The Church of England is mounting a direct public challenge to the far-right activist Tommy Robinson, launching a poster campaign to counter his movement's anti-migrant rhetoric around Christmas.
Posters Push Back Against 'Put Christ Back' Slogan
The campaign, set to appear on bus stops and available for local churches to download, features messages stating "Christ has always been in Christmas" and the pointed rebuke "Outsiders welcome". This is a direct response to Robinson's 'Unite the Kingdom' group, which is urging supporters to attend a Christmas carol event next weekend to, in their words, "put the Christ back into Christmas".
Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, announced the carol service for a secret outdoor location in central London last week. He framed it as the start of "a new Christian revival in the UK – a moment to reclaim and celebrate our heritage, culture and Christian identity".
Growing Church Alarm Over Symbol Appropriation
The C of E's move follows growing concern among church leaders about the rise of Christian nationalism and the co-opting of religious symbols by far-right groups. This unease was heightened after a Unite the Kingdom march in September, where participants prominently displayed wooden crosses and flags with Christian slogans, while chanting "Christ is king".
The Right Revd Arun Arora, Bishop of Kirkstall and the C of E's co-lead bishop on racial justice, was unequivocal. "We must confront and resist the capture of Christian language and symbols by populist forces seeking to exploit the faith for their own political ends," he stated.
While welcoming Robinson's reported conversion in prison, Arora stressed it did not grant a licence to subvert the faith's core messages. "As we approach Christmas and recall the Holy Family’s own flight as refugees, we reaffirm our commitment to stand alongside others in working for an asylum system that is fair, compassionate, and rooted in the dignity of being human," he added.
A Broad Christian Coalition Responds
The Anglican initiative is part of a wider ecclesiastical response. The Joint Public Issues Team—a partnership of the Baptist, Methodist, and United Reformed churches—is offering resources to help congregations navigate the "co-option of Christian language and symbols for a nationalist agenda".
Furthermore, after September's march, senior leaders from across major denominations, including seven C of E bishops, signed an open letter condemning any use of faith to exclude others. Signatories came from the Methodist, Baptist, Pentecostal, and Church of Scotland traditions, as well as the Salvation Army and Caritas.
Some Christian activists are also planning a counter-event to protest the far-right views behind Robinson's carol service, signalling a determined effort to reclaim the narrative of Christmas as one of inclusivity and refuge.
