Christianity in Australia

Christianity In Australia

Asia

Bangladesh • Bhutan • Brunei • Burma • Cambodia • China • Hong Kong • India • Indonesia • Japan • Kazakhstan • Korea • Laos • Malaysia • Maldives • Mongolia • Nepal • North Korea • Pakistan • Philippines • Russia • Singapore • South Korea • Sri Lanka • Taiwan • Tajikistan • Thailand • Turkmenistan • Uzbekistan • Vietnam

Europe

Albania • Armenia • Austria • Azerbaijan • Belarus • Belgium • Bosnia & Herzegovina • Bulgaria • Cyprus • Denmark • Finland • France • Georgia • Germany • Greece • Iceland • Ireland • Italy • Jersey • Kosovo • Lithuania • Luxembourg • Macedonia • Netherlands • Norway • Malta • Moldova • Montenegro • Poland • Portugal • Romania • Russia • Serbia • Turkey • Ukraine • United Kingdom

North America

Antigua & Barbuda • Barbados Belize • Canada • Costa Rica • Cuba Dominica • Dominican Republic • El Salvador • Grenada Guatemala • Haiti • Honduras Jamaica • Mexico • Nicaragua • Panama • Trinidad and Tobago United States

South America

Brazil • Chile • Colombia • Ecuador • Guyana • Paraguay • Peru

Middle East

Afghanistan • Bahrain • Iran • Iraq • Israel • Jordan • Kuwait • Lebanon • Oman • Qatar • Saudi Arabia • Syria • United Arab Emirates • Yemen

Oceania

Australia • East Timor • Fiji • Kiribati • Marshall Islands • Micronesia • Nauru • New Zealand • Palau • Papua New Guinea Samoa • Tonga • Tuvalu • Vanuatu •

Full list •

Australian Christian bodies

Australian Interchurch Australian Evangelical Alliance • site National Council of Churches Catholic & Anglican Anglican Church of Australia Roman Catholic Church Holiness & Pietist Christian and Missionary Alliance Christian Outreach Centre Church of the Nazarene Salvation Army Seventh-day Adventist Church Historical Protestantism Australian Friends Baptist Union of Australia Open Brethren Christian Reformed Churches of Australia Churches of Christ Fellowship of Congregational Churches Lutheran Church of Australia Presbyterian Church of Australia Uniting Church in Australia Wesleyan Methodist Church of Australia Orthodox Antiochian Orthodox of Australia & New Z. Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia Serbian Orthodox of Australia & New Z. Non-Chalcedonic Coptic Orthodox Church in Australia Pentecostal & Related Australian Christian Churches (AOG) Christian City Church Intl. CRC Churches International Revival Centres International Vineyard Churches Australia Worldwide Church of God Other LDS Church

Christianity is the largest religion listed by Australians in the national census. In the 2011 Census, 61.1% of Australians were listed as Christian. Australia has no official state religion and the Australian Constitution protects freedom of religion. The presence of Christianity in Australia began with the arrival of the First Fleet of British convicts in 1788. The religion grew to account for 96.1% of the national population at the time of the Federation of Australia in 1901. The Anglican Church of Australia (formerly known as the Church of England in Australia) remained the largest denomination until 1986, when it was surpassed by the Roman Catholic Church in Australia. Post-war multiculturalism and a decline in religious observance among some sections of the population have diversified the demographics of religion in Australia.

Of the roughly 61% identifying as Christian in 2011, the largest denominations were either Roman Catholic (25%) or Anglican (17%), with the third largest denomination being the 5% affiliated with the Uniting Church in Australia. Post-war immigration has grown the numbers belonging to churches like the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia and there are small but growing Pentecostal groups, such as Sydney's Hillsong Church. The festivals of Easter and Christmas are public holidays in Australia. Around a quarter of students attend church schools and Christian organisations are leading non-government providers of health and welfare services through organisations like Catholic Health Australia, Anglicare, UnitingCare Australia, the Salvation Army and St Vincent de Paul Society.

Historically significant Australian Christians have included Saint Mary MacKillop, Catherine Helen Spence, Pastor David Unaipon, the Reverend John Flynn and Pastor Sir Doug Nicholls. High profile contemporary Australian Christians include: Tim Costello Baptist minister and current CEO of World Vision Australia, Frank Brennan, Jesuit human rights lawyer, Cardinal George Pell, Catholic Archbishop of Sydney, Phillip Aspinall the current Anglican Primate and Archbishop of Brisbane, Kevin Rudd, former Labor Prime Minister, and Tony Abbott, leader for the Federal Opposition Liberal Party.