Labour Party leader Keir Starmer has praised the work of churches and Christian communities in his remarks on the season of Advent, highlighting their role in times of celebration and difficulty.
At a special Advent reception hosted at Number10, Starmer spoke about Advent as the beginning of the Christian year, saying: "It reminds me that the Church is not only there in moments of celebration but for many in times of darkness and difficulty as well."
Starmer shared personal experiences of how faith had touched his life, recalling how his mother’s church supported his family during her illness.
"It wasn’t just because they were nice people – they were people of deep faith, that brought real light into dark days," he noted.
He also emphasised the inspiring spirit of service embodied by faith communities, linking it to his own government’s aspirations.
"When I stood on the steps of Downing Street six months ago, I said that I wanted to be part of a government of service," he said.
Starmer acknowledged the often-unseen work of churches in mending fractured communities, particularly in the wake of events like the summer riots.
"Churches across the country have long been seeking to mend those deep and painful fractures in our societies. They’ve been having the difficult conversations and doing the hard work of reconciling divided communities for many years," he said.
Earlier this year, Starmer hosted a breakfast with faith leaders at Downing Street to explore ways the government could collaborate with faith communities.
He commended churches for their contributions to social cohesion, mental health support, and repairing trust in divided communities.
Reflecting on the season of Advent, Starmer highlighted its lessons of standing with those longing for change, while drawing inspiration from the Christmas story to work toward a better, more compassionate world.
“To the churches and the Christian community I say, thank you, for all that you have done, all that you are doing in this season, and all that you will do in the years to come," Starmer concluded, wishing them a happy Christmas and a peaceful New Year.