As the United Kingdom’s second lockdown comes to a conclusion ahead of one of the most important events of the Christian calendar – Christmas – we are in urgent need of reflection on the restrictions imposed on worship across our country.
The coronavirus lockdowns have outlawed all communal worship in Britain twice and in a way that is historically unprecedented. Ever since Christianity came to this island over 1500 years ago, church doors have never been closed to all believers for extended periods of time, even though there have been far worse plagues, wars and disasters than the one our country currently faces.
Supported by the Christian Legal Centre, 122 church leaders have decided this action from the state has been unacceptable and are pursuing a judicial review over the government’s actions in England and Wales. They argue that the bans on communal worship are illegal, as they are in violation of Article 9 of The Human Rights Act 1998, which guarantees freedom of religion.
