Latest news with #streetPreaching
BBC News
08-07-2025
- General
- BBC News
Preachers prompt debate on limit of free speech in Leek
A business owner has claimed people are being deterred from visiting her town due to the presence of street preachers whose language, she said, "bordered on hate speech".Megan Green runs an online business, The Cosy Witch, from her house in Leek and said she had attended the same church as one of the preachers when she was a said she felt the town needed to be shown in a positive light, so goes out delivering compliments to passers-by on the high of the preachers, Johnathan, admitted his views, and the messages he preached, would not be appreciated by everyone. Ms Green has lived in Leek since she was a child and said she had recently noticed people becoming upset and businesses struggling on the days preachers were in the town."No one in Leek has a problem with street preaching, what we have a problem with is things that are hurtful and bordering hate speech," she said."I respect everyone's beliefs, but I don't like to be called a bad mother walking down the street."Ms Green said people stopped her in the street to thank her for what she had been doing."I'm in no way trying to stop the freedom of speech," she added. "It's just there's a very careful line between what is free speech and what is hate speech under the guise of religion."Preachers have been a feature in the town centre for many told the BBC last September they had faced homophobia in the town. One lesbian said she had been called a "sin of nature" and "against God's will".During the Pride in the Moorlands event ten days ago, one preacher said: "Sin isn't something to be celebrated or tolerated", adding that God had "made a way for us to be set free from the power of sin".He added: "Mankind... they like their lifestyle more than God, so they're unwilling to accept a message that is potentially telling them their lifestyle is wrong." Preacher Johnathan often preaches for between 30 to 45 minutes before moving on to a new location within the is in line with a code of conduct which asks performers and preachers to move on after 45 minutes in one location and to be aware of market traders or asked if his preaching amounted to hate speech, Johnathan said he thought the gospel was "intrinsically offensive", but pointed out that offence was not a crime and did not equate to hate speech."We don't preach hate, we don't incite hate, we preach a message of love," he in the town have grown upset with the regular preaching claiming it is reducing business in the town on the days the preachers are there. Daniel Salt, a barber, said he had noticed a drop in customers when the preachers were outside his shop."It's a nightmare because we have to listen to it all day then there people arguing outside all day", he felt fewer people were less likely to come into the shop as a result."I think, when it starts interfering with businesses and owners, it's not fair on anyone because everyone is just trying to make a living," he added. A spokesperson for Staffordshire Police said officers continued to liaise with people expressing religious views in Leek."Officers appreciate the community getting in touch with us on this matter and are working in partnership with the local council to address any concerns," they said. Councillor Bill Cawley, cabinet member for communities at Staffordshire Moorlands District Council, said the authority's licensing team was working with the police in relation to the code of conduct and that increased enforcement would be discussed in the coming weeks. Follow BBC Stoke & Staffordshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Labour-run council U-turns on Christian street preacher ban
A Labour-run council has about-turned on its attempts to ban Christian street preachers in a victory for free speech. Rushmoor borough council, in Hampshire, sought an injunction in February that would have prohibited Christians preaching, praying and handing out leaflets in the town centres of Farnborough and Aldershot. The local authority claimed preachers were being 'offensive' and caused 'alarm and distress' to passers-by. But it has now withdrawn its application for an injunction after being accused of attempting to 'criminalise' Christians because the maximum sentence for breaching an injunction is two years' imprisonment. Jamie Broadey, a preacher and evangelist, said it was 'highly concerning' that the council had attempted to acquire the injunction in the first place. 'We welcome the news that the council has withdrawn its application, but it is highly concerning that they made this attempt to criminalise the Christian faith in the first instance,' he said. 'When I first read the injunction I thought: 'They must have made a mistake.' I felt complete disbelief that it was saying that you can't have religious discussions, you can't pray or sing, and people have to come to you, you can't go to them and share the gospel which Christians have done freely in this country for centuries.' Under the terms of the drafted injunction, Christians would have been banned from praying for anyone 'without their prior permission', offering leaflets or Bibles by hand and laying hands on anyone in prayer even if they consented. Other proposed prohibitions included approaching people to discuss Christianity and the preaching of any sermons that were 'hostile towards anyone with the protected characteristic of age, disability, gender reassignment, pregnancy, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation'. Sally McGuinness, a cleaner and street preacher, said the council had attempted to 'criminalise' her. 'If this had not been challenged and stopped in its tracks now, we have no doubts that the Christian faith would be criminalised in Aldershot and Farnborough,' she said. 'This would have been terrible for Christian freedoms and freedom in general in this country. We are still awaiting an apology from the council and assurances that nothing like this will ever happen again.' The council's about-turn came after local Conservative councillors Gareth Lyon and Ade Adeola took up the preachers' case. The council organised meetings with local ministers and preachers where the Christians' objections were heard. In a statement, the council said it had discussed introducing a 'voluntary code of conduct' for street preachers to limit 'distress' caused to passers-by. The preachers maintain that being seen as 'hostile' is unavoidable when attempting to convince non-believers of the truth of Christianity. Cllr Lyon, leader of the Tory group on the council, said: 'I am delighted by the decision to withdraw the application for an injunction. It is absolutely the right decision.' Cllr Gareth Williams, the leader of the council, added that he was 'pleased' to address a 'very sensitive issue'. 'I'm pleased that, following our discussions with the local Christian community and faith leaders, we have been able to address this very sensitive issue and agree a way forward that balances the rights to freedom of worship and expression with the interests of all town centre users,' he said. Bishop Malcolm Cummins, a Pentecostal minister and chairman of the Rushmoor Faith Leaders Forum, said: 'We're relieved that our discussions with the council have proved constructive. We now look forward to working closely together to build even stronger relationships.' Andrea Williams, chief executive of the Christian Legal Centre, which supported the street preachers, added: 'We urge Christians to remain vigilant and prayerful, and to continue supporting efforts to ensure that the public square remains open to the gospel and to the free exchange of ideas.' Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Telegraph
10-05-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
Labour-run council U-turns on Christian street preacher ban
A Labour-run council has about-turned on its attempts to ban Christian street preachers in a victory for free speech. Rushmoor borough council, in Hampshire, sought an injunction in February that would have prohibited Christians preaching, praying and handing out leaflets in the town centres of Farnborough and Aldershot. The local authority claimed preachers were being 'offensive' and caused 'alarm and distress' to passers-by. But it has now withdrawn its application for an injunction after being accused of attempting to 'criminalise' Christians because the maximum sentence for breaching an injunction is two years' imprisonment. Jamie Broadey, a preacher and evangelist, said it was 'highly concerning' that the council had attempted to acquire the injunction in the first place. 'We welcome the news that the council has withdrawn its application, but it is highly concerning that they made this attempt to criminalise the Christian faith in the first instance,' he said. 'When I first read the injunction I thought: 'They must have made a mistake.' I felt complete disbelief that it was saying that you can't have religious discussions, you can't pray or sing, and people have to come to you, you can't go to them and share the gospel which Christians have done freely in this country for centuries.' Under the terms of the drafted injunction, Christians would have been banned from praying for anyone 'without their prior permission', offering leaflets or Bibles by hand and laying hands on anyone in prayer even if they consented. Other proposed prohibitions included approaching people to discuss Christianity and the preaching of any sermons that were 'hostile towards anyone with the protected characteristic of age, disability, gender reassignment, pregnancy, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation'. Sally McGuinness, a cleaner and street preacher, said the council had attempted to 'criminalise' her. 'If this had not been challenged and stopped in its tracks now, we have no doubts that the Christian faith would be criminalised in Aldershot and Farnborough,' she said. 'This would have been terrible for Christian freedoms and freedom in general in this country. We are still awaiting an apology from the council and assurances that nothing like this will ever happen again.' The council's about-turn came after local Conservative councillors Gareth Lyon and Ade Adeola took up the preachers' case. The council organised meetings with local ministers and preachers where the Christians' objections were heard. In a statement, the council said it had discussed introducing a 'voluntary code of conduct' for street preachers to limit 'distress' caused to passers-by. The preachers maintain that being seen as 'hostile' is unavoidable when attempting to convince non-believers of the truth of Christianity. Cllr Lyon, leader of the Tory group on the council, said: 'I am delighted by the decision to withdraw the application for an injunction. It is absolutely the right decision.' Cllr Gareth Williams, the leader of the council, added that he was 'pleased' to address a 'very sensitive issue'. 'I'm pleased that, following our discussions with the local Christian community and faith leaders, we have been able to address this very sensitive issue and agree a way forward that balances the rights to freedom of worship and expression with the interests of all town centre users,' he said. Bishop Malcolm Cummins, a Pentecostal minister and chairman of the Rushmoor Faith Leaders Forum, said: 'We're relieved that our discussions with the council have proved constructive. We now look forward to working closely together to build even stronger relationships.' Andrea Williams, chief executive of the Christian Legal Centre, which supported the street preachers, added: 'We urge Christians to remain vigilant and prayerful, and to continue supporting efforts to ensure that the public square remains open to the gospel and to the free exchange of ideas.'
