‘We stand together against the misuse of Christianity’
A group of Church of England bishops and senior clergy have joined leaders from across denominations in speaking out against any “co-opting or corrupting” of the Christian faith and symbols to exclude others.
The bishops of Winchester, Manchester, Southwark, Croydon, Bradford, Woolwich and Kingston were among the signatories to a joint letter from church leaders voicing concern at the use of Christian symbols, particularly the cross, at last week’s ‘Unite the Kingdom’ rally.
They joined with senior leaders in the Methodist, Baptist and Pentecostal churches; the Church of Scotland; the Salvation Army; the Catholic social action network Caritas and leaders of major cross-denominational groups such as the Evangelical Alliance and Churches Together in England in the letter which appears in the media today. Other signatories include the former Archbishop of Canterbury Lord Williams, leaders of Christian charities such as the Bible Society, CARE and the Oasis trust, as well as prominent clergy and theologians.
The letter acknowledges that many of those involved in the rally felt a “deep sense of frustration at feeling unheard and forgotten in the democratic process” but that it also included “racist, anti-Muslim and far right elements”.
“As Christians from different theological and political backgrounds, we stand together against the misuse of Christianity,” they write.
“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.”
Full text of the letter
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.
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, Llandaff
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