Churches are among the few places in the UK that successfully bring people together from different ethnic backgrounds and from different financial circumstances, new research for the Social Integration Commission suggests. The commission appointed Ipsos Mori to carry out a study of the social habits of a cross-section of 400 people, aged from 13 to 80. Its survey suggested that attending a place of worship was the most ‘socially integrating’ activity that people could take part in - bringing together people from across the divides of age, income, and ethnicity. Churches attained twice the average score at bringing people together, far ahead of sporting events. Events such as parties, weddings and going to restaurants scored least well at bringing people from different groups together. Churches also led the way at bringing people of different social backgrounds together.