Christian Groups 'Annoyed' At Reform Conference Held In Church House
27 February 2026
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Catherine WyattBBC spiritual affairs
A variety of Christian groups have mentioned their "shock and disappointment" that Reform UK was allowed to utilize the Church of England's head office for an interview.
They said the party's immigration policies were opposed to Church beliefs and mentors.
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage revealed his brand-new top group at a press conference in the Assembly Hall at Church House in Westminster recently.
The party stated the criticism was "little bit more than a low-cost political stunt".
Church House, whose lettings policy states it does not accept bookings from groups which "promote racial bias", said it ran on a business basis, and was not part of the Church of England.
Christians for a Welcoming Britain stated it was "outraged" that Church House had actually allowed Reform UK to use the location, and that it created the impression the Church provided its "blessing" to "hostile policies and divisive rhetoric".
Other organisations and parties - including the Conservatives and have actually formerly used the place, as have Reform numerous times.
But it was their newest event, hosted inside the chamber where the Church of England had just the week before held its national assembly, General Synod, which triggered the greatest stir.
Christians from the groups Better Story, Christians Against the Far Right and Christians for a Welcoming Britain, have actually written to Church House to complain.
In his letter, Reverend Keith Brindle, a Church of England priest in Frome, and coordinator of Christians Against the Far Right, composed that the venue had actually been "used as a moral backdrop for policies that contradict the very heart of the Christian faith".
He wrote: "Church House has actually provided a veneer of spiritual legitimacy to Reform's anti-migrant and anti-Muslim politics, and their negative scapegoating.
"As followers of Jesus, we must refuse to let the architecture of our faith be used to back the dehumanisation of our neighbours.
"The Church needs to 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 illegal immigration.
The celebration has actually because announced plans to create a "UK Deportation Command", a new agency to perform mass deportations of unlawful migrants.
It was not the very first time Church House had actually come under fire for its use by external organisations.
In late 2020, the location hosted two boxing fights sponsored by online betting firm 32Red.
At the time, critics argued that gambling addiction was harmful, and must not be seen to be promoted by the Church.
Campaigners have actually likewise previously opposed Royal United Services Institute (Rusi)'s annual Land Warfare Conference being hosted at the venue.
In a declaration to the BBC, Church House said it accepted "bookings from organisations that satisfy our ethical lettings policy, based on availability".
The policy mentions that reservations may be rejected if "the hirer promotes views which are anathema to the mentors 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 spokesperson told the BBC: "This is bit more than a cheap political stunt by a group that is entirely out of touch with the British public.
"Poll after survey reveals immigration is a leading problem for voters. Attempting to shut down dispute on a subject near citizens' hearts is both un-Christian and authoritarian."