Dozens of bishops and Christian leaders wrote: “Jesus calls us to love both our neighbours and our enemies and to welcome the stranger. Any co-opting or corrupting of the Christian faith to exclude others is unacceptable”
Dozens of senior church leaders have come together to condemn the “co-opting and corrupting” of Christian symbols at Tommy Robinson’s far-right march in London last week.
In an open letter, seen by the Mirror, a group of bishops and Christian leaders wrote: “We are deeply concerned about the co-opting of Christian symbols, particularly the cross, during Saturday’s ‘Unite the Kingdom’ rally.
“Many individuals and communities felt anxious, unsettled and even threatened by aspects of the march.”
Onlookers saw wooden crosses and images of Christ on flags being carried by protesters.
Acknowledging the “diverse motivations” for the march, and the right to free speech, the clerics and Christian academics added: “However, this rally included racist, anti-Muslim and far right elements.
“As Christians from different theological and political backgrounds we stand together against the misuse of Christianity.
“The cross is the ultimate sign of sacrifice for the other. Jesus calls us to love both our neighbours and our enemies and to welcome the stranger. Any co-opting or corrupting of the Christian faith to exclude others is unacceptable.”
The letter was signed by bishops of Winchester, Southwark, Manchester, Bradford and Croydon, Former Archbishop of Canterbury the Rt Revd Dr Rowan Williams and senior figures in the Methodist, Baptist and Evangelical churches.
It was also signed senior members of the Salvation Army, Caritas, the Catholic Social Action Network and Bishop Mike Royal, the General Secretary of Churches Together in England.
The letter concludes: “As Christian leaders we are proud of our country and commit ourselves to work with others building a more United Kingdom where the values of love, humility and compassion shine through in every community; and we do so unapologetically in the name of Jesus Christ.”
Brendan Cox, Co-founder of the Together Coalition said: “This letter is signed by a who’s who of the UK’s Christian leadership- from liberal to conservative and everyone in between. It shows the strength of sentiment and the revulsion at their religion being weaponised by the far right.”
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The letter in full
We are deeply concerned about the co-opting of Christian symbols, particularly the cross, during Saturday’s ‘Unite the Kingdom’ rally. Many individuals and communities felt anxious, unsettled and even threatened by aspects of the march.
There were undoubtedly diverse motivations for those engaged in the event. We respect the right to free speech, to hold different views on issues such as immigration, the importance of healthy debate between religious communities and the need to disagree well when consensus is difficult.
We also understand that for many of those involved in the rally there is a deep sense of frustration at feeling unheard and forgotten in the democratic process. We know that we cannot heal this wound unless the Church, and society as a whole rises to do more to address the issues of poverty, inequality and exclusion.
However, this rally included racist, anti-Muslim and far right elements. As Christians from different theological and political backgrounds we stand together against the misuse of Christianity. The cross is the ultimate sign of sacrifice for the other. Jesus calls us to love both our neighbours and our enemies and to welcome the stranger. Any co-opting or corrupting of the Christian faith to exclude others is unacceptable.
As Christian leaders we are proud of our country and commit ourselves to work with others building a more United Kingdom where the values of love, humility and compassion shine through in every community; and we do so unapologetically in the name of Jesus Christ.
Signed
Rt Revd Philip Mounstephen, Bishop of Winchester
Gavin Calver, CEO, Evangelical Alliance
Bishop Mike Royal, General Secretary, Churches Together in England
Revd Richard Andrew, President, Methodist Conference 2025/26
Jude Levermore, Head of Mission, Methodist Church
Matt Forsyth, Vice-President, Methodist Conference 2025/26
Commissioners Jenine and Paul Main, Territorial Leaders, The Salvation Army United Kingdom and Ireland
Revd Lynn Green, General Secretary, The Baptist Union of Great Britain
Bishop Tedroy M. Powell, National Presiding Bishop, Church of God of Prophecy Trust. (U.K.)
Rev Fiona Smith, Principal Clerk of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland
Rt Revd Dr Rowan Williams, Honorary Assistant Bishop, Llandaf
Rt Revd Dr David Walker, Bishop of Manchester
Rt Revd Christopher Chessun, Bishop of Southwark
Rt Revd Toby Howarth, Bishop of Bradford
Chine McDonald, Director, Theos
Revd Lucy Winkett, Rector, St James’s Piccadilly
Dr Christopher Baker, Professor of Religion and Public Life, Goldsmiths, University of London,
Debra Green OBE, Executive Director, Redeeming Our Communities
Revd Canon Dr Jennifer Smith, Wesley’s Chapel and Leysian Mission.
Rt Revd Dr Rosemarie Mallett, Bishop of Croydon
Dr Anthony Reddie, Professor of Black Theology, University of Oxford
Dr Robert Beckford, Professor of Black Theology, Queen’s Foundation.
Kat Osborn, Co-CEO, Safe Families and Home for Good
Dr Krish Kandiah OBE, Director, Sanctuary Foundation
Tania Bright, Co-CEO, Safe Families and Home for Good
Very Revd Dr Mark Oakley, Dean of Southwark
Paul S Williams, Chief Executive, Bible Society
Ven. Dr Rachel Mann, Archdeacon of Salford and Bolton
Raymond Friel OBE, CEO, Caritas, the Catholic Social Action Network
Lord Rees of Easton
Rt Revd Rob Wickham, Group CEO, Church Urban Fund
Rt Revd Alastair Cutting, Bishop of Woolwich
Ross Hendry, CEO of CARE (Christian Action Research and Education)
Revd Dr Sam Wells, Vicar, St Martin-in-the-Fields
Rt Revd Dr Martin Gainsborough, Bishop of Kingston
Revd Canon Steve Chalke MBE, Founder of Oasis Charitable Trust
