ABSTRACT
Religious decline in the twentieth century has been a by-product of Wales-specific cultural and economic factors, with links to the secularization paradigm. This chapter explores recent trends in South Wales, arguing the case for the continued salience of the Church in Welsh society and its likely role in the future. It discusses a critique of Steve Bruce's theoretical position and focuses on statistical measures of contemporary religious decline and ignores or denies areas of religious growth on the ground. It is increasingly out of kilter with the modern world and that includes, at the very least, the recent experience of Britain's major urban conurbations. The chapter explores the nature of religious belief, ignoring or not understanding that religious practice encompasses far more than belief and is as much about belonging and the mundane affairs of this world. It seeks to impose theory on a social and cultural world that is far more diverse and dynamic than developmental theories of modernity.
