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Religion in Massachusetts
Massachusetts had rich and diverse religious cultures, and the freedom to practice beliefs has helped give rise to a highly unique religious pluralism and freedom. Massachusetts is the US state with the 15th largest population, Christianity being the majority religion and Catholics as its largest branch. It’s the most populated state in New England and one of few states where Catholics outnumbered Protestants.
Since the 1990s, the religious share of Christians has decreased, while Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam, Sikhism, and other religions have spread, mainly from immigration. Both Protestant and Roman Catholic communities have been in decline since the late 20th century, due to the rise of irreligion in New England. It is the most irreligious region of the country, along with the Western United States.
also read about Race and Ethnicity in Massachusetts
Table of Content
Massachusetts Religion Percentage
Christianity is the main religion followed by 58% of the population. The largest Christian denomination in Massachusetts is Roman Catholics (34%) followed by protestants (21%), Mormonism (1%), Eastern Orthodoxy (1%), Jehovah’s Witnesses, and Other Christians.
Of the Protestants in the state, Evangelical Protestants compose 9% of the population, Mainline Protestants 10%, and Historically Black Protestants 2%.
32% of the population don’t follow or adhere to any faith or religion and the rest 9% follow other non-Christian-based religions.
Other Religions include Jews (3%), Hinduism (1%), Buddhism (1%), Islam (1%), and other smaller faiths (3%).
| Religion/Affiliations | Percentage |
| Christianity | 58% |
| – Protestantism | – 21% |
| – Roman Catholicism | – 34% |
| – Mormonism | -1% |
| – Eastern Orthodoxy | – 1% |
| – Jehovah’s Witnesses | – <1% |
| – Other Christian | – <1% |
| Other Religion | 9% |
| Judaism | 3% |
| Islam | 1% |
| Buddhism | 1% |
| Hinduism | 1% |
| Other religion | 3% |
| No religion | 32% |
| Don’t know | 1% |
Source: Pew Research Center
read about Religion in the United States
Christianity in Massachusetts
Christianity with 58% followers is the largest in Massachusetts. All Protestant denominations accounted for 21% of the population, Catholics are 32% of the population and are the largest individual denomination in Massachusetts
Rest include Mormons, Eastern Orthodoxy, Jehovah’s Witnesses, and other smaller denominations.
| Christianity Affiliations | Percentage |
| Protestantism | 21% |
| – Evangelical Protestant | – 9% |
| – Mainline Protestant | – 10% |
| – Black church | – 2% |
| Roman Catholicism | 32% |
| Mormonism | 1% |
| Eastern Orthodoxy | <1% |
| Jehovah’s Witnesses | 1% |
| Other Christians | <1% |
read about Christianity in United States
Protestantism in Massachusetts
Among Christians in Massachusetts, Protestantism is the second largest group comprising about 21% of the state’s population. Protestantism in the United States has branched out into several branches, denominations, and various interdenominational and related movements.
Protestants by tradition can be further classified into three main denominations. Mainline Protestants are the largest and followed by 11% of the population, Next are Evangelicals (10%) and Historically Black Protestants (2%)
| Protestants Affiliation | % of population |
| Evangelical Protestant | 10% |
| Mainline Protestant | 11% |
| Black church | 2% |
Protestantism is also comprised of numerous denominational families (e.g., Baptist, Methodist, and Pentecostal) that fit into one or more of the traditions. According to 2020 data from The Association of Religion Data Archives, (ARDA) the largest Protestants Churches in Massachusetts are as follows
| # | Religious Bodies | Tradition | Family | Adherents |
| 1 | Non-denominational Christian Churches | Evangelical | Other Groups | 114,736 |
| 2 | United Church of Christ | Mainline | Congregationalists | 65,402 |
| 3 | Episcopal Church | Mainline | Anglican/Episcopal | 65,290 |
| 4 | Assemblies of God, General Council of the | Evangelical | Pentecostal | 40,068 |
| 5 | American Baptist Churches in the U.S.A. | Mainline | Baptist | 38,288 |
| 6 | United Methodist Church | Mainline | Methodist | 37,547 |
| 7 | Seventh-day Adventist Church | Evangelical | Adventist | 28,609 |
| 8 | Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints | Other | Latter-day Saints (Mormonism) | 28,040 |
| 9 | Unitarian Universalist Association | Other | Liberal | 26,379 |
| 10 | Southern Baptist Convention | Evangelical | Baptist | 21,296 |
read about Protestants in the United States
Catholics in Massachusetts
Massachusetts is one of few states where the percentage of Roman Catholics is more than Protestants. Catholic Church at 32% of the state population is the largest religious grouping. It’s because of massive immigration from primarily Catholic countries and regions—chiefly Ireland, Italy, Poland, Portugal, Quebec, and Latin America.
Since the 1990s, the religious share of Christians has decreased, while Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam, Sikhism, and other religions have spread, mainly from immigration. Other Religions include Hinduism, Buddhism, Jews , Islam, and other smaller faiths.
A significant Jewish population immigrated to the Boston and Springfield areas between 1880 and 1920. Jews currently make up 3% of the population.
Buddhists, Pagans, Hindus, and Muslims have a sizeable population in Massachusetts. The Satanic Temple has its headquarters in Salem. Kripalu Center in Stockbridge, the Shaolin Meditation Temple in Springfield, and the Insight Meditation Center in Barre are examples of non-Abrahamic religious centers in Massachusetts.
Other Religion – 9%
- Judaism – 3%
- Islam – 1%
- Buddhism – 1%
- Hinduism – 1%
- Other Smaller faiths – 3%
also read about Population in Massachusetts
Sources
Note: The US census does not contain questions about one’s religious affiliation. Our Article is based on surveys conducted by various institutions and agencies.
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