C of E to challenge Tommy Robinson’s ‘put Christ back into Christmas’ message

The Church of England is to launch a poster campaign aimed at challenging the anti-migrant message of Tommy Robinson, whose “Unite the Kingdom” movement has urged its supporters to join a carols event next weekend to “put the Christ back into Christmas”.The posters, which will go on display at bus stops, say “Christ has always been in Christmas” and “Outsiders welcome”. They will also be available for local churches to download and display over the festive period.One of the posters at a bus stop on Waterloo Road. Photograph: Church of EnglandThe C of E’s decision to challenge Robinson’s extreme rightwing stance comes amid growing unease among church leaders about the rise of Christian nationalism and the appropriation of Christian symbols to bolster the views of his supporters.At a march organised by Unite the Kingdom in September there was a significant presence of Christian symbols, including wooden crosses and flags bearing Christian slogans, as well as chants of “Christ is king” and calls to defend “God, faith, family, homeland”.Last week, Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, announced next weekend’s Christmas carol event at an undisclosed outdoor venue in central London. It would mark the beginning of “a new Christian revival in the UK – a moment to reclaim and celebrate our heritage, culture and Christian identity”.Some Christian activists are planning a counter-event to protest at the far-right views of those organising the carol service.Last week, Robinson announced next weekend’s Christmas carol event at an undisclosed outdoor venue in central London. Photograph: Ben Whitley/PAThe C of E posters are part of a wider response to Robinson and Unite the Kingdom from a number of churches. The Joint Public Issues Team, a partnership between the Baptist Union of Great Britain, the Methodist church and the United Reformed church is offering a “rapid response resource” for local churches trying to “navigate the complexities” of Christian nationalism and the “co-option of Christian language and symbols – including Christmas – for a nationalist agenda”.skip past newsletter promotionafter newsletter promotionThe Rev Arun Arora, bishop of Kirkstall and co-lead bishop on racial justice for the C of E, said: “We must confront and resist the capture of Christian language and symbols by populist forces seeking to exploit the faith for their own political ends.”He said that Robinson’s conversion to Christianity in prison was welcome but did not give him “the right to subvert the faith so that it serves his purposes rather than the other way round”.A church that failed to act in response would be diminished, Arora added. “Whether in the warnings of the prophets or the teaching of Jesus, there is an unambiguous call to ensure justice for the weakest and most vulnerable.“As we approach Christmas and recall the Holy Family’s own flight as refugees, we reaffirm our commitment to stand alongside others in working for an asylum system that is fair, compassionate, and rooted in the dignity of being human.”After September’s Unite the Kingdom march, Christian leaders published an open letter saying that “any co-opting or corrupting of the Christian faith to exclude others is unacceptable”. Among the signatories were seven C of E bishops and senior leaders in the Methodist, Baptist and Pentecostal churches, the Church of Scotland, the Salvation Army and the Catholic social action network Caritas.