Christian Groups 'Annoyed' At Reform Conference Held In Church House
27 February 2026
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Catherine WyattBBC religious affairs
A number of Christian groups have actually mentioned their "shock and dissatisfaction" that Reform UK was permitted to use the Church of England's head office for a press conference.
They said the celebration's immigration policies were opposed to Church beliefs and teachings.
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage revealed his brand-new leading team at a press conference in the Assembly Hall at Church House in Westminster last week.
The celebration stated the criticism was "bit more than a low-cost political stunt".
Church House, whose lettings policy states it does not accept bookings from groups which "promote racial prejudice", said it operated on a commercial 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 venue, and that it created the impression the Church provided its "true blessing" to "hostile policies and dissentious rhetoric".
Other organisations and celebrations - including the Conservatives and have actually previously used the place, as have Reform numerous times.
But it was their latest occasion, hosted inside the chamber where the Church of England had just the week before held its nationwide 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 grumble.
In his letter, Reverend Keith Brindle, a Church of England priest in Frome, and planner of Christians Against the Far Right, composed that the location had been "utilized as a moral background for policies that oppose the very heart of the Christian faith".
He wrote: "Church House has 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 endorse the dehumanisation of our neighbours.
"The Church should be a sanctuary for the displaced, not a platform for their expulsion."
At Reform UK's event, Zia Yusuf was announced as the party's lead on home affairs, with a concentrate on cutting legal and illegal migration.
The party has since announced plans to produce a "UK Deportation Command", a new agency to carry out 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 fights sponsored by online betting company 32Red.
At the time, critics argued that betting addiction was devastating, and must 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 place.
In a statement to the BBC, Church House stated it accepted "reservations from organisations that fulfill our ethical lettings policy, based on schedule".
The policy states that reservations might be denied if "the hirer promotes views which are anathema to the mentors of the Church of England, as might be verified by its Synodical or Episcopal statement from time to time, such as groups which promote racial prejudice".
A Reform UK representative told the BBC: "This is little bit more than an inexpensive political stunt by a group that is entirely out of touch with the British public.
"Poll after survey shows immigration is a top concern for citizens. Attempting to shut down dispute on a subject near to voters' hearts is both un-Christian and authoritarian."