National Unity

Many people in our parishes care deeply about their country and about the place of Christianity in its life. Over the past year or so, that has become more visible. Crosses have been carried at street rallies, flags have appeared on lampposts across the country, and Christian words and symbols have been used at protests about immigration and asylum. People have taken part for many different reasons, and many say they feel unheard.

This page is for clergy, lay leaders, and church communities across the Diocese of York who want to understand these changes and respond pastorally, practically, and theologically. It brings together recent research, guidance from the Church of England’s bishops, and resources you can use in your parish.

A note on language

We have chosen not to lead with the term “Christian nationalism”. Research suggests that it is vague and often unhelpful. Instead, we talk about Christianity and Britishness, and about the unity of the communities we serve.

Christianity and Britishness

The think tank Theos surveyed 1,765 UK adults for its October 2026 report, Beyond “Christian nationalism”. Its key messages for churches:

• Most people don’t tie faith to belonging. Just 17% think you must be Christian to be truly British, and only 1% call it the most important factor.
• It is more about culture than belief. Support for linking Christianity and Britishness is strongest among people who call themselves Christian but rarely practise. That gives churches an opening to share the faith behind the heritage.
• Some of these conversations are within our churches. Two thirds of the group most likely to go to church agree that Europe’s white population is deliberately being replaced by migrants from Muslim countries, a conspiracy theory that researchers reject. That fear needs a patient, honest response.

Five groups emerge, each needing a different conversation:

• Committed Separatists (34%) want faith kept out of national identity, yet half say Christian values call us to welcome asylum seekers.
• Cultural Separatists (16%) are mostly not religious but treasure national symbols. A third often feel lonely, so friendship may matter more than debate.
• Values Integrationists (26%) believe Christian values have been good for Britain. Explore together what those values are.
• Identity Integrationists (11%), the smallest group, see Christianity as central to British heritage and worry most about immigration. Listening is the place to start.
• Belief Integrationists (13%) pray and go to church the most, and want a more Christian Britain, but are less committed to democratic politics.

Above all, avoid “them and us”. Many people feel unheard or left behind, and their concerns deserve a hearing. Everyone is made in God’s image.

Promoting unity in our nation

In late 2025, the Archbishops of Canterbury and York asked a group of bishops to consider how the Church can help to heal division in our society. The Bishops’ Working Group for Promoting Unity in our Nation is chaired by the Rt Revd Martyn Snow, Bishop of Leicester. It is developing resources to help parishes respond to division, and to equip church leaders to take part constructively in the national debate. General Synod discussed unity in our nation when it met in York in July 2026.

In February 2026, the working group:

• recognised that many people feel unheard, especially where local services have declined and living costs have risen, and promised to press those concerns on people in power
• celebrated the flag of St George as a sign of our Christian heritage that belongs to no single group or cause, but is “a symbol of unity, inclusion and our common life”
• called for a mature debate on migration, with regulated borders alongside a welcome for those fleeing war and persecution through safe and legal routes
• asked that Christian symbols never be used to intimidate people or stir up division
• condemned racist abuse and violence
• invited everyone to their local church to explore what the cross really means

In September 2025, after the “Unite the Kingdom” rally in London, bishops and leaders from across the churches wrote together. They recognised that people went to the rally for many different reasons and that many feel unheard, and they said that the Christian faith must never be used to exclude others. Read the church leaders’ letter

St George’s Day and flags

St George’s Day (23 April) is a chance for churches to bring their communities together and celebrate love of neighbour. The Church of England’s guidance on the flag of St George says that its Christian heritage should be celebrated and that churches should not be reluctant to fly it. Because a flag can mean different things in different settings, the guidance suggests adding some context or explanation when you do, both in church and online.

Ideas for your church

• Celebrate the people of your parish. In Southampton, St George’s Day became a celebration of everyone who had made their life in the city, with community awards, tea parties, and small grants for local groups. People who might have felt awkward discussing “Englishness” were glad to celebrate their own place.
• Involve local schools. In Gravesham and Dartford, a St George’s Day parade built around school workshops brings families of every background onto the streets to cheer their children on.
• Tell the story of St George. Explain who he was, why he is England’s patron saint, and what the cross on his flag means to Christians.
• Make it joyful. The Church of England’s guidance suggests face painting, St George’s cakes and biscuits, and flying the flags of the other nations represented in your congregation alongside the cross of St George.
• Respect different feelings about the flag. For many people, the flag of St George is a natural expression of love for their country. Others, including some from minority ethnic communities, feel uneasy about it at the moment. There are many ways to celebrate, and nobody’s belonging should depend on whether they fly a flag.
• Look for common ground rather than winning the argument. Correcting people about the history of St George can start an argument instead of a conversation. It is enough to say that he is England’s patron saint, England is a diverse nation, and everyone is welcome to celebrate.

Hosting conversations in your church

Kingdom over Nation, from Churches Together in England, is a free ecumenical resource of eight Bible studies on faith, nationhood, and belonging. Writers from Anglican, Catholic, Pentecostal, Charismatic, and Free Church traditions explore themes from Babel and Pentecost to the Good Samaritan. One study is by Richard Bradbury of Beverley Community Church. Each session includes the Bible passage in full, a reflection, questions for discussion, and a prayer. The contributors write from different perspectives, and some may challenge you. You can use it as an eight-week course or choose the sessions that suit your group.

The guide’s advice on leading conversations about sensitive subjects includes:

• aim for understanding, not agreement
• help everyone feel safe to share honestly, whatever their views
• if you can, lead in pairs, so one leader can step in if things become tense
• agree some ground rules together at the start, including confidentiality
• ask open questions, such as what experiences have shaped someone’s view
• recognise people’s feelings without judging them
• if discussion becomes heated, pause for silence or prayer
• where a view could cause harm to others or is at odds with the Gospel, say so calmly and clearly, without humiliating the person who holds it

The final study suggests testing all the voices we hear, from every side of public life, by their fruit. Does a message deepen compassion or stir up hostility? Does it tell the truth or trade in fear? Does it honour the dignity of every person?

What your church can do

• Make everyone welcome. Be clear that everyone is welcome at church, including people who hold strong views on immigration or national identity, whatever those views are.
• Be a place where people are heard. The bishops encourage churches to be spaces where different views on immigration can be listened to. A well-hosted conversation, a community meal, or a drop-in can do more than a statement.
• Take local concerns seriously. A sense that a place is in decline, with fewer services and rising costs, lies behind much of the frustration people feel. Notice it, speak up about it, and share what your church is doing with and for your community, from food banks and warm spaces to youth work and welcoming newcomers.
• Remember the quiet majority. The loudest voices online are often the fewest. Speak to the many people in the middle, some of whom are switching off from public life altogether.
• Don’t assume the worst. Loving your country and flying its flag are not signs of prejudice, and most people who worry about immigration are simply worried about their communities. Labels close conversations down. Where words or actions do cause real harm, name them calmly and clearly.
• Keep us informed. If tensions arise in your area, or the media contact you, please talk to the diocesan communications team before responding.

Resources