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


27 February 2026
ShareSave


Catherine WyattBBC religious affairs


A number of Christian groups have actually mentioned their "shock and disappointment" that Reform UK was enabled to use the Church of England's headquarters for a press conference.


They said the celebration's immigration policies were opposed to Church beliefs and mentors.


Reform UK leader Nigel Farage revealed his new leading group at an interview in the Assembly Hall at Church House in Westminster last week.


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


Church House, whose lettings policy says it does not accept bookings from groups which "promote racial bias", stated it ran on a commercial 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 utilize the location, which it developed the impression the Church offered its "blessing" to "hostile policies and dissentious rhetoric".


Other organisations and celebrations - consisting of the Conservatives and Labour - have formerly utilized the place, as have Reform numerous times.


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


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


In his letter, Reverend Keith Brindle, a Church of England priest in Frome, and planner of Christians Against the Far Right, composed that the venue had been "utilized as an ethical background for policies that oppose the very heart of the Christian faith".


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


"As followers of Jesus, we must refuse to let the architecture of our faith be used to endorse the dehumanisation of our neighbours.


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


At Reform UK's event, Zia Yusuf was announced as the celebration's lead on home affairs, with a concentrate on cutting legal and illegal migration.


The party has given that revealed plans to produce a "UK Deportation Command", a new company to perform mass deportations of unlawful 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 gambling addiction was destructive, and ought to not be seen to be promoted by the Church.


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


In a declaration to the BBC, Church House stated it accepted "reservations from organisations that fulfill our ethical lettings policy, subject to availability".


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


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


"Poll after poll shows migration is a top problem for voters. Attempting to shut down argument on a subject near citizens' hearts is both un-Christian and ."