An open letter has been sent to Cineworld, Vue and Odeon, all of which have said they will not show the Lord's Prayer before the new Star Wars movie for fear it could offend.
The refusal is "wholly insensitive", the letter, whose signatories include two former Cabinet Ministers said.
It added: "It is hard to see what could be 'offensive' about the advert given that Britain is a Christian country with Christianity woven through the fabric of our society.
"We would be grateful if you could explain which part of the 60-second advert could be deemed as offensive given that the Lord's Prayer has been at the heart of Christian worship in Britain for almost two millennia.
"We urge you as a matter of urgency to retract your statement and to reconsider your decision not to show the advert, and at the very least apologise for your wholly insensitive proposition that the Lord's Prayer could be offensive."
Former Social Security Secretary Peter Lilley, ex-Scottish Secretary Lord Forsyth and former Chief of the General Staff Lord Dannatt have all signed the letter as well as Christian MP Sir Gerald Howarth.
DCM, which oversees advertising for the chains, said its policy was not to show political or religious adverts.