A new poll has revealed that the majority of priests believe the UK can no longer be considered a Christian country due to a shift on issues such as sex, sexuality, marriage and the role of women.

The survey, conducted by The Times, was carried out among Anglican and Church of England clerics to delve into significant changes made within church beliefs over the last few years.

It revealed that three quarters of priests want to make significant changes within the church to match public opinion on issues regarding same sex marriages and the role of women in society.

According to the survey, the vast majority of priests want to start conducting same sex weddings and drop its opposition to premarital and gay sex – something which campaigners have called “absolutely huge”.

Some priests also expressed fears that the church would become “extinct” with attendance dropping rapidly.

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Around 1,200 priests took part in the survey, with the respondents including vicars, rectors, curates, chaplains and retired priests who still serve.

When asked whether they think “Brtiain can or cannot be described as a Christian country”, only 24.2 percent answered: “Yes, Britain can be described as a Christian country today”.

Almost two thirds (64.2 percent) said Britain can be called Christian “but only historically, not currently” while 9.2 percent answered “no”.

Those identifying as Christians in the UK has fallen below half for the first time, with a 2021 census revealing just 46.2 percent would say they are a Christian.

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Professor Linda Woodhead, head of the department of theology and religious studies at King’s College London, told The Times: “It’s extremely important to hear the clergy’s views. It’s hard to carry out these surveys which is why we have very few of them, and it is very interesting.”

She added that the church has had to adapt to modern views on issues including sex and sexuality and that some priests have chosen to occupy a “middle ground” between traditional church teaching and accepting broader views.

Woodhead added: “This survey shows the clergy take a more moderate position than their leaders. [Frontline priests] are more in touch with their congregations and ordinary people. If they had been listened to more by leaders . . . the church might be in a better place today.”

Nick Baines, said on behalf of the church: “The church is the church, and, as such, not a club. It has a distinct vocation that does not include seeking popularity.”

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The church teaches that only weddings between a man and woman are permitted and that sex is only permissable within heterosexual marriages.

However, views on gay marriage have come a long way in the UK, with The Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act coming into place in 2013.

With traditional teachings contradicting modern views, there has been fear that church attendance could drop to zero in the future if it does not adapt to including public opinion.

In the survey, 59 percent of priests said they would offer blessings to people in gay marriage while 32.3 percent would opt out. A futher 62.6 percent felt the church should drop its opposition to premarital sex.

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