Acknowledgement of Sources

‘Zoroastrian’ was not one of the categories for response offered in the 2001 Census questions on religious affiliation. However, from an analysis of the write-in responses offered to the ‘Other religions’ category that was provided, the Office for National Statistics have produced Table M275 Religion (most detailed categories), covering England and Wales only, and from which the Zoroastrian figures given here are taken. Table M275 is Crown Copyright, 2004. Crown copyright material is reproduced with the permission of the Controller of HMSO.

Global Zoroastrian population estimates are taken from David Barrett and George Kurian, World Christian Encylopaedia: Survey of Churches and Religions (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2^nd edition, 2000).

Estimates of numbers of Zoroastrian organisations and places of worship are taken from P. Weller (ed.), Religions in the UK: A Directory, 2001-3. There are currently no Zoroastrian fire temples in the UK, but Zoroastrian House in London has a room that is used for worship.

The section on a ‘A Short Introduction to Zoroastrianism’ summarises and abstracts from the same publication’s chapter on ‘Introducing Zoroastrians in the UK’ (pp. 587-597) which was developed with input from a range of consultants (pp. 643-650).

Materials in the sections on ‘Zoroastrians in the UK: Key Information’ and ‘Zoroastrian Origins: Key Developments in the UK’ were originally developed by the author for the British Council and used here by kind permission.

Written by Professor Paul Weller