Council accused of ‘unprecedented’ use of powers to silence gospel preaching

Christian Concern has suggested that a neighborhood council has made an “unprecedented use of public-order powers” to silence the preaching of the gospel in Colchester city centre.

Local officials are alleged to have asked that church evangelists turn down the amount of their amplification but later made objections surrounding the content of the message being proclaimed by members of Bread of Life Community Church. 

The church, based in Clacton-on-Sea, has engaged in its evangelistic outreach ministry for a while with none formal complaints being registered.

Although the present Public Space Protection Order comprises no ban on amplified sound, street wardens allegedly asked church members to stop or reduce their amplification. In November a non-legally binding Community Protection Warning was issued, followed by the specter of fines.

A legally binding Community Protection Notice (CPN) soon followed. Such a move is “unprecedented”, Christian Concern argues, since it covers the entire church and its membership, moderately than individual preachers.

The CPN not only takes issue with the amount of the preaching, but with the content of the message being preached. References to hell are said to cause “harassment, alarm and distress”.

The preaching can also be described as “unreasonable” and as having a “detrimental effect on the community”.

Bread of Life Community Church is difficult the CPN and is being supported by the Christian Legal Centre. Colchester Magistrates’ Court will likely be hearing the case on 1 May.

Church pastor, Stephen Clayden, said, “We have preached the Bible lawfully and peacefully in Colchester for six years. We have harmed nobody.

“We won’t be intimidated into abandoning the Great Commission. We respect the law. But we cannot and won’t stop preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ. No council has the authority to silence the Church.”

Andrea Williams, Chief Executive of the Christian Legal Centre, described the case as “deeply alarming”.

“Public‑order powers designed to handle real anti‑social behaviour are actually getting used to clamp down on Christian preaching,” she said.

“Today it’s amplification; tomorrow it’s the content of the message itself. We are seeing a slippery slope from managing noise to policing theology.”

She added, “Preaching and public witness are central to the Christian faith and guarded by law. If a church might be criminalised simply for proclaiming the gospel, then freedom of faith and speech within the UK are in serious jeopardy.”

A spokesperson for Colchester Council said, “As the matter is subject to ongoing legal proceedings, it will not be appropriate for the council to comment further at this stage.”