religion in the uk presentation

Religion in the United Kingdom

Apr 04, 2019

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Religion in the United Kingdom . Religion in the United Kingdom has been dominated, for over 1,400 years, by various forms of Christianity . ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH. currently the largest church in Britain about 5 million nominal members, 2 million active participants

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Religion in the United Kingdom has been dominated, for over 1,400 years, by various forms ofChristianity.

ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH • currently the largest church in Britain • about 5 million nominal members, 2 million active participants • working class, settlers of Irish descent, some middle-class and upper-class families

ADMINISTRATIVE STRUCTURE • The Roman Catholic Church in the United Kingdom is divided into: • 8 provinces (4 in England, 2 in Scotland, 1 in Wales, 1 in Northern Ireland), each under the supervision of an archbishop • 37 dioceses, each under the supervision of a bishop (some dioceses in NI overlap with dioceses in the republic of Ireland • over 3,000 parishes • The head of the Roman Catholic Church is the Cardinal Archbishop of Westminster

History of religion in the UK • Britain used to be a Roman Catholic country. • In 1533, during the reign of Henry VIII, England broke from the Roman Catholic Church to form the Anglican Church

The church of England • King Henry VIII

Why did England become a Protestant country? • Back to being a Catholic Country • In 1553, Mary became Queen. She changed the country back to Catholicism and burned Protestants who wouldn't change at the stake • All change again • In 1558, Elizabeth became Queen. She changed the church back to Anglican and it has been the official religion of England since. • Henry VIII, the king, wanted a divorce. He wanted a son and his wife only gave birth to daughters. He asked the Pope for permission to divorce, but was refused. Henry VIII became very angry and decided to make his own church. • Henry VIII became leader of the Church of England (Anglican Church). He had the Bible translated to English  and the people who believed in this new religion were called Protestants

Flag of AnglicanCommunion

The Church of England • episcopate hierarchy, i.e. there are Anglican archbishops and bishops • a network of cathedrals • BUT • no clerical celibacy • no invocation of saints • Anglicans do not believe in the purgatory • women can be ordained clergy

membership The membership of the Church of England consists of most middle- and upper-classes and is mainly rural-based. TheChurch of England is currently the 2ndlargestchurch in Britain, and the third largest land ownerinBritain

CHURCH OF ENGLAND as an established church • The Church of England is the established (official) church in England, which means it is linked in various ways to the monarch and the state: • The Queen is the Supreme Head of the Established Church of England • The Queen promises to maintain the Church and is a full member of the Church of England who has been confirmed and who takes Holy Communion. • The Queen bears the official title of Defender of the Faith: Dei Gratia Regina, FideiDefensor • The Queen appoints bishops and archbishops of the Church of England (on PM’s advice on the basis of lists of candidates supplied by the Church)

archbishops, bishops and parish priests of the Church of England swear an oath of allegiance to the monarch. • ‘I accept Your Majesty • as the sole source of • ecclesiastical, spiritual • and temporal power’ • bishops and archbishops may not resign without the permission of the Queen • the two archbishops and twenty-two senior bishops sit in the House of Lords – they are known as Lords Spiritual • Parliament decides about the Church of England rituals and organizations • the British monarch opens the General Synod every five years and gives assent to measures passed by the Synod, in the same way that assent is given to laws passed by Parliament

ANGLICAN DOCTRINE, LITURGY AND WORSHIP • The Chicago–Lambeth Quadrilateral (1888) is the official articulation of Anglican identity: • 1. The Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, as ‘containing all things necessary to salvation’, and as being the rule and ultimate standard of faith. • 2. The Apostles’ Creed, as the baptismal symbol; and the Nicene Creed, as the sufficient statement of the Christian faith. • 3. The two sacraments ordained by Christ himself – Baptism and the Supper of the Lord – ministered with unfailing use of Christ’s words of institution, and of the elements ordained by him.

There are two sources of Anglican liturgy and worship: • The Book of Common Prayer, 1549 (written by Thomas Cranmer, finally revised in 1662) • 39 Articles, 1563

There are two strands of belief (wings) of the Church of England: • Low Church (evangelicals) (80% of church membership) • plain services with minimum ceremony • literal interpretation of the Bible • conscious opposition to the papal doctrine and Catholicism • suspicious of the hierarchical structure of the Church • High Church (Anglo-Catholics) (20% of church membership) • emphasis on church tradition • Roman Catholic influences on practices and teaching • more elaborate and colorful services

Canterbury Cathedral

The Church of England consists of two Provinces: • - Canterbury- established by the end of the 6th century by St. Augustine - headed by the Archbishop of Canterbury - the Primate of All England. The Province is divided into 29 dioceses. The Archbishop of Canterbury is the active, professional head of the Church. He is involved in a number of national ceremonies, e.g. coronation. • - York - headed by the Archbishop of York - the Primate of England. The Province is divided into 14 dioceses.

General Synod (1919 – 1970 the Church Assembly) is the national governing body of the Church of England. It is a tricameralassembly consisting of: • the House of Bishops, • the House of Clergy • the House of Laity

ANGLICAN COMMUNION • The Anglican Communion is a loose international association of ‘particular or national churches’ throughout the world, most of them owing their origins to the Church of England, and allin communion with the Archbishop of Canterbury. • There are about 78 million Anglicans worldwide in 39 provinces • the Anglican Community has no central power or uniform organization • the Lambeth Conference – is a meeting of Anglican bishops from all over the world in London every 10 years (since 1867), presided over by the Archbishop of Canterbury. It is a forum for debate on issues such as: • doctrine • relations with other churches • attitudes to political and social questions

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND (the Kirk) • established by John Knox in 1560 • deriving from the Calvinist doctrine and stressing: • finding the truth in oneself • hard work and self-sacrifice • Presbyterian in nature, i.e. governed by elected ministers and elders, who are lay members of the church (NO priests or bishops) • democratic structure – ministers are equal with each other • separate from the Church of England, with its own organization, doctrines and practices • its independence guaranteed by the Act of Union of 1707 • The Queen promises to preserve the Church of Scotland, but is not the Head of the Church of Scotland.

Presbyterianism and Congregationalism • In Scotland the Presbyterian Church of Scotland (known informally as The Kirk), is recognised as the National Church. • TheEvangelical Presbyterian Church in England and Wales was founded in the late 1980s and declared themselves to be a Presbytery in 1996. • The Presbyterian Church in Irelandis the largest Protestant denomination .

Presbyterianism • is a branch of ProtestantChristianity that adheres to the Calvinist theological tradition and whose congregations are organized according to a Presbyterian polity. • Presbyterian theology typically emphasizes the sovereignty of God • the authority of the Scriptures, and the necessity of grace through faith in Christ. • Presbyterianism originated primarily in Scotland.

ADMINISTRATIVE STRUCTURE • Scotland is divided into 46 regional presbyteries which all consist of about 1,500 kirks (churches), each under the local control. • Each church (kirk) is governed by a Kirk Session, i.e. its minister and elders. • The governing body of the Church of Scotland is the General Assembly: • consists of elected ministers and elders • meets once a year • is presided over by the Moderator, who is also elected annually

Methodism • (from Greek: μέθοδος - methodos, "pursuit of knowledge) is a movement of ProtestantChristianity.The movement traces its roots to John Wesley's evangelisticrevival movement within Anglicanism. • The Methodist Church is known for its missionary work,and its establishment of hospitals, universities, orphanages, soup kitchens, and schools to follow Jesus' command to spreadthe Good Newsand serveall people

Methodism • The Methodistmovement traces its origin to the evangelical awakening in the 18th century. Today, the Methodist Church of Great Britain, (which includes congregations in the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, Malta and Gibraltar) has around 270,000 members and 6,000 churches, though only around 3,000 members in 50 congregations are in Scotland.

Methodism • It began with a group of men, including John Wesleyand his younger brother Charles, as a movement within the Church of England in the 18th century. The movement focused on Bible study and a methodical approach to scriptures and Christian living. The name "methodist" was a pejorative name given to a small society of students at Oxford who met together between 1729 and 1735 for the purpose of mutual improvement, given because of their methodistic habits. They were accustomed to receiving communion every week, fasting regularly, and abstaining from most forms of amusement and luxury. They also frequently visited the sick and the poor, as well as prisoners.

The early Methodists acted against perceived apathy in the Church of England, preaching in the open air and establishing Methodist societies wherever they went. • George Whitefield, another significant leader in the movement, and one of the Wesley brothers' fellow students at Oxford, became well known for his unorthodox ministry of itinerant open-air preaching. • Most Methodists identify with the Arminianconception of free will, through God's prevenient grace, as opposed to the theological determinismof absolute predestination.

John Wesley

Structure of methodischurch • The Connexion • Methodists are linked together in a ‘Connexion’ of churches, circuits and districts. • The local church • The local church is the congregational place of worship, where Methodist members and attenders are nurtured. • The circuit • A circuit is a group of local churches, served by a team of local preachers and ministers including the superintendent minister. • The district • The district serves a geographical group of circuits and is led by the district chair. • The Conference • The annual Methodist Conference meets in different places and is the supreme decision making body of the Church. At the start of Conference a new President and Vice-President are appointed to preside over that Conference and spend the year travelling around the Connexion, and abroad representing the Methodist Church.

Baptist • The Baptist Union of Great Britain, despite its name, covers just England and Wales.There is a separate Baptist Union of Scotland and the Association of Baptist Churches in Ireland is an all-Ireland organisation.

Quakers • The Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) • founded in the 1652 by George Fox • no ministers • silent meetings in meeting houses • stress pacifism and social work

NON-CHRISTIAN CHURCHES IN BRITAIN • Jewish community- Britain has the second largest population of Jews in Europe. The British Jewish community is divided into:the Orthodox (led by the Chief Rabbi of Britain) ,the Reform ,the Liberal . there are about 300 synagogues in the country • Muslim - 1.6 million Muslims in Britain, mostly from Pakistan and Bangladesh, about 1,000 mosques in the United Kingdom, the London Central Mosque (the Islamic Cultural Centre, ICC) is the largest Muslim institution in western Europe • Hindus (165,000) – 143 Hindu temples - the BAPS ShriSwaminarayanMandir London is the largest Hindu temple in Europe • Buddhists - Kagyu Samyé Ling Monastery and Tibetan Centre is a Tibetan Buddhist complex associated in Eskdalemuir, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland. It is the largest Buddhist temple in Europe

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• Religious Beliefs In The United Kingdom (Great Britain)

Freedom of Religion in the United Kingdom

The United Kingdom, comprised of England , Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland , guarantees freedom of religion to its citizens and residents through 3 different regulations. One of these laws is the European Convention on Human Rights, which guarantees the right to free religious choice. Although freedom of religion is well established and practiced, some religious preference is given by the government. In the case of the monarchy for example, only Protestants may become king or queen (although they are now free to marry Catholics without losing their succession to the throne). Additionally, the Church of England is the state church of that country and the monarch swears an oath to protect both the Church of England and the Church of Scotland. Residents of the UK follow several different beliefs. Those beliefs are discussed below.

Irreligion in Great Britain

Irreligion is the lack of a religious belief, and includes such subcategories as atheism and agnosticism. Nearly half (49%) of the population of the UK identifies as irreligious. This number is one of the highest in Europe, although it follows a regional pattern toward secularization. Many researchers believe the UK has entered a period of post-Christianity in which the previously dominant Christian religion has given way to different values and cultures. Of the four countries that make up the UK, England is the least religious, followed by Scotland, Wales, and then Northern Ireland.

Anglican Christianity

Anglican Christianity is practiced in regional jurisdictions, such as the Church of England, Church of Scotland, Church of Ireland, and Church of Wales. In 1534, it split away from the Catholic church, prompting what is now known as the English Reformation era. Historically, this has been the predominant Christian denomination in the UK. Today, 17% of the population identify as Anglican.

Other Non-Catholic Christians

Besides Anglicanism and Catholicism, other Christian beliefs are practiced by 17% of the British population. A few of these denominations include non-Anglican Protestants, Orthodox Christians, Presbyterians, Methodists, and Baptists. Many of the Protestant churches in Scotland broke away from the Anglican church, Church of Scotland, in the 19th Century. England and Wales began to form non-Anglican Protestant churches in the 1980’s. The Protestant denomination is the second largest in Northern Ireland. Methodism was introduced to England in the 18th Century and today, has around 290,000 members throughout Great Britain, but only 3,000 in Scotland. Church attendance of all of these denomination is declining.

Roman Catholicism

Catholicism has a long history in the United Kingdom. For nearly 200 years, however, from the 1500’s until the 1700’s, the Catholic church would not recognize the English monarchy. During this time, Catholics suffered discrimination, and were prohibited from voting, joining Parliament, and owning land. Today, 8% of the British population identifies as Catholic. The majority of these followers are in Northern Ireland where around 40% of the people are Catholic, and it is the dominant religion around the inland areas of Northern Ireland. In Scotland, approximately 15.9% of the population identifies as Catholic. This number drops significantly in England and Wales where it is only 7.4%.

The percentage of the population identifying as Muslim in the United Kingdom is 5%. The majority of these followers live in England and Wales, where they make up 3% of the population. They make up only .8% of the population in Scotland and in Northern Ireland fewer than 2,000 people practice Islam. Although these numbers are small, they grew 10 times faster than the population between 2001 and 2009.

Approximately 3% of the population practices some other religion not listed above. These religions include Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Sikhism, and the Baha’i Faith. Indian and Eastern religions in the United Kingdom are growing in size as immigrants continue to arrive from English-speaking areas, particularly former British colonies, in South and East Asia.

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Religion and Faith in the UK Today: An Overview

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This paper reviews new and existing evidence which shows that ‘no religion’ has risen steadily to rival ‘Christian’ as the preferred self-designation of British people. Drawing on recent survey research by the author, it probes the category of ‘no religion’ and offers a characterisation of the ‘nones’ which reveals, amongst other things, that most are not straightforwardly secular. It compares the British situation with that of comparable countries, asking why Britain has become one of the few no-religion countries in the world today. An explanation is offered that highlights the importance not only of cultural pluralisation and ethical liberalisation in Britain, but of the churches’ opposite direction of travel. The paper ends by reflecting on the extent to which ‘no religion’ has become the new cultural norm, showing why Britain is most accurately described as between Christian and ‘no religion’.

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Religion in the UK - practising your faith

As a multi-faith society, students of all religions can expect to feel welcome in the UK, along with plenty of places to practise their faith. With a history of multiculturalism dating back hundreds of years, we have well-established communities representing all major religions, and a deep commitment to supporting students’ religious needs on campus.

Most schools, colleges and universities have prayer rooms that anyone can use, as do most public places, such as hotels, hospitals and airports. There are also many organisations representing students of a particular faith who can provide information and support from day one.

Most universities have multi-faith chaplaincy services, designed to provide spiritual support to all their students. Chaplains invite all students to drop-in and talk, as well as leading services and directing all aspects of the university’s religious life.

We are proud to be a very tolerant society in every way, and it is against the law to discriminate against anyone because of their race, nationality, or religion. This is one of the most influential reasons international students from all over the world choose the UK for their studies.

What faiths are represented in the UK?

The UK’s official religion is Christianity, and churches of all denominations can be found throughout the UK, such as Catholic, Protestant, Baptist and Methodist. The main other religions are Islam, Hinduism, Sikhism, Judaism and Buddhism.

In the larger towns and cities in the UK it’s easy to find somewhere to practise your faith as well as a community of people there to welcome you, whether that be a church, mosque, gurdwara, temple or synagogue. In smaller towns, you may find only Christian churches. Having strong religious communities in our cities also makes it easy to find additional things such as foods that are a key part of your faith.

Can I wear religious items in the UK?

Many people in the UK choose to wear their items of religious dress every day (such as turbans, hijabs and yarmulkes) and to observe religious festivals, such as Christmas, Eid, Diwali or Hanukkah. As a tolerant country you are free to choose exactly how you want to integrate your faith into your life.

To find out more about how your university can help you practise your faith, and if it has a dedicated organisation that you can join, get in touch with their pastoral care team directly.

Student-led religious organisations:

• FOSIS (The Federation of Student Islamic Societies)
• Ahmadiyya Muslim Students Association UK
• British Organisation of Sikh Students
• Student Christian Movement
• National Hindu Students’ Forum UK
• Network of Buddhist Organisations
• The Union of Jewish Students

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The UK is a union of four nations – England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, with similarities and differences that make studying in each nation unique.

English is spoken across the UK, but it is not the only native official language. In London alone it is estimated that you can hear over 300 languages.

Dive into the UK’s rich history and contemporary culture by enjoying the world-famous events, local celebrations and public holidays.

The weather in the UK can be unpredictable. But with the right clothes and the right attitude, you can enjoy the UK, whatever the weather.

Enjoy the huge variety of food the UK has to offer. Here are our eight top tips for shopping, cooking and eating out while at university.

Travel and transport

Whether you’re based in the city or the countryside, you’ll be able to travel to most places in the UK quickly and see a lot during your time here.

Health and welfare

With one of the most advanced healthcare systems in the world, as an international student in the UK you will be looked after.

A warm welcome

The UK is a modern society that embraces all ways of life. Everyone is welcome. As an international student in the UK, you’ll feel at home wherever you go.

Support while you study

Moving to the UK to study is exciting, but we know that getting settled into a new country can be daunting, too. Find out how and where to get support.

Student life in the UK

A UK education goes far beyond what you learn from your studies. Discover the unforgettable student experiences you can have when you study in the UK.

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IAFOR is a research organisation, conference organiser and publisher dedicated to encouraging interdisciplinary discussion, facilitating intercultural awareness and promoting international exchange.

Embracing Difference: Religious Diversity in the UK

This presentation looks beyond the “brand” of multiculturalism/diverse heritage of the modern UK to understand religious identities beyond essentialising and reductive categories of membership or belonging.

Tolerance for religious diversity is a core message in recent Governmental and Educational initiatives in the United Kingdom, along with a major component of British “soft power” in international relations. This presentation looks beyond the “brand” of multiculturalism/diverse heritage of the modern UK to understand religious identities beyond essentialising and reductive categories of membership or belonging. Using a Lived Religion approach, which preferences people above texts and practices above beliefs, I will survey recent UK equalities legislation, and discuss the effect this has had on everyday lived reality for religious individuals and communities. I will analyse census data and raise issues relating to the rise of the “religious nones”, the muted voices of minority religions, and the debate over Britain as a “Christian country”. I will focus on diversity within, as well as between, religions and ask why some communities are embraced more than others, and reflect upon the problem of tolerating intolerance.

Stephen received his BA and PhD from the University of Wales, where he was subsequently appointed Lecturer in Religious Studies. He was then appointed as Fellow in the Study of Religion at Liverpool Hope University and is now Senior Lecturer at Wolverhampton, the multicultural heart of the UK. He has delivered invited papers at universities in India, Turkey, Australia, the USA, and across the UK and Europe. In 2013 Stephen was the lead coordinator for the European Association for the Study of Religions and the International Association for the History of Religions Conference in Liverpool, UK.

• The 10th Asian Conference on Ethics, Religion & Philosophy (ACERP2020)
• Category: Ethics, Religion & Philosophy
• Tag: Embracing Difference , Multiculturalism , religious diversity , tolerance

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Religion in Britain Today - PPT

This PowerPoint helps pupils see religion as it is in relation to their own view of the UK. It’s set up as a ‘marks out of ten’ quiz, and is fun to do, but carries lots of learning.

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Religious Diversity in the UK

Young People’s Attitudes and Views

• First Online: 24 May 2017

Cite this chapter

• Elisabeth Arweck 9  

Part of the book series: Veröffentlichungen der Sektion Religionssoziologie der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Soziologie ((DGSRELIGION))

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Zusammenfassung

Der Beitrag berichtet über die Ergebnisse einer dreijährigen Studie (2009-2012) an der Universität Warwick, in der Einstellungen 13-16jähriger Schülerinnen und Schüler zu religiöser Diversität in Großbritannien und zu den Faktoren, die diese Einstellungen formen, erhoben wurden. Mit Hilfe qualitativer und quantitativer Daten schließt das Projekt eine Forschungslücke in diesem Bereich. In theoretischer Hinsicht will der Beitrag zum Nachdenken über das Verständnis von religiöser Diversität anregen; hierzu werden zentrale Einsichten aus den qualitativen Daten präsentiertund in ausgewählte quantitative Resultate eingebettet.

This chapter reports findings from a three-year study (2009–2012) at the University of Warwick, which investigated the attitudes of 13–16 year-old pupils towards religious diversity across the four nations of the UK and London. Applying both qualitative and quantitative research methods, this project sought to close a gap in research about young people’s attitudes to religious diversity and the factors that shape their attitudes. Drawing on theoretical approaches to multiculturalism and plurality, this chapter contributes to theoretical thinking on the notion of religious diversity and presents themes arising from the qualitative data and supplements these by some quantitative results.

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Arweck, E. (2017). Religious Diversity in the UK. In: Winkel, H., Sammet, K. (eds) Religion soziologisch denken. Veröffentlichungen der Sektion Religionssoziologie der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Soziologie. Springer VS, Wiesbaden. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-658-11721-4_12

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• Teaching secondary
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• Secondary lesson plans - upper-intermediate B2

This lesson focuses on religious diversity in the UK.

Students will learn vocabulary related to different world religions, discuss their own beliefs, read a text about religion in the UK, and have a debate about faith schools. Be aware that this could be a sensitive topic with some students, although the lesson is approached more from a cultural studies perspective.

Topic: Faith in the UK Aims: • To develop vocabulary related to religion • To practice speaking skills in a discussion and debate • To practise reading skills

Cross curricular links:  Religion, Personal and Social Education

Age group : 12 - adult

Level: B1/ B2

Time: 60 - 90 minutes

Materials : Faith student worksheet

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Oprah Winfrey reflects on trailblazing career journey: ‘Gratitude really is my religion’

Winfrey rose to prominence with "The Oprah Winfrey Show," which aired from September 1986 to May 2011.

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Oprah Winfrey knows her career journey is nothing short of amazing, but she’ll never forget where she came from.

The 70-year-old media magnate, cultural trailblazer and philanthropist is overwhelmed with appreciation for her journey and the numerous honors she has received, including three Golden Globes, two primetime Emmy Awards, and 18 Daytime Emmys.

“I sound like a broken record,” she shared, “but gratitude really is my religion.”

Winfrey — who rose to prominence with “The Oprah Winfrey Show” from September 1986 to May 2011 — spoke with People for their 50th anniversary special issue. She affirmed her lifelong commitment to encouraging and uplifting others, saying she would advise her younger self to “Hold on, girl. Hold on to yourself.”

“The most important thing is to remain centered so whether you’re on the cover of People or not, your identity isn’t tied to what the rest of the world says it is,” Winfrey continued. “Being able to not get confused by what the external says about your internal self is the most important thing for anybody who’s going to take the fame ride.”

She credits her ability to stay grounded throughout her career with her prior work experience, having been in TV since she was 19 after growing up in the church.

Winfrey attributes her exceptional ability to simplify complex thoughts and emotions to her early life experiences. 

“Well, when I was a little kid living on a dirt road in Mississippi , I was the one that was always playing the teacher,” said Winfrey. “And if we were playing house, I was the mother. Even if I was the younger girl, I would have to be the mother over everybody else. Some people call that bossy — I just call it, well, I know better, so I should be the one. I would have to say that teaching is my first love.”

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Winfrey acknowledges the welcome support of late poetess and author Maya Angelou in her career’s early years, as well as longtime best friend Gayle King and acting legend Sidney Poitier before he passed.

“I’ve never been to a therapist because I had so many on the show, but my real therapy came from downloading whatever was happening in the day with Gayle [King] every night,” said Winfrey. “There wasn’t a day that we missed being on some kind of phone call talking about what had happened in our days. I realized years later, talking to an expert about something else, that that was my therapy, that was my release. It was the way I regulated myself every day.”

As for fears for her 70s, the OWN founder and namesake mentioned her health, noting that she doesn’t live with a fear of death but rather a conscious acknowledgment that it’s possible at any time.

“When I turned 50, Maya Angelou wrote a poem for me,” Winfrey told People. “She says, ‘I have nothing to give you, but my heart and my words,’ and she wrote a poem called ‘Continue.’ One of the most important lines from that poem is, ‘My wish for you is that you continue to astonish a mean world with your acts of kindness.’ And that is what I intend to do.”

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CAER researchers utilizing fly ash to increase Kentucky oil, natural gas production

LEXINGTON, Ky. (April 11, 2024) — Researchers at the University of Kentucky Center for Applied Energy Research (CAER) are investigating a new technology that they hope will give new life to Kentucky’s oil and natural gas wells.

Funded by the Kentucky Office of Energy Policy , CAER’s Cementitious Materials Research Group , along with an industrial partner, have developed a method to utilize coal combustion products to recover and enhance production from pre-existing oil and natural gas wells.

The team is using fly ash, which is a fine powder created from coal combustion. CAER is a global leader in fly ash research, having spent decades creating new processes for fly ash utilization. The powder is used in numerous products, including cements and concretes.

Targeting oil and natural gas wells that have either been abandoned or are no longer in production, the CAER team is using ash fracking, a green technology paired with simple pumping equipment that creates a small operational footprint — a crucial factor in Eastern Kentucky topography.

In some cases, the industry partner has proven the rejuvenated wells have surpassed original production levels. Because fly ash is uniquely small and spherical compared to conventional sand, it does not settle quickly which eliminates the need for viscosity modifiers and results in simpler post-fracking clean up. The process uses less water and can reuse well water, mitigating environmental contamination.

“We are grateful to the Kentucky Office of Energy Policy for their support for this project,” said Bob Jewell, associate director of CAER’s Cementitious Materials Research Group. “This technology is showing great promise in giving new life to Kentucky oil and gas wells, while doing so in a much more environmentally sustainable manner.”

The project will collect fly ash from all of Kentucky’s coal burning facilities to evaluate their potential as a tool to enhance the productivity of oil and natural gas wells.

As the state’s flagship, land-grant institution, the University of Kentucky exists to advance the Commonwealth. We do that by preparing the next generation of leaders — placing students at the heart of everything we do — and transforming the lives of Kentuckians through education, research and creative work, service and health care. We pride ourselves on being a catalyst for breakthroughs and a force for healing, a place where ingenuity unfolds. It's all made possible by our people — visionaries, disruptors and pioneers — who make up 200 academic programs, a $476.5 million research and development enterprise and a world-class medical center, all on one campus.   

In 2022, UK was ranked by Forbes as one of the “Best Employers for New Grads” and named a “Diversity Champion” by INSIGHT into Diversity, a testament to our commitment to advance Kentucky and create a community of belonging for everyone. While our mission looks different in many ways than it did in 1865, the vision of service to our Commonwealth and the world remains the same. We are the University for Kentucky.   

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