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Islam most practiced religion in England by 2050 a 'possibility'

Population experts are predicting that Muslims who worship could eventually outnumber practising Christians in England and Wales.  The forecast comes after new analysis of the Office for National Statistics' breakdown of Britain's religions and age groups from the 2011 census.

The figures, according to the Times, reveal a tenth of babies and toddlers born in England and Wales are now Muslim.

The statistics also show the percentage of Muslims among the under-fives is now almost twice as high as the general population.

Professor of Population Studies at the University of Essex, David Voas told Premier's Des Busteed on the News Hour why he believes change is a real possibility.

Despite predictions that Britain's practising Muslins will eventually surpass the number of Christian worshippers here, Christianity remains by-far the largest religious group, at 1.5 million, among those aged 0-4, at 43 per cent.

The Department for Education currently lists 136 Muslim schools, 125 of them in the private sector. The figures show there were 3.5 million children aged 0-4, with 320,000 of them Muslims, making up 9 percent, with a total Muslim population among all age groups of less than five per cent.

Revd Dale Barton, the priest in charge at St Clements Bradford told Premier's News Hour that his parish has changed beyond all recognition over the past 50 years.

There are now 136 Muslim schools, 125 of them in the private sector, according to the Department for Education.

Britain has a total of 1,600 mosques and the first UK halal food festival was held in September.

 
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