Christian Groups 'Annoyed' At Reform Conference Held In Church House
27 February 2026
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Catherine WyattBBC religious affairs
A variety of Christian groups have spoken of their "shock and dissatisfaction" that Reform UK was allowed to utilize the Church of England's head office 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 team at an interview in the Assembly Hall at Church House in Westminster recently.
The celebration stated the criticism was "little bit more than a low-cost political stunt".
Church House, whose lettings policy says it does not accept reservations from groups which "promote racial bias", said it ran 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 allowed Reform UK to utilize the place, which it produced the impression the Church gave its "true blessing" to "hostile policies and dissentious rhetoric".
Other organisations and parties - including the Conservatives and Labour - have formerly used the location, as have Reform numerous times.
But it was their latest event, hosted inside the chamber where the Church of England had just the week before held its national 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 actually composed to Church House to complain.
In his letter, Reverend Keith Brindle, a Church of England priest in Frome, and organizer of Christians Against the Far Right, composed that the location had been "utilized as an ethical background for policies that contradict the very heart of the Christian faith".
He wrote: "Church House has actually offered a veneer of spiritual authenticity to Reform's anti-migrant and anti-Muslim politics, and their negative scapegoating.
"As fans of Jesus, we should refuse to let the architecture of our faith be utilized to back 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 party's lead on home affairs, with a focus on cutting legal and unlawful migration.
The party has actually given that revealed plans to create a "UK Deportation Command", a new company to carry out mass deportations of illegal migrants.
It was not the first time Church House had come under fire for its use by external organisations.
In late 2020, the venue hosted two boxing battles sponsored by online 32Red.
At the time, critics argued that betting addiction was destructive, and must not be seen to be promoted by the Church.
Campaigners have also formerly opposed Royal United Services Institute (Rusi)'s yearly Land Warfare Conference being hosted at the place.
In a statement to the BBC, Church House said it accepted "reservations from organisations that fulfill our ethical lettings policy, based on availability".
The policy states that reservations might be denied if "the hirer promotes views which are anathema to the teachings of the Church of England, as might be verified by its Synodical or Episcopal declaration from time to time, such as groups which promote racial prejudice".
A Reform UK spokesperson informed the BBC: "This is little more than a low-cost political stunt by a group that is totally out of touch with the British public.
"Poll after poll shows immigration is a top issue for citizens. Attempting to close down argument on a topic near citizens' hearts is both un-Christian and authoritarian."