100 YEARS OF DISESTABLISHMENT CIVIC PLURALISM IN , PAST AND FUTURE 100 YEARS OF DISESTABLISHMENT

INTRODUCTION

A PROUD LEGACY OF The Act disestablished the Church of INCLUSION AND PLURALISM England, and created the , which was, markedly and for the first time, 100 years on from its , this separate from the state. report examines the far-reaching impact on Welsh society and public life of the Welsh As will be explored, the Act put the nation Church Act 1914, which disestablished the of Wales on a secular trajectory, to the envy in Wales on 31 March 1920. of reform-minded individuals living in other parts of the UK. This report looks at the story of Wales following the Act, and considers the unique The Act has had a profound impact on and by and large exemplary political culture the character of Welsh politics as it has of modern Wales, including the successes developed and evolved since its passage. born of a devolved administration established along secular lines. It also Meetings of the Senedd, unlike the UK suggests further ways in which Wales might Parliament, have no Anglican prayers build on the proud legacy of independent as part of their business. And since thought and pluralism to ensure that every devolution, Wales has charted strongly resident is treated with equal dignity, secular approaches both to governance regardless of religion or belief. and in areas such as healthcare policy. The pioneering organ donation law which The history of the Act itself is as intriguing came into effect in 2015 is among several Wales Humanists is part of Humanists UK. as the impact it has had. Calls for an Act examples in which Wales has led the way We want a tolerant world where rational began in the nineteenth century because in the UK in recent years. In that case, thinking and kindness prevail. We work to of the unfairness of non-Anglicans paying the Welsh Government managed to take support lasting change for a better society, tithes to support the Church of England, on board the views of diverse religious championing ideas for the one life we have. growing numbers of Nonconformists, and communities while ultimately carving out an Our work helps people be happier and more the growth of a sense of Welsh nationhood. evidence-based path that benefited society fulfilled, and by bringing non-religious as a whole. people together we help them develop The proposed law was popular in Wales their own views and an understanding of and among MPs in the House of Commons This report will also explore outstanding the world around them. Founded in 1896, but bishops and social conservatives in vestiges of religious privilege in Welsh we are trusted to promote humanism by the , concerned at the public life and set out a future vision of over 100,000 members and supporters. potential loss of their religious and political even greater equality on the basis of religion Through our ceremonies, pastoral support, influence, opposed it. In the end the House or belief. It makes recommendations on education services, and campaigning work, of Commons had to use the Parliament Act collective worship in schools, faith schools, we advance free thinking and freedom of of 1911 to force the Lords to agree against marriage laws, chaplaincy/pastoral support, choice so everyone can live in a fair and their will and the Act was passed in 1914. Its and national ceremonies, that, if taken up, equal society. implementation was delayed to 1920 due to would see Wales fully embrace the diversity the outbreak of the First World War. of its population today.

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CONFIDENT IN OUR DIVERSITY in 2019 revealed that nearly three-fifths (58%) of Welsh adults regard themselves In Wales, we speak more than one language as belonging to no religion at all, up some (this report is published in English and 20% from the last decade when under half SUCCESSES OF SECULARISM Welsh), we excel in many sports (particularly (46%) of Welsh adults said the same. All football and rugby), and we believe many indications are that this trend will continue, different things when it comes to life’s making the non-religious a culturally and religious and philosophical questions. In politically significant group in Welsh society. In the early days of devolution, First Minister all these areas, albeit to different extents, There have been many successes as Rhodri Morgan helped set the tone for what our society benefits from people who have Meanwhile, there has been a large relative a result of the Welsh Church Act 1914 was emerging as a uniquely inclusive and differences living together peacefully and rise in those belonging to non-Christian and Wales’ subsequently pluralistic pluralistic Welsh polity. His own egalitarian productively, and being treated as equals. religions (0.8% in 2008 to 3.2% in 2018).1 and largely secular public policy. convictions were evident in the consistent Taken together, these figures show there is dignity and equal treatment he afforded to Diversity of belief, in particular, has always a continued and pressing need for religious people of different beliefs and backgrounds. been something distinctive about Wales, neutrality in public life, reflecting the fact THE SENEDD ITSELF IS FORMED In doing so, he and his fellow pioneers and was part of the impetus for that in a plural society, the communal ON SECULAR PRINCIPLES of Welsh democracy helped to fashion a disestablishment some 100 years ago. institutions that we share (and together Compared to other parts of the UK, distinctively Welsh approach to politics, Today, Wales is also distinctive within the pay for) should be spaces where people Wales enjoys a high degree of separation where humanists and religious groups alike UK for the very large majority of people who following many different religious and between church and state. This is evident are treated by the government as partners do not identify with any religion. The most non-religious ways of life can meet on in the Senedd, where, in contrast to the on an equal basis. recent British Social Attitudes Survey equal terms. UK Parliament, there is no advantage or disadvantage to Senedd members on the It was fitting that, when Rhodri died, the basis of their religion or belief. Nor does National Assembly for Wales chose to organise Wales’ first state funeral on the The shift in religious beliefs in Wales religion influence the formal proceedings of parliamentary business. basis of his own beliefs – a humanist funeral that was telecast around the world. In While it’s true to say that the story of England, by contrast, state and ceremonial secularism in Wales began in 1914, it was a funerals seem to invariably be Anglican, process that accelerated significantly with irrespective of the beliefs of those being devolution towards the end of that century. mourned. Morgan had been a patron of Wales Humanists.

Yet even before devolution crystallised this inclusive approach in Wales’ institutions and the Senedd’s procedures, that inclusive character was already in the DNA of Welsh politics. Anglican It can be seen in the outsized contributions Roman Catholic that Welsh statesmen and women made in the UK Parliament. At the start of this Other Christian 100-year story, Liberal Prime Minister David 2008 Non-Christian 2018 Lloyd George, for example, was an agnostic in his beliefs who identified closely with No religion the Nonconformist Welsh community he was raised in; it was his Government that 1 British Social Attitudes Information System data survey years 2008 and 2018. Available at: http://www.britsocat.com/ Rhodri Morgan enacted Welsh disestablishment in 1920. BodyTwoCol_rpt.aspx?control=CCESDMarginals&SurveyID=34&Var=RELIGSUM&LangID=0&CountryID=4

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In the mid-20th century, the ‘father of It is to the credit of the pioneers of Under Education Secretary Kirsty Williams which oversee and set local religious the NHS’ Aneurin ‘Nye’ Bevan, like Rhodri devolution that Nye Bevan’s tolerant MS’s leadership, the Welsh Government education syllabi. Following news of a Morgan, was a committed humanist who approach – respect without hypocrisy, is also renaming the latter subject to conflict involving a local council that ‘practiced what he preached’ in terms of a rationalism married to fellow-feeling in ‘Religion, Values, and Ethics’ (RVE) which is was refusing membership to a humanist, pluralistic Welsh politics. His wife Jennie Lee spite of differences – is evident in today’s considerably more broad than the current the Welsh Government wrote to all local famously said upon his death: Senedd and today’s Wales. It has shaped the name ‘Religious Education’ which, by its authorities in 2018 to set out the legal comparatively mature and sanguine nature very name, is exclusive of the non-religious. landscape, explaining that councils were of Welsh politics today. Significantly, the Bill also maximises the required in law to treat applications from Nye is asleep next door. Later today number of children who receive the subject humanists just as they would applications Unlike the UK Parliament, the Senedd 4 he will be taken home to Wales. in an objective, non-partisan way, by from religious groups. The Curriculum and reserves no automatic places for religious Tomorrow he will be cremated in equipping parents whose children attend Assessment (Wales) Bill will put into statute figures, and Senedd business starts directly keeping with his known views... He voluntary aided faith schools with the right provision for humanists to join SACREs and without prayers. This is entirely different was never a hypocrite. No falsity to demand lessons taught in accordance ASCs as full voting members. from the situation in Westminster, which must touch him once he is no longer with their locally agreed syllabus, which is unique among democratic sovereign This was a welcome and much-needed available to defend his views. He was all children in schools without a religious parliaments in automatically allocating intervention. While many SACREs in England not a cold-blooded rationalist. He character will be taught. 26 seats for Church of England bishops and Wales now include a humanist alongside was no calculating machine. He was in the House of Lords, and which starts The new relationships and sexuality religious representatives, some continued a great humanist whose religion lay parliamentary business in both chambers education curriculum also looks set to to refuse membership to humanists, despite in loving his fellow men and trying with daily Anglican prayers. In fact, it even celebrate Wales’s diversity, including this being in breach of the law. to serve them... He knelt reverently enables MPs to reserve limited seating for education about LGBT and gender-related in respect to a friend or friend’s the day ahead by attending these prayers, issues. faith, but he never pretended to be LEADING THE UK ON which others have pointed out is a form anything other than what he was, of indirect discrimination against The inclusive and pluralistic character of ORGAN DONATION a humanist. non-Christians. Welsh politics has helped make it possible In 2015, Wales took the visionary and for the Welsh Government to advance lifesaving step to become the first country A WORLD LEADER IN proposals for a new kind of curriculum in the UK to move to a ‘soft opt-out’ organ framework. The new curriculum is one with donation system, meaning that adults in INCLUSIVE EDUCATION the rights of children embedded deep at its Wales are presumed to have consented to 100 years on from disestablishment, Wales heart, and was unveiled after taking in the organ donation unless they have specifically is still making advances. Recently, the Welsh opinions of the widest possible selection of opted out. Government has led the way in offering an experts and stakeholders, including religion inclusive education on religion or belief, or belief groups. The rest of the UK is catching up, England as well as relationships and sexuality, moved to an opt-out system earlier this 5 as part of the reforms contained in the INCLUSION OF HUMANISTS year and Scotland is due to change its law to a similar system in 2021. The Northern forthcoming, rights-based Curriculum for ON SACREs AND ASCs Wales. The Government’s Curriculum and Ireland Government previously indicated Assessment (Wales) Bill2 makes explicit Similarly, the Welsh Government has support for such a scheme in 2013, that schools must teach humanism confirmed the legal right of humanists to although a private member’s bill on the equally alongside the major world religions, sit on Standing Advisory Councils on changes was rejected in 2016. reflecting their obligations under the Human Religious Education (SACREs) and Agreed Rights Act 1998.3 Syllabus Conferences (ASCs), bodies

4 Humanists UK. ‘Welsh Government: Humanists must be given right to sit on local RE bodies’. 2018. Available at: 2 The Curriculum and Assessment (Wales) Bill. 2020. Available online at: https://senedd.wales/laid%20documents/ https://humanism.org.uk/2018/05/08/welsh-government-humanists-must-be-given-right-to-sit-on-local-re-bodies/ pri-ld13294/pri-ld13294%20-e.pdf 5 Humanists UK. ‘Success! Humanists UK celebrates new life-saving organ donation law after more than a decade of 3 Humanists UK. ‘Welsh Government to change law on school RE to include humanism’. 2019. Available at: campaigning’ Available at: https://humanism.org.uk/2020/05/20/success-humanists-uk-celebrates-new-life-saving- https://humanism.org.uk/2019/01/28/welsh-government-to-change-law-on-school-re-to-include-humanism/ organ-donation-law-after-more-than-a-decade-of-campaigning/

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But these problems go wider than one schools that were historically neglected by religious institution. 14% of all state-funded the UK Parliament, the Senedd and Welsh schools in Wales are schools ‘with a religious Government can address the discriminatory character’ – the legal term for faith schools. impact of religious schools and make their Like Church in Wales schools, they are also education system one of the fairest in permitted to design their own curriculum, the world. discriminate on the basis of religion when appointing teachers, and can control their own admissions, prioritising members of RECOMMENDATION: Wales should their own faith and putting those of other support fully inclusive school admissions, religions or who are non-religious to the employment, and curriculum policies, with back of the queue for places if they so no discrimination on the basis of religion. wish. This discriminates against children on the basis of beliefs they are too young to confidently hold for themselves, reduces COLLECTIVE WORSHIP the access of local parents to local schools, Other weaknesses in our education law and leads to communities that are divided relate to anomalies inherited from the along lines of religion, and, as a knock-on English education system, decades before consequence, race and family income. a say over education was devolved to Wales. In fact, the duty to enforce collective The OECD recently conducted a survey worship in 1944 was opposed by many THE VISION AHEAD: COMPLETING of member countries, looking for where Welsh MPs including the Labour MP for state schools discriminate on the basis of Aberavon, William Cove,who said ‘For the DISESTABLISHMENT IN WALES religion in admissions. The only countries it first time in British history the State comes identified were the UK, Ireland (where the in and decrees that there shall be in every Government is making steps to address elementary school throughout the length 7 the problem), Estonia, and Israel. No other and breadth of the land a collective act of countries were found to discriminate worship, and does this as an answer to the against children by religion in this way, as is largely neutral feeling in Britain as far as common in Wales and the rest of the UK. Wales’ recent advances in education religion is concerned, and the secularism of FAITH SCHOOLS the twentieth century.8 and elsewhere rightly deserve We want to see Wales adopt an inclusive, The best example of this comes from faith secular school system, where children and celebrating and are the envy of schools. Eight percent of schools in Wales The UK, including Wales, is the only country young people of all different backgrounds liberal-minded reformers in the rest today are run by the Church in Wales, in the world to impose daily Christian and beliefs can learn with and from and have exemptions from the law which worship in state schools as standard, of the UK. Yet there still remain many each other. areas in which Wales’ disestablished allow them to discriminate in admissions, despite the broad range of different religions and beliefs of pupils today and employment, and in the curriculum of Wales has already shown it can be a leader national church continues to enjoy despite 70% of those aged between 18-24 what has until now been called Religious within the UK and within Europe with its exaggerated influence in the public Education6. This freedom to discriminate is (the youngest age group surveyed) saying curriculum. By addressing issues with 9 sphere, and where this has negative compounded by the general over-provision they are non-religious. effects on communities across Wales. of religious schools in Wales. Evidence suggests that many families have little or no 7 Pauline Musset. OECD Education Working Papers No. 66. School Choice and Equity: Current Policies in OECD choice over whether the school they go to is Countries and a Literature Review. 2012. Available at: https://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/docserver/5k9fq23507vc-en. a faith school or not. pdf?expires=1582748442&id=id&accname=guest&checksum=A5A3EB96C0E1F79CFD457BFFBF559037 8 William Cove MP. Education Bill. 12 May 1944. Available at: https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/commons/1944/ may/12/education-bill 6 Welsh Government. Pupil Level Annual School Census. 2019. Available at: https://statswales.gov.wales/Catalogue/ 9 NatCen. ‘Church of England numbers at record low’. 2018. Available at: http://www.natcen.ac.uk/news-media/ Education-and-Skills/Schools-and-Teachers/Schools-Census/Pupil-Level-Annual-School-Census/Schools press-releases/2018/september/church-of-england-numbers-at-record-low/

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While parents can opt their child out of NHS CHAPLAINCY AND collective worship, few do so as they do PASTORAL SUPPORT not want to single out their child, or for them to miss the valuable elements of We welcome the growth of multifaith and school assemblies such as the celebration belief chaplaincy and pastoral support of shared values, and participation in the teams in Wales as further evidence of the broader school community. pluralistic and diverse civic space which Wales developed early on in the absence There is no recognised legal requirement to of an established church. But barriers provide a meaningful alternative for those to equality continue, especially for the withdrawn that is of equal educational non-religious. Non-religious people in There is enormous demand for them in worth. Last year in Oxfordshire, two parents LEGAL RECOGNITION OF Wales still face discrimination in access to every jurisdiction where they enjoy legal won a settlement from an Anglican-owned HUMANIST MARRIAGES non-religious pastoral support in hospitals recognition. Since 2019 there have been multi-academy trust which runs their and prisons, or in employment as part of all Humanist weddings are non-religious more humanist than Christian marriages school of no religious character.10 Although pastoral care teams. wedding ceremonies conducted by a in Scotland.13 Moreover, by virtue of not binding, this seems to suggest that humanist celebrant which are personal humanist weddings being not legally the 76-year-old law mandating collective Meanwhile, non-religious pastoral carers occasions that are fully customised to recognised in Wales, there have been worship would not stand up to full legal of the sort trained by Wales Humanists in match the deepest-held values and beliefs instances of humanists being further challenge. However, neither the UK nor Wales have enjoyed high degrees of success of the couple getting married. At present, discriminated against by both the Welsh and Welsh governments has yet taken up the in Scotland, England, and . non-religious couples in UK governments during the coronavirus implications of the case. NHS England’s 2015 guidelines Promoting face discimination as they, unlike their lockdowns. This is because weddings that We believe the law should change so Excellence in Pastoral, Spiritual and religious counterparts, are unable to have a aren’t legally recognised have at times been every child can enjoy assemblies which Religious Care mandates equal pastoral legally recognised wedding in line with their banned by coronavirus regulations, unlike promote the spiritual, moral, social, and support and care to non-religious people on (non-religious) beliefs. legally recognised marriages. That has cultural development of all pupils, without the same basis as chaplaincy is provided to meant that humanists have not been able England and Wales are lagging behind in discriminating against them on the basis of the religious.11 At the time of writing, NHS to have a wedding in line with their beliefs, this respect. Humanist marriages are legally their religion or non-religious beliefs. Wales is reviewing its own guidance and we unlike religious people, who can have a recognised in the rest of the UK, Ireland, and hope that it will make a similar move. legally recognised religious marriage. This The forthcoming new Curriculum for Wales some of the crown dependencies. Marriage has happened twice in Wales in 2020, for has shown the success to be found in law is not devolved to Wales. While the UK instance during the Welsh ‘firebreak’.14 framing the fundamental questions about RECOMMENDATION: NHS Wales should Government has held the power to enact education around children’s rights. This mandate equal treatment for the legal recognition to humanist marriages RECOMMENDATION: The Welsh same approach should be taken to removing non-religious in its new NHS guidelines on by statutory instrument since 2013, it has Government should press for the devolution outdated elements of education law Spirituality, Health, and Wellbeing. failed to do so, in spite of multiple reviews of marriage law to Wales in order for Wales inherited from the time before devolution. of the matter, a Northern Ireland 2018 Court of Appeal judgment on a human to legally recognise humanist marriages, or rights challenge leading to the first legally press for the UK Government to extend legal RECOMMENDATION: The Welsh recognised humanist marriages there, and recognition to humanist marriages in Wales. Government should introduce inclusive a recent High Court ruling in England that assemblies for all in the place of mandatory found the current law to be ‘discriminatory’.12 collective worship in Wales. 12 Humanists UK. 2020. ‘High Court rules humanist marriage recognition failure is “discriminatory”, but stops short of formal breach due to ongoing review.’ Available at: https://humanism.org.uk/2020/07/31/humanist-marriage-case-outcome/ 10 Humanists UK. ‘School concedes in collective worship legal case - will provide alternative assemblies’. 2019. 13 Humanists UK. 2019. ‘Humanist marriages continue to rise in Scotland, new figures show’. Available at: Humanist Available at: https://humanism.org.uk/2019/11/20/school-concedes-in-collective-worship-legal-case-will-provide- marriages continue to rise in Scotland, new figures show alternative-assemblies/ 14 Humanists UK. 2020. ‘Humanist weddings in Wales banned during firebreak lockdown, while religious marriages can 11 Humanists UK, ‘New NHS obligation to provide equal pastoral care to non-religious in England’, 2015. Available at: continue’. Available at: https://humanism.org.uk/2020/10/24/humanist-weddings-in-wales-banned-during-firebreak- https://humanism.org.uk/2015/03/06/new-nhs-obligation-provide-equal-pastoral-care-non-religious-england/ lockdown-while-religious-marriages-can-continue/

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CONCLUSION

The impact of the Welsh Church Act 1914 can still be felt today and runs through everyday life in Wales, from school desks and hospital corridors to the floor of the Senedd. While its successes are numerous and have led to a more confident and proud nation, there are areas in which the principles underpinning the Act can be extended to build on Wales’ strong record of celebrating pluralism and to guarantee now and in the future that everyone in Wales is treated equally regardless of religion or belief.

INCLUSIVE PUBLIC CEREMONIES religious, and also ignores the growth of non-Christian religions. And things went We believe the Welsh National backwards in 2020 when, due to the Welsh Remembrance Ceremony should be civic national ‘firebreak’ as a result of the COVID in character in order to fully represent and pandemic, the Welsh National Ceremony appropriately remember the diversity of was held on a smaller scale and defaulted individuals who fought and gave their lives to a Christian service, with no other for this country. representation from faith or belief groups.15 While we celebrate that 2018 marked the first year in which humanists were RECOMMENDATION: The Welsh formally represented at the Welsh national Government should ensure the Welsh ceremony, where former MS and patron National Remembrance Service is civic and of Wales Humanists Lorraine Barrett not religious in character, to be inclusive spoke, the national service continues to of all who serve their country and all who be organised as a distinctively Christian mourn and remember. ceremony. This is despite the fact that the majority of the Welsh population is non-

15 The Royal British Legion programme. Gwasanaeth Coffa Cenedlaethol Cymru/The National Service of Remembrance for Wales. 2020. Available at: https://www.cardiff.gov.uk/ENG/Your-Council/Armed-Forces-Covenant/Remembrance- Sunday-2020/Documents/Remembrance%20programme%202020.pdf

12 WALES HUMANISTS DYNEIDDWYR CYMRU 13 Humanists UK is the operating name of the British Humanist Association, a registered charity (no. 285987) and a company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales (no. 228781)