THE BISHOP of Burnley has backed a new survey that has called for school children to learn more about Christianity in order to understand English history and culture.

The Oxford University survey, which quizzed nearly 2,000 people, found that most adults thought that the teaching of the religion helped to play a part in learning about the history and culture of the country.

But a teaching union boss said that all religions and faiths should be recognised.

The Bishop of Burnley, the Right Rev John Goddard, said: “We live in a Christian heritage country and I think therefore everyone should be given the opportunity of understanding the context of it to the community.

“This is different thought to when children learn about faith and about relationships with god, this is advocating the cultural context of Christianity and could be done in social classes or history classes.”

Simon Jones, Blackburn with Darwen secretary for the National Union of Teachers, said: “While Christianity is very important and there are church schools where it is taught, we must recognise that we live in a multi-cultural, multi-faith society, something which is particularly important in Blackburn with Darwen, and we must recognise all faiths.”

The poll was commissioned by Oxford University as part of a new project by researchers at the university to support teachers teaching Christianity in RE lessons.

The university said it launched the project following concerns from inspectors and other quarters about how the subject is taught in schools.

Research has suggested that teachers can be nervous about teaching issues related to Christianity for fear it could be seen as evangelising, the university said.

Andrew Copson, chief executive of the British Humanist Association, said: “The survey shows that people in Britain mainly think of Christianity as a matter of history and cultural heritage, rather than as a matter of religion, and it is in that sense they are interested to have it taught.

“It is true that Christianity has had a significant influence on our country but it is not as significant to our modern life and culture as its more fervent advocates claim and that is no reason to think that it should have the lion’s share of curriculum time in a subject – like RE – that should be of personal relevance to all young people.”