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The Church of England has released a video in response to a Christmas carols event on Saturday being organised by the far-right activist Tommy Robinson amid calls from a growing number of senior church figures to challenge Christian nationalism.
In the 43-second video, Christmas Isn’t Cancelled, posted on the church’s YouTube channel, more than 20 people from the archbishop of York to schoolchildren speak about the “joy, love and hope” of Christmas. The message is “a simple reminder that Christmas belongs to all of us, and everyone is welcome to celebrate”, the C of E said.
A number of its leaders are speaking out against the dangers of Christian nationalism and the appropriation of Christian symbols to bolster the anti-migrant views of Robinson and his supporters taking part in the “Unite the Kingdom” event.
Rowan Williams, the former archbishop of Canterbury, warned of the potential “weaponisation” of events such as the one planned for Saturday, and said the C of E must be “absolutely clear” that the true Christian message was one of compassion and welcome to all.
Arun Arora, the bishop of Kirkstall and co-lead bishop on racial justice, said Christianity was being used as “a flag of convenience by the far right; a nationalist ideology cloaking itself in religion”.
He added: “Any attempt to co-opt Christianity to particular political agendas or ideologies should be viewed with deep suspicion. The far right has often sought to wrap itself in flags or symbols, which belong to us all, and now they are seeking to do it with Christmas – that should be resisted.”
Anderson Jeremiah, the bishop of Edmonton, said he had written to parishes across the capital to encourage diverse congregations at a time when “divisive” figures were promoting the “false, toxic premise that British identity equals Christian identity equals white European identity”.
The perception that the decline of Christianity in Britain was a direct result of immigration was misplaced, he wrote in his letter.
In fact, migrants had boosted church congregations. In an interview, he said people of “African-Caribbean heritage, from Nigeria and Ghana, people from south-east Asia, from India and Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka” comprised a significant proportion of Anglican churchgoers in London, while Indian priests and Filipino Catholics had revitalised mass attendances.
He added: “We must reject this brazen populist religious nationalism before we walk into crisis. The Christian call is to unconditionally follow the virtues of hospitality, generosity, kindness and compassion that Jesus commanded.”
Four bishops in the diocese of Southwark issued a statement earlier this week in direct response to the far-right organised carols event. “Any co-opting or corrupting of the Christian faith to exclude others is unacceptable, and we are gravely concerned about the use of Christian symbols and rhetoric to apparently justify racism and anti-migrant rhetoric,” they said.
“We call upon all Christians to commit themselves afresh to work with others in building a more United Kingdom, where the values of love, humility and compassion shine through in every community.”
In an article in the Independent on Friday, David Walker, the bishop of Manchester, wrote there was “something especially offensive about appropriating this great Christian festival of light triumphing over darkness as a prop in a dim culture war”.
Robinson (real name Stephen Yaxley-Lennon) who has increasingly cloaked his far-right anti-migrant views with Christian rhetoric and symbolism since his conversion to Christianity while in prison, has said publicly that Saturday’s carols event in Westminster was “non-political”.
However, in emails to supporters, he has said the carols concert was “a rally for our values, a beacon of hope amid the chaos of mass migration and cultural erosion that threatens our way of life … It’s a statement that Britain belongs to the British people, and our Christian heritage will not be silenced.”
The theologian Dr Krish Kandiah, the founder and director of the Sanctuary Foundation that welcomes refugees, said the values driving Robinson’s rhetoric were not the values of the Bible. “He does not speak for all Christians. His core principles are not in line with the Christmas message,” he said. “The Christmas story is not about fear or exclusion, it is about hospitality, vulnerability, grace and love.”
A number of alternative events have been organised for Saturday, including services of worship and a counter-protest under the slogan: “Don’t let the far right divide us at Christmas.” At the latter, the musician Billy Bragg will perform a song written in response to Christian nationalism.
