The Bishop of Croydon and the founder of Oasis, the foundation which runs a multi-academy trust of schools, including several in Croydon, were among almost 40 senior church and charity figures to sign a letter which condemned the “co-opting and corrupting” of Christian symbols at last week’s far-right march in London.
Calling out the far-right: Bishop of Croydon Rosemarie Mallett
Some in the crowd at the march on September 13 carried wooden crosses and images of Christ on flags.
The “Unite the Kingdom” march was organised by serial criminal Stephen Yaxley-Lennon. The protest drew an estimated 100,000 – so despite untrue claims to the contrary, it was barely one-tenth of the size of the peaceful protests on the streets of London that were against the illegal war in Iraq more than 20 years ago.
Rt Rev Dr Rosemarie Mallett, Bishop of Croydon, and Oasis charity founder Steve Chalke were joined by former Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams and more than three dozen senior church figures as signatories to a letter which stated: “We are deeply concerned about the co-opting of Christian symbols, particularly the cross, during Saturday’s ‘Unite the Kingdom’ rally.
The bishops of Winchester, Southwark, Manchester and Bradford are also among the signatories, as are senior figures in the Methodist, Baptist and Evangelical churches.
“Many individuals and communities felt anxious, unsettled and even threatened by aspects of the march,” they said. “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.
Setting the tone: the Unite the Kingdom rally
“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, the husband of Jo Cox, the Yorkshire MP who was murdered by a white supremacist, also signed the letter as the co-founder of the Together Coalition.
He 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.”
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.
In a separate development to the clerics’ letter, the Metropolitan Police today issued an appeal for help in identifying a further 18 men who were on the far-right march on September 13, at which 26 officers were attacked and injured.
Wanted men: 26 police officers were injured in clashed with the far-right demonstrators. The Met is now appealling for help in identifying some on the march
The Met Police had deployed live facial recognition cameras at the Notting Hill Carnival at the end of August, yet they chose not to use the same technology at an assembly organised by known criminals.
They now request help from members of the public from across the country in finding a total of 28 people: “Take a look at those pictured and get in touch if they recognise anyone.”
Officers made 24 arrests on the day “following several incidents in the Whitehall area”.
They are seeking the additional 28 “in connection with a range of public order offences and assaults on emergency workers”.
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