The majority of Britons do not believe in the historical truth of the nativity story about the birth of Jesus, a new survey has found.

Seventy percent of Britons are skeptical about the birth of Jesus in a manger and his virgin mother, according to a poll of 1,000 people by the British Marketing Research Bureau for St Helen’s Church in Bishopsgate, London.

The number is even higher among 16 to 24-years-old, where 78 per cent said they were not convinced the story is true.

A quarter of those questioned who described themselves as Christian admitted they did not completely believe in all the Bible’s teachings on Jesus.

The Rev Charlie Skrine, curate of St. Helen’s Church, said the survey shows that “most of the UK believes that the accounts of Jesus’ birth aren’t good history,” according to The Telegraph.

He added, “Combined with a general lack of understanding about the real meaning of Christmas, this leaves people without the hope that Jesus offers.”

The latest survey contradicts the findings of the latest poll by faith-based think tank Theos, which found that one in three people in Britain believe in the virgin birth.

A New Testament scholar at Cambridge University, Simon Gathercole, pointed out that the stories about the start of Christianity are rooted in real history.

“Jesus was born while Augustus was emperor of Rome just before Herod died,” Gathercole said. “We’re talking about events that are anchored in real history not in ancient Greek myths.”

A UN report published earlier in the year found that two-thirds of the British people admitted to having no religious adherence. And among those who are religious, a growing number are Muslims.