Baptisms 1980 to 2004
The graph above shows the steady decline in the numbers of infant baptisms each year has become much less marked in the last few years. The numbers of children, young people and adults being baptized is approximately 47,000 which follows the long term stationary trend. In 2004, 68% of the people baptized were infants, 26% were children and 6% were aged 13 years or over. These proportions are similar to those of recent years, however the graph shows the shift in baptismal practise since the beginning of the 1980s. Of those baptized in 1980, 85% were infants and 15% were children or adults. In 1990, 80% were infants, 15% were children and 4% were aged 13 years or over. A more complete time series of baptisms over the twentieth century is available from within the "Baptisms and thanksgivings" table.
Note : For 1980* 'all other persons' are included with 'children' as figures were not collected separately until 1987.