According to data from Registers Iceland the crisis facing the National Church of Iceland might be even more serious than data on membership indicates. Only 38.7% of weddings which took place in October were officiated at a church or by a pastor of the church. 58% were performed by a civil magistrate. At the turn of the century more than 70% of weddings took place in a church or were officiated by a pastor of the National Church.
Read more: Icelanders abandon National State Church, as old pagan Ásatrú continues to grow
The National Church of Iceland has been losing members in recent years as Icelanders have turned their back on organized religion, choosing instead to remain unregistered in any religious congregation. Membership in the church has dropped from nearly 100% in the second half of the 20th century to just 65.6% of the population. The data on marriages suggests that while many people remain registered in the church they choose not to use its services.
According to data from Registers Iceland 162 people were married in Iceland in October. Only 58 were married in the National Church, while 18 were married in a different religious congregation or church. The majority, 78, were married by a magistrate. The remaining 8 were married abroad. So far this year 50% of marriages have taken place in church and 31% were performed by a magistrate. At the turn of the century 71% were married in the National Church and only 13% by a magistrate.
Read more: Ask the Expert: What is the largest religion in Iceland?
According to data from Registers Iceland the crisis facing the National Church of Iceland might be even more serious than data on membership indicates. Only 38.7% of weddings which took place in October were officiated at a church or by a pastor of the church. 58% were performed by a civil magistrate. At the turn of the century more than 70% of weddings took place in a church or were officiated by a pastor of the National Church.
Read more: Icelanders abandon National State Church, as old pagan Ásatrú continues to grow
The National Church of Iceland has been losing members in recent years as Icelanders have turned their back on organized religion, choosing instead to remain unregistered in any religious congregation. Membership in the church has dropped from nearly 100% in the second half of the 20th century to just 65.6% of the population. The data on marriages suggests that while many people remain registered in the church they choose not to use its services.
According to data from Registers Iceland 162 people were married in Iceland in October. Only 58 were married in the National Church, while 18 were married in a different religious congregation or church. The majority, 78, were married by a magistrate. The remaining 8 were married abroad. So far this year 50% of marriages have taken place in church and 31% were performed by a magistrate. At the turn of the century 71% were married in the National Church and only 13% by a magistrate.
Read more: Ask the Expert: What is the largest religion in Iceland?
