Rt Rev Martyn Snow, Bishop of Leicester, has told the General Synod on Saturday that Britain's democracy faces a serious and present threat, warning that failure to address it could push the country towards more extreme responses.

Bishop Martyn, who chairs the Church of England's Bishops' Working Group for the promotion of unity, was presenting a paper on "promoting unity in our nation".

He warned that division fuels an "us" versus "them" mindset, making society more vulnerable to authoritarian politics, arguing every person is made in the image of God and precious to Him, regardless of their ability, age, or usefulness to society and said he believed "democracy is under threat today”.

As reported in the Church Times, other bishops spoke to the same theme. Dr Toby Howarth, Bishop of Bradford, said relations between faiths felt “as fragile as I’ve ever known” and referenced the Gaza war, saying the Church had a responsibility to hold space for people of all faiths, and none, within the UK.

Rt Rev Lynne Cullens, Bishop of Barking, described a recent encounter in which a woman who asked her vicar whether God was angry with her over how she had voted for Reform UK's Nigel Farage. Bishop Lynne said such moments show why churches on housing estates matter: they create safe spaces for people to process difficult questions and encounter those who think differently, helping to diffuse fear and resist manipulation.

Dr Rosemarie Mallett, Bishop of Croydon, shared her own experience of racism, including being turned away from a disco because of her race. She said genuine unity starts when people see each other as God sees them, and called on the Church to acknowledge patterns of exclusion honestly, repenting where it has played a part.

Bishop Martyn's paper also encouraged parish churches to host community celebrations - including national and patriotic occasions - provided they remain inclusive, historically honest, and free of jingoism.