A response from Luton to ‘Tommy Robinson’s Christmas event’
Over the past few weeks former Lutonian Stephen Yaxley Lennon, aka Tommy Robinson, has returned to a theme he was complaining about here 15 years ago, that Christmas isn’t celebrated in Luton. Only this time it is a nationwide campaign, and on Sunday evening he announced a London event on Saturday13th December to “Put Christ back into Christmas.”
First, let’s be clear. “We never took Christ out of Christmas here in Luton!”
Without delving too deep in history or losing focus, one impact of the awful attacks on the Twin Towers at 9.11, and the London bombings of 7.7, was to provoke a lots of questions around how Christians and Muslims, as well as people of other faiths, live out their faith and relate together in our increasingly secular society. That anxiety caused the question about the appropriate way to celebrate Christmas in multifaith Luton, with some suggesting a bland winter festival, ‘Winterval’, wrapping up Christmas, Hannukah, Diwali and all. We must also recognise that as a church in the town, we were ourselves struggling to catch up and make sense of this fast-changing landscape.
However, despite some newspapers and “Tommy” telling a different story, even the idea of the removal of Christmas from our culture never really gained a lot of ground. Peter Adams, who has led much of the church’s response to the troubles we have faced as a town since moving here in 2007, recalls soon after arriving in Luton a Sikh leader working in a key role in the council said to him: “Peter, don’t ever hesitate to talk about Christmas!” That message was reinforced the following year when Peter accompanied a Muslim leader to a regional Christian communications event. The Muslim was very clear that it was not offensive to our Muslim neighbours, colleagues and friends to celebrate Christmas openly! Over the years, Peter as many of us has loved sharing Christmas food with neighbours of other faiths, and enjoyed curry, samosas, sweets and all at Eid, Diwali, Hannukah and many other occasions
So, if Christmas never really went away, the big question is, how does the Church nationally respond to what Yaxley Lennon and his event organisers plan to be a Christmas celebration, under a banner that misrepresents the reality of life in Britain in 2025? To do so aggressively would be to lose the argument. Their literature tries to be very clear; the event is not about politics, not about immigration, and not about Islam or any other group. “It is about Jesus Christ—fully and completely.” We don’t feel it’s right for Christian leaders to deny the faith of the organisers or those attending. We do however pray they will be true to their word and that the event celebrating the announcement of the birth of the Prince of Peace will be peaceful. We will be sure to ask questions if it is not.
Instead we want to encourage churches in Luton to be sure to celebrate the amazing story of Christmas more than ever, and share its bounty with friends, neighbours and colleagues! And amazingly, just to help us, on the same week that “Tommy” told us his intention to protest the absence of Christmas, especially in places like Luton, a Luton Borough Council newsletter reminded us of the turning on of the lights outside the town hall, and other events leading up to Christmas. And they added that this year they had obtained sponsorship for a Christmas Tree and a lighting up ceremony in every ward in Luton! And even better, some of them are beside churches and churches are involved in local events! (You can find a list here: 20 new neighbourhood Christmas trees to bring Luton’s communities together
Finally, while the event in London is about Christmas it is clear in all the promotion for the event that the organisers have an agenda beyond the celebration of Christmas. Under the header of “A Revival Begins” they note the event marks the “beginning of a new Christian revival in the UK—a moment to reclaim and celebrate our heritage, culture, and Christian identity.” Only last week Bishop Mike Royal, a senior Pentecostal leader who serves as General Secretary of Churches Together in England sounded a clear warning to us:
“The challenge for the Church is make sure that this quiet revival is founded on Christ’s saving grace and a personal revelation of Biblical truth, and is not stolen from people by Christian nationalism that is both nominal and at odds with Christ’s twofold message of loving God and loving your neighbour. The boundary between truth and error is wafer thin. Let’s not allow the enemy to steal from people what God is doing through his Holy Spirit.”
In response, Rev Mike Jones, Vicar of St Marys and a member of the Peace Centre team said: “Let’s take Bishop Mike’s words seriously, and ensure that love for Jesus Christ doesn't become a cover for hostility toward our neighbours. Whatever their faith or background. Let's celebrate Christmas in Luton the way we always have. With joy, generosity, and open hearts toward all our neighbours. That's how Christ is truly honoured.”
A very happy Christmas!"
First published as a document by St Marys Centre for Peace and Reconciliation, Luton.
©2025 St Marys Centre for Peace and Reconciliation, Luton. @stmaryspeace
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Photos by Dennis Smith and Mohibol Limon on FB. ‘The Luton I Remember’