Christian leaders speak out in wake of attacks on Jewish sites
London College of Bishops and Church of England bishops offer solidarity with all those affected during a “deeply distressing time”
Attacks on Jewish sites in London have been condemned as “abhorrent” by Christian leaders who offered their solidarity with all those affected during a “deeply distressing time”.
It came as Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis said the latest in a series of recent incidents meant a “sustained campaign of violence and intimidation against the Jewish community of the UK is gathering momentum”.
He described this as a “dangerous” moment for “all of our society”.
The London College of Bishops said the targeting of any religious or faith community through violence, hatred and intimidation corrodes “the foundations of a diverse and peaceful society”.
The Church of England bishops warned against the normalisation of religious prejudice, including antisemitism, and urged leaders in society to “act decisively to protect all places of worship, to challenge hatred wherever it appears and to give clear reassurance to communities who feel increasingly vulnerable”.
They said: “We condemn unequivocally the recent attacks on London’s synagogues, Jewish charities and establishments. These antisemitic acts are abhorrent.
“Intended to intimidate Jewish communities and to make Londoners fearful in their own places of worship, they are wholly at odds with the values of our city and our society.
“When any religious or faith community is targeted, it damages the life of our city as a whole. In speaking out, we do so as bishops and as leaders with responsibility for communities across London.
“Violence, hatred and intimidation directed at people of any faith undermine trust, fracture relationships and corrode the foundations of a diverse and peaceful society.
“All people must be able to live, gather and worship in safety, without threat or hostility. We stand in solidarity with those directly affected and with London’s Jewish communities at this deeply distressing time.
“Antisemitism does not exist in isolation. It sits within a wider pattern of religious hate and racism. No form of prejudice should be normalised, excused or left unchallenged.
“We call on those with responsibility in public life to act decisively to protect all places of worship, to challenge hatred wherever it appears and to give clear reassurance to communities who feel increasingly vulnerable.
“Our Christian faith teaches us that every person is made in the image of God. That conviction calls us to stand alongside our Jewish neighbours today and to work for a London tomorrow in which fear has no authority and hatred finds no shelter.”
The latest official figures on hate crime recorded by police in England and Wales showed Jewish people had the highest rate of religious hate crimes targeted towards them than any other faith group.
In the year to March 2025, there were 106 religious hate crimes per 10,000 population targeted at Jewish people, the Home Office said in figures published in October.
Separate figures covering the 12 months of 2025, published earlier this year by the Community Security Trust (CST), which monitors antisemitism in the UK, concluded the second-highest annual total ever recorded for anti-Jewish hate incidents, at 3,700 – up 4% on the 3,556 incidents recorded in 2024.
The CST said the annual record high remained at 4,298 antisemitic incidents reported in 2023 – the year of the October 7 attack, which prompted a spike in recorded cases of anti-Jewish hate in the UK.
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