Druids a Charity in England

The ancient neo-pagan religion best known for Stonehenge has been recognized as a religion and has been given charitable status in Britain.

The decision was made by the Charity Commission for England and Wales on Saturday after a four-year long application process brought forth by The Druid Network.

The 21-page final report released by the commission states, "The Board members concluded that The Druid Network is established for exclusively charitable purposes for the advancement of religion for the public benefit."

Druidry is a belief that deities take on different forms of nature with roots in western Europe, Britain and Ireland.

"The Charity Commission now has a much greater understanding of Pagan, animist and polytheist religions, so other groups form these minority religions — provided they meet the financial and public benefit criteria for registration as charities — should find registering a much shorter process than the pioneering one we have been through," said Emma Restall Orr, founder of The Druid Network, a website devoted to the religion, in a statement.