The number of Anglicans who believe that gay couples have a right to marry “are now clearly in the majority”, according to a new YouGov poll.

Despite the Church of England’s official stance against same-sex relationships, almost half of Anglicans now believe that same sex marriage is right, with well over two-thirds of those aged 50 and under agreeing.

The figures have prompted accusations that the Church of England is “kicking the can down the road” regarding attitudes to the LGBT community.

The YouGov poll, conducted last week, repeated a question asked about same-sex marriage in 2013 and 2016, and shows a marked increase in the number of Anglicans believing same-sex marriage is right (from 38% in 2013 to 48% in 2020) and a marked decrease in numbers believing it is wrong (from 47% in 2013 to 34% in 2020).

The 2020 poll was commissioned by the Ozanne Foundation, which works with religious organisations around the world to eliminate discrimination and prejudice based on sexuality and gender.

Jayne Ozanne, the Foundation’s director and a prominent gay evangelical within the Church of England – who had also commissioned the previous 2016 You Gov poll said: “These results show that those opposed to same-sex marriage are now clearly in the minority.”