10,000 Sign Petition After UK Council Criminalises Church for Preaching About Hell

UK Council Bans Church From Street Preaching After Complaints About Mentions of Hell

Over 10,000 people have signed a petition calling on Colchester City Council to withdraw a Community Protection Notice (CPN) issued against Bread of Life Community Church in Essex, England.

The unprecedented notice bans the church and all of its members from their longstanding practice of publicly preaching the Christian gospel in the Colchester city centre. The church says it has been sharing the gospel peacefully in the area for six years without receiving a single complaint.

According to the church and its legal representatives, local officials initially asked members to reduce or turn off their amplification equipment, despite there being no prohibition on amplified sound in the area. However, officials later began objecting to the content of the message itself, particularly references to hell and divine judgment.

The CPN accuses the church of preaching a message that causes "harassment, alarm and distress" and describes the preaching as "unreasonable" with a "detrimental effect on the community."

We have harmed no one. We cannot and will not stop preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ. No council has the authority to silence the church.

Pastor Stephen Clayden, Bread of Life Community Church

Christian Concern, which is supporting the church's legal challenge, has called the use of the CPN "unprecedented" as it targets an entire church and all of its members rather than a single individual. A formal appeal has been filed and will be heard at Colchester Magistrates' Court on 1 May 2026.

The petition, started by Christian Concern, asks the council to withdraw its CPN and protect freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and the right of churches to peacefully share the gospel. Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has also voiced his support for the church, meeting with Pastor Clayden to discuss the case.

Colchester Church Fights Back Against Government Attempt to Silence Gospel Preaching

Legal experts supporting the church argue that public order powers designed to address genuine antisocial behaviour are now being weaponised to suppress Christian preaching. The case is expected to have wide ranging implications for freedom of religion and expression across the United Kingdom.

The church's appeal argues that the CPN is unlawful and should be quashed in its entirety, as it violates protections under Articles 9 and 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which guarantee freedom of thought, conscience, religion, and expression.

The Crusader's Opinion

Let us be absolutely clear about what is happening here. A government body in a supposedly free and democratic nation has told a church it is a criminal offence to preach the gospel in public. Not because of violence. Not because of threats. Because they mentioned hell. The very idea that the eternal truths of Scripture cause "harassment, alarm and distress" tells you everything you need to know about how far Britain has fallen. If a mosque were told it could no longer broadcast the call to prayer because it made people uncomfortable, the outrage would shake Parliament. But when it is Christians? Silence. Six years of peaceful preaching and not a single complaint, and suddenly it is "antisocial behaviour." This is not about public order. This is about silencing the gospel. Stand with Bread of Life Church. Sign the petition. Show up on 1 May. The Church does not bow to Caesar.

Take Action

• Sign the Petition: Visit Christian Concern to sign the petition demanding Colchester City Council withdraw the Community Protection Notice.
• Attend the Hearing: Show your support at Colchester Magistrates' Court on 1 May 2026 at 2:00pm when the church's appeal is heard.
• Contact Your MP: Write to your Member of Parliament demanding the protection of religious liberty and freedom of expression for all Christians.
• Donate: Support the legal defence through the Christian Legal Centre and consider giving to The Shepherd's Shield to support persecuted Christians worldwide.
• Share This Story: Post this article on social media and ask why mainstream media is largely silent about the criminalisation of Christian preaching in Britain.
• Pray: Lift up Pastor Stephen Clayden, his congregation, and their legal team as they stand for the freedom to preach the gospel without government interference.