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

27 February 2026
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Catherine WyattBBC spiritual affairs


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


They stated the celebration's migration policies were opposed to Church beliefs and mentors.


Reform UK leader Nigel Farage revealed his new leading group at a press conference in the Assembly Hall at Church House in Westminster recently.


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


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


Christians for a Welcoming Britain said it was "annoyed" that Church House had actually permitted Reform UK to utilize the place, and that 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 previously utilized the venue, as have Reform multiple times.


But it was their latest event, hosted inside the chamber where the Church of England had only the week before held its nationwide assembly, General Synod, which caused the biggest stir.


Christians from the groups Better Story, Christians Against the Far Right and Christians for a Welcoming Britain, have written 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 "utilized as an ethical backdrop for policies that oppose the very heart of the Christian faith".


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


"As followers of Jesus, we should 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 party's lead on home affairs, with a concentrate on cutting legal and illegal migration.


The party has considering that revealed plans to develop a "UK Deportation Command", a brand-new agency to bring out mass deportations of prohibited migrants.


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


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


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


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


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


The policy mentions that reservations might be rejected 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 spokesperson informed the BBC: "This is little more than an inexpensive political stunt by a group that is completely out of touch with the British public.


"Poll after survey shows is a top issue for citizens. Attempting to close down dispute on a subject close to voters' hearts is both un-Christian and authoritarian."