A Church of England bishop has warned of a growing threat to British society from what he described as a rising tide of nationalism and fascism. Speaking at an event at Lambeth Palace this week, Arun Arora, the bishop of Kirkstall in Leeds, condemned recent demonstrations at southern English ports and incidents across the country as signs of increasing social division.
Arora specifically referenced masked, black-clad protesters who gathered in Dover and Portsmouth last weekend. Led by Daniel “Danny Tommo” Thomas, a former bodyguard for far-right figure Tommy Robinson, the demonstrators chanted “Christ is King” while promoting anti-immigration views. The bishop criticized what he called the “twisted theology” espoused by these self-styled “Christian patriots,” accusing them of misusing Christian symbols to justify exclusionary and hostile ideologies.
The bishop linked the recent protests to a series of troubling incidents throughout 2026, including racist firebombings in Belfast, anti-immigration protests in Thetford, Norfolk, and an episode in Lancashire where a six-year-old child had a racial slur written on his forehead. He characterized these developments as the early stages of a dangerous shift towards “open fascist nationalism” that threatens social cohesion and communal unity in the United Kingdom.
“The biggest threat to England’s fabric today is to be found in the tidal wave of nationalism that threatens to destroy the foundations of community,” Arora said. He compared the current situation to the 1930s, warning that groups dressing in blackshirts and rallying under fascist banners were returning to public prominence. He stressed the role of the Church in confronting what he called a “sinful idolatry” that elevates national flags above the Christian cross.
The event also featured remarks from Archbishop Sarah Mullally of Canterbury, who highlighted the growing atmosphere of intimidation and exclusion experienced by minority ethnic communities in Britain. She emphasized the responsibility of Christian leaders to speak out against such intimidation, warning that silence only enables such behavior.
Rosemarie Mallett, co-lead bishop for racial justice, noted recent confrontations such as anti-immigration protesters surrounding Rev Canon Dr. Richard Frith inside Doncaster Minster. She pointed to this as evidence that conflict is increasingly invading sacred spaces, reinforcing the urgent need for racial justice within society and the Church.
The Lambeth Palace gathering marked the fifth anniversary of a landmark report addressing institutional racism in the Church of England. Speakers underscored the Church’s role in promoting a vision of belonging rooted in welcoming the stranger, countering the fear and division currently playing out in public life.