Methodist Leaders Warn Against Nationalist Co‑Option of Christmas in London Rally

Senior Methodist leaders in Britain are urging churches and the wider public to distinguish Christian faith from nationalist politics as a high-profile Christmas event in central London, promoted under the banner “Put Christ back into Christmas,” faces criticism for mixing explicitly Christian language and imagery with anti-immigration rhetoric and populist activism.

Concerns Over Christmas Event Linked to Populist Activism

The planned gathering in central London, called a Christmas celebration aimed at restoring a Christian identity to public life, has caused concern among mainstream churches because of its organizers and messaging. The event is being promoted by activist Tommy Robinson and follows a summer march under the “Unite the Kingdom” banner, where participants carried crosses, declared “Christ is King,” and sang worship songs while speakers issued harsh warnings about immigration and cultural change. Critics within the churches point out that the London event seems designed to mix the language of Christian devotion with a political agenda focused on nationalism and opposition to migration. They argue that this combination risks conveying a message that Christian identity is tied to a narrow view of national belonging and ethnic homogeneity, rather than the universal message of the gospel.

Methodist Theologian Cautions Against ‘Owning’ Christ

The Reverend Dr Mark Rowland, Secretary of the Faith and Order Committee of the Methodist Church, has publicly urged Christians to exercise caution in responding to calls to “put Christ back into Christmas.” In a widely discussed reflection, he emphasized that Christian belief affirms Christ’s abiding presence in the world and in the life of the church, independent of any political campaign or public spectacle.

Rowland warned that language implying that any group can “restore” or “place” Christ in a particular cultural or national context risks distorting basic Christian convictions. He argued that Christ does not belong to any one movement, nation, or party, and that attempts to “own” Christian symbols for partisan purposes contradict the claim that Jesus is Lord of all peoples and nations rather than a mascot for one side of a political divide.

In his comments, Rowland drew particular attention to the way biblical law and the Christian tradition have consistently commanded God’s people to care for and welcome the stranger. He noted that Old Testament legislation instructs Israel to treat the foreigner living among them as one of their own, grounding this obligation in the memory of Israel’s own experience of vulnerability and displacement.

By juxtaposing these scriptural themes with contemporary rhetoric about immigration, Rowland suggested that Christians must be wary when appeals to defend a “Christian country” are paired with suspicion or hostility toward migrants and refugees. He argued that such messaging risks inverting the heart of the Christmas story, which features a child born far from home, a family seeking shelter, and visitors from distant lands who recognize the significance of the birth.

Christmas Story Presented as a Global, Not National, Narrative

Methodist leaders have also emphasized that the Christian celebration of Christmas cannot properly be confined within any single national narrative. The nativity accounts in the Gospels are presented as stories that unfold across borders, involving imperial decrees, journeys between regions, and diverse communities drawn into the drama of Christ’s birth.

From this perspective, the attempt to frame Christmas primarily as a celebration of one nation’s religious heritage or cultural identity misses the global scope of the incarnation. Church representatives caution that when Christmas is presented as the property of a particular country, it can marginalize believers and neighbors who do not fit a narrow picture of national identity but who nevertheless stand at the center of the biblical call to hospitality, justice, and peace.

Guidance for Churches on Political Use of Christian Symbols

In response to the London event and similar developments, the Methodist Church, along with partner denominations, has created guidance to help congregations understand how Christian language and symbols are used in public life. The Joint Public Issues Team, a partnership of Methodist, Baptist, and United Reformed Church organizations, has released resources addressing the co‑option of religious imagery—including Christmas motifs—for nationalist or exclusionary agendas. This guidance encourages churches to teach members how to recognize when faith symbols are being used to justify specific political agendas and to respond by reaffirming the inclusive, cross‑cultural nature of the Christian message. It also urges communities to reflect on their own practices, making sure that their worship and public witness oppose trends that link Christian identity too closely to ethnicity, citizenship, or political loyalty.

Image Credits:
• Depiction of the Nativity using Christmas lights via Wikimedia Commons with usage type - Creative Commons License, File:NativityChristmasLights.jpg: derivative work: Crumpled Fire

Featured Image Credit:
• Depiction of the Nativity using Christmas lights via Wikimedia Commons with usage type - Creative Commons License, File:NativityChristmasLights.jpg: derivative work: Crumpled Fire