Public Religion and Political Change in Wales

This article examines the experiences of a range of faith groups in Wales drawn from 40 interviews with these groups and related organizations. The principal aim of the project from which the data are drawn was to study experiences of change within the religious sphere in Wales, most notably changes brought about by the process of devolution since 1999. The article has three main concerns. First, drawing on Casanova’s idea of a ‘public religion’, we examine the public roles of faith groups, from the local level through to engagement with politicians in the National Assembly for Wales, and how, especially among Christian denominations, such roles are understood as of growing importance against a backdrop of declining church attendance. Second, we consider the attitudes of faith group representatives towards devolution and the Assembly, highlighting how to date Christian faith groups have been better placed to adapt to political change, for a variety of reasons. Leading on from this, we explore the factors that facilitate and limit engagement of faith groups with the Assembly.