The gospel is proclaimed publicly in Parliament at the Easter Westminster Hall debate

Last week in Westminster the gospel was clearly proclaimed; as we approached Easter, Nick Fletcher MP opening the Westminster Hall debate he had secured on Easter, Christian culture and heritage by speaking out John 3.16 and reminding his fellow MPs ‘we celebrate on Easter Sunday the resurrection of Christ, giving us not just a God, but a living God to believe in, to worship, to help us and to make us right with Him, with the promise of eternal life’.  

The Christian faith is woven into the very fabric of the Palace of Westminster; the tiled floor of the Central Lobby carries an inscription from Psalm 127 – ‘Except the Lord build the House, they labour in vain that build it.’ Despite this, while MPs and peers sometimes speak of their personal faith, our bishops in the Lords spiritual among them, it is uncommon to have a full debate devoted to the Christian faith, or to hear the gospel proclaimed so publicly in Parliament.  

Some of the debate received amusing coverage from the press, picking up on Nick Fletcher’s reflections on what make us British as he called to mind the scene from ‘Love Actually’ where Hugh Grant plays a PM fervently dancing to pop down the stairs of 10 Downing Street.  But this debate had much more of substance to it – from Christians on TikTok, to what Robin Millar MP called the ‘giants of history’ of Josiah Wedgwood, Lord Shaftesbury and William Wilberforce who worked to improve the lives of the poor, the oppressed and the enslaved.  Other MPs highlighted the work of Christians Against Poverty, the Trussell Trust, Christian Aid and the Joseph Rowntree Foundation as part of Christianity’s proud tradition of charity.  

However, it was not all rose-tinted.  Some spoke rather frustratedly of the divisions within the Church of England, and struggles to maintain its buildings.  Nick Fletcher shared his disappointment that the 2021 census showed that for the first time in England and Wales, less than half the population described themselves as Christian.  He was clear that the answer to this was to return to the Bible; ‘We have many denominations trying to become progressive, or “relevant”, to fill those empty seats, and many are moving further away from God’s word. The meaning of scripture is often misinterpreted to reflect current trends, instead of holding firm and letting the Bible be the guide for our people to look to’.  

Several MPs spoke of their enthusiasm for freedom of religion, and how the Bible has transformed our culture and our country, shaping how those of any faith and none think about family, community and morality.  As befitted a debate about Easter, there was mention of the now infamous 2002 early-day motion to defend the hot cross bun.  (No such debate seems to have been needed this year, despite Iceland’s attempts to remove the crosses in favour of ticks!)  

Roman Catholic MP for Gainsborough Sir Edward Leigh pondered why it might be that politicians were so naturally averse to talking about their faith, perhaps out of concerns that they might be seen as ‘putting themselves on some kind of pedestal and that, being sinners as we all are, they will eventually be brought down and mocked’.  He spoke movingly on heritage matters, but despite his passion for historic architecture, reminded those present that whether we worship in a mighty cathedral or the ‘tiniest gospel hall’ the most important thing was not the bricks and mortar. Instead, as Christians we are to recall the epistle of Peter and our call to be living stones; ‘what we have to offer this country is not just an architectural heritage or a service of care and relief for the poor. The resurrection, and the faith built upon it, is the reason for all that. Without that, our history and our heritage is meaningless.’  

But the debate very much belonged to Nick Fletcher – the honourable member from the Don Valley.  There in the heart of Westminster, he proclaimed his faith with almost more solidity than the lobby floor, recalling how he turned to Christ 15 years ago and he knows that ‘at Easter, Jesus died on a cross for me—yes, for me, and for you. Through my repentance and my belief in Him, I am saved. Although that fills me with great joy, I want all the world to know that Jesus loves them, too.’  Whatever other debates happen in Parliament, from hot cross buns to heritage issues, we can thank God for those prepared to proclaim the gospel so clearly in the heart of Westminster.