Cultural diversity
Religion
Religion records a person's stated religious affiliation, including no religion and not stated responses. It is a measure of cultural identity and belief rather than practice or participation.
About this topic
Religion records a person's stated religious affiliation, including no religion and not stated responses. It is a measure of cultural identity and belief rather than practice or participation.
This topic helps show the religious diversity of an area and can support planning for community facilities, faith-based services, and inclusive engagement. It is best interpreted with ancestry, birthplace, and language, which together provide a broader picture of cultural composition.
Interpretation notes
- This records stated religious affiliation, not attendance or level of religious practice.
- No religion and not stated are part of the overall picture, so interpretation should consider both affiliation and non-response.
Key insight
In 2021, No religion was the most common religious affiliation among residents in Morpeth, accounting for 31.1% (520 people). This share was lower than Maitland (C) (38.1%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in No religion, which increased by 205 people and 8.5 percentage points.
Section overview
Religion - Ranked by size
Morpeth - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises religion for Morpeth in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Maitland (C) and change since 2016.
Chart view
Religion - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Morpeth, with comparison markers for Maitland (C).
No Religion, so described
Western Catholic
Anglican Church of Australia
Uniting Church
Not stated
Presbyterian
Christianity, nfd
Baptist
Independent Evangelical Churches
Pentecostal, nfd
Religion - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
No Religion, so described
+205
+8.5pp
Western Catholic
+27
-2.8pp
Anglican Church of Australia
+34
-2.2pp
Uniting Church
-29
-3.1pp
Not stated
+5
-0.6pp
Presbyterian
-4
-1.0pp
Christianity, nfd
+12
+0.4pp
Baptist
+13
+0.5pp
Independent Evangelical Churches
+10
+0.5pp
Pentecostal, nfd
-2
-0.2pp
Data table
Religion for Morpeth. Religion - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Maitland (C).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Maitland (C)% | Count | % | Maitland (C)% | Count | pp | |
| No Religion, so described | 520 | 31.1% | 38.1% | 315 | 22.6% | 24.0% | +205 | +8.5pp |
| Western Catholic | 394 | 23.5% | 22.9% | 367 | 26.3% | 26.6% | +27 | -2.8pp |
| Anglican Church of Australia | 386 | 23.1% | 18.3% | 352 | 25.3% | 24.1% | +34 | -2.2pp |
| Uniting Church | 79 | 4.7% | 3.4% | 108 | 7.8% | 4.9% | -29 | -3.1pp |
| Not stated | 77 | 4.6% | 4.9% | 72 | 5.2% | 7.0% | +5 | -0.6pp |
| Presbyterian | 56 | 3.3% | 2.2% | 60 | 4.3% | 3.0% | -4 | -1.0pp |
| Christianity, nfd | 40 | 2.4% | 2.1% | 28 | 2.0% | 2.2% | +12 | +0.4pp |
| Baptist | 32 | 1.9% | 1.5% | 19 | 1.4% | 1.9% | +13 | +0.5pp |
| Independent Evangelical Churches | 18 | 1.1% | 0.2% | 8 | 0.6% | 0.1% | +10 | +0.5pp |
| Pentecostal, nfd | 11 | 0.7% | 0.8% | 13 | 0.9% | 0.7% | -2 | -0.2pp |
| Total | 1,674 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 1,393 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +281 | 0.0pp |
Excludes religions with fewer than 10 adherents.