A petition calling for Colchester City Council to withdraw a notice against a local church has gained more than 11,000 signatures.
The notice bans Bread of Life Community Church from its long-standing practice of public preaching in the city centre. It accuses the church of delivering a message that causes “harassment, alarm and distress” and describes the activity as “unreasonable” with a “detrimental effect on the community”.
The church says it had not received complaints until last year, when officials first raised concerns about amplification and later about the content of its preaching, including references to hell. Christian Concern, which is supporting the church, said the use of the notice is “unprecedented” as it applies to the whole church rather than individuals.
The church is based in Clacton-on-Sea, but carries out regular outreach in both Clacton and Colchester.
The petition states: “Bread of Life Community Church has been sharing the Christian message in public. This is not because they are behaving inappropriately - they record and livestream all their outreach, and no evidence of harassment has been shown.”
It adds: “They are being suppressed because of the content of their message – the life-giving gospel that Christians have preached on UK streets for centuries. Please retract your Community Protection Notice against Bread of Life Community Church, recognising the freedoms of speech and religion that they are exercising.”
The case has attracted further attention after Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, who is MP for Clacton, met the church’s pastor Stephen Clayden. A post on the church’s Facebook page said they discussed “Jesus, evangelism, and the Bible”.
Colchester City Council has been approached for comment.
