The Archbishop of Canterbury in his Christmas address spoke of the danger of Christianity being wiped out in the Middle East, a very real threat indeed. But whilst not on the same violent stage, Christianity is being severely threatened in Britain, and from the comments I have heard on American television and in sermon, to a lesser state in the United States.

In this country we have a Prime Minister who once again at Christmas was peddling his (supposed) Christian beliefs whilst in practice assiduously working against Christian values and belief. For instance, his re-definition of marriage where we have the risible situation of the calling of a man as a ‘wife’ and a woman as a ‘husband’; and the sending of government lawyers to the European Court to argue that wearing of a Cross was not a Christian requirement. There is intolerance of anyone with views other than his own.

All manner of restrictions are placed on Christians as street preachers are arrested; people are suspended from work for expressing their faith by word or symbol, whilst Muslim women are permitted to dress in a way which is contrary to that of women in this country in order to demonstrate their faith.

Public officials remove crosses from display lest it offends other faiths, although other faiths do not appear to worry and even support the display. Now some brain affected railway officials have removed a stain glass window from a railway station which portrayed a picture of a saint whose name glorified the city’s magnificent and famous Cathedral.

We have a judiciary who state that religious beliefs should not enter into consideration in political or judicial matters. Consequently there is a hue waiting list of children for fostering and adoption because parents wish to take them to Church or refuse to teach homosexual behaviour.

Our schools, which by law should hold assemblies of Christian ethos, are allowed to ignore the same; and when religious teaching is given it must contain all faiths, and now a judge has ruled atheism must be included in the school curriculum.

In the face of this the Church in this country has at national level remained largely silent, except for at least two bishops who have actively campaigned for same sex marriage, and encouraged clergy to participate, which one Vicar has done without any sanction or action having been taken against him.

We need indeed to pray for a revival, but as there is no leader nationally with enough charisma to show the way, each local Church must devise programmes of worship which will inspire a return of a strong Christian presence in this land once more.