Here are eight moments in the Houses of Parliament that Christians should watch back from 2020.
1. Theresa May’s warning to the Government about banning public worship
Our former Prime Minister was photographed going to church every Sunday while she in No. 10. This year, from the backbenches, she gave one of the most publicised criticisms of the Government’s ban on public worship in the first lockdown, saying it set a ‘dangerous precedent’. Many politicians made similar arguments and raised it in PMQs and communal worship was allowed from December onwards in all tiers in England and in all parts of the UK.
2. Stuart Anderson’s powerful maiden speech
When Stuart Anderson joined the House of Commons in the 2019 election, few fellow MPs realised he had such a powerful testimony with Christ at the centre.
3. Justin Welby on the Government's Internal Markets Bill
(And a subtle dig at the fact former Archbishop of York John Sentamu is not in the House of Lords.)
4. Sir Desmond Swayne wanting shorter sermons at church
5. Cat Smith asks about Christians being denied PPE in countries where they face persecution
6. Danny Kruger's maiden speech: the country shouldn't throw away its Christian identity
If you skip to 5 minutes 55 seconds, you'll find Mr Kruger's call for the country not to throw away its Christian heritage as it searches for identity
“We are children of God, fallen but redeemed, capable of great wrong but capable of great virtue."
7. Jacob Rees-Mogg on the relationship between church and state
Jacob Rees-Mogg was asked about the restrictions imposed on places of worship during the second Covid-19 lockdown. What his right honourable friend got was a rather elaborate explanation of the relationship between the church and the state, referencing Luke's gospel, Henry II and Pope Boniface VIII.
8. Popular London church labelled 'cult' in parliamentary debate
Labour MPs Florence Eshalomi, Marsha de Cordova and Siobhan McDonnagh, among others, took part in a debate about the prosperity gospel teaching church SPAC Nation and the dangers constituents had told them about.
