Faith communities

Three-quarters of all Londoners consider themselves to have a religious belief. More than a million Londoners perform an act of worship or visit a religious building at least once a week.

Of the six largest world faiths, over four million Christians live in London, while Buddhism, Islam, Hinduism, Judaism and Sikhism each have more than 50,000 followers in the capital. There are also significant Baha’i, Jain and Zoroastrian communities in London.

The Mayor and his deputies regularly meet with faith communities all over London to make sure that those communities are involved in the future of the capital. The GLA supports a number of events to celebrate faith festivals each year, including Christmas, Vaisakhi, Diwali, Eid and Chanukah.

Assessment of the GLA's impact on faith equality

This paper forms part of the GLA’s response to the General Equality Duty arising from the Equality Act 2010. Specifically it seeks to review the impact the GLA’s policies and practices have had, or will have, in furthering the aims of the General Duty on London faith communities. It:

• documents the evidence taken into account;
• provides an analysis to establish whether GLA policies and practices have (or would) further the aims of the General Equality Duty;
• details the information the GLA has considered in carrying out this analysis;
• documents the engagement that the GLA has undertaken with people whom we consider to have an interest in furthering the aims of the General Equality Duty.

Assessment of the GLA’s Impact on Faith Equality PDF
Assessment of the GLA’s Impact on Faith Equality RTF

Conference

On 8 February 2011, the Mayor hosted a conference which saw faith leaders and representatives of religious groups in London come together to see how they might mobilise their communities and unlock civic potential in the capital.

For more information see the press release:
London faith leaders come together for Mayor's Interfaith conference