Christian anti-nationalism campaigners have said they are “shocked” at Reform UK being allowed to host a press conference in Church House, the building where the Church of England’s General Synod and administrative operations happen.
The conference on 17th February saw party leader Nigel Farage and Home Affairs spokesman Zia Yusuf outline a series of controversial policy proposals, including plans to create a UK Deportation Command for conducting large-scale deportations of people without legal status.
Christians for a Welcoming Britain claimed that Nigel Farage’s party is attempting to “faith-wash” itself. Anglican member Holly-Anna Petersen said: “Reform are desperately hoping that people will permit their cruelty if they talk about Christianity.”
“The Christian faith is becoming a get-out-of-jail-free card for those making this world a cruel and heartless place,” she added. “It’s happening in the US, and now we’re seeing it here.”
Campaign groups Better Story and Christians Against the Far-Right also wrote to Church House to express disappointment.
Member Rev Dr Keith Brindle is an Anglican priest in the south west and hospice chaplain. He described the conference as a “cynical attempt to dress nationalism in the robes of the Church."
"By opening its doors to an agenda of hostility, Church House has provided a veneer of spiritual legitimacy to Reform's anti-migrant and anti-Muslim politics, and their cynical scapegoating," he added. "As followers of Jesus, we must refuse to let the architecture of our faith be used to endorse the dehumanisation of our neighbours. The Church must be a sanctuary for the displaced, not a platform for their expulsion.”
Church House is run by its own management body, Church House Corporation. In a statement to Premier Christian News, it distanced the CofE from the decision, saying: "It is not our policy to comment on individual clients or events."
"Church House Conference Centre is an independent commercial entity and is not part of the Church of England," read the statement. "Church House Conference Centre operates on a commercial basis, accepting bookings from organisations that meet our ethical lettings policy."