Christian Groups 'Outraged' At Reform Conference Held In Church House

27 February 2026
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Catherine WyattBBC spiritual affairs


A variety of Christian groups have actually spoken of their "shock and dissatisfaction" that Reform UK was allowed to utilize the Church of England's headquarters for a press conference.


They said the party's migration policies were opposed to Church beliefs and teachings.


Reform UK leader Nigel Farage revealed his brand-new top team at a press conference in the Assembly Hall at Church House in Westminster last week.


The party said the criticism was "little bit more than an inexpensive political stunt".


Church House, whose lettings policy says it does not accept reservations from groups which "promote racial prejudice", stated it ran on a business basis, and was not part of the Church of England.


Christians for a Welcoming Britain stated it was "annoyed" that Church House had actually allowed Reform UK to use the location, which it produced the impression the Church gave its "true blessing" to "hostile policies and divisive rhetoric".


Other organisations and parties - consisting of the Conservatives and Labour - have actually previously utilized the location, as have Reform several times.


But it was their most current event, hosted inside the chamber where the Church of England had just the week before held its national assembly, General Synod, which caused the biggest stir.


Christians from the groups Better Story, Christians Against the Far Right and for a Welcoming Britain, have actually composed to Church House to grumble.


In his letter, Reverend Keith Brindle, a Church of England priest in Frome, and organizer of Christians Against the Far Right, wrote that the location had been "used as an ethical background for policies that contradict the very heart of the Christian faith".


He composed: "Church House has provided a veneer of spiritual legitimacy to Reform's anti-migrant and anti-Muslim politics, and their cynical scapegoating.


"As fans of Jesus, we need to refuse to let the architecture of our faith be utilized to back the dehumanisation of our neighbours.


"The Church must be a sanctuary for the displaced, not a platform for their expulsion."


At Reform UK's occasion, Zia Yusuf was revealed as the celebration's lead on home affairs, with a focus on cutting legal and unlawful migration.


The party has because revealed plans to produce a "UK Deportation Command", a new agency to perform mass deportations of prohibited migrants.


It was not the very first time Church House had come under fire for its usage by external organisations.


In late 2020, the place hosted two boxing battles sponsored by online gambling firm 32Red.


At the time, critics argued that betting addiction was devastating, and ought to not be seen to be promoted by the Church.


Campaigners have also formerly opposed Royal United Services Institute (Rusi)'s annual Land Warfare Conference being hosted at the venue.


In a statement to the BBC, Church House stated it accepted "reservations from organisations that meet our ethical lettings policy, based on schedule".


The policy mentions that bookings might be denied if "the hirer promotes views which are anathema to the teachings of the Church of England, as may be verified by its Synodical or Episcopal declaration from time to time, such as groups which promote racial bias".


A Reform UK representative told the BBC: "This is little more than an inexpensive political stunt by a group that is entirely out of touch with the British public.


"Poll after poll reveals migration is a leading issue for citizens. Attempting to close down dispute on a subject near to citizens' hearts is both un-Christian and authoritarian."