Church leaders' condemn Tommy Robinson march 'co-opting and corrupting' crosses

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