisation with large amounts of heritage property.