29 August 2025
The Bishop of Chelmsford, the Bishop of Bradwell and the Archdeacon of Southend have issued a joint statement following the vandalism at the South Essex Islamic Trust in Basildon. The statement reads as follows:
"We are appalled by the vandalism that has taken place at the South Essex Islamic Trust in Basildon and our thoughts and prayers are with the community there, especially our Muslim brothers and sisters. We have reached out to the leadership of the Trust to offer our full support.
"The use of Christian language and symbols as a justification for hatred and intimidation is scandalous and profoundly misguided. Jesus Christ, who himself was an outsider, modelled love, mercy and justice. He taught us to love our neighbour, including the stranger and those who are different from us. Christianity is not the property of any ethnic group or nation and attempting to invoke it in defence of racial or cultural purity is both theologically false and morally dangerous."
The Rt Rev’d Dr Guli Francis-Dehqani, Bishop of Chelmsford
The Rt Rev’d Adam Atkinson, Bishop of Bradwell
The Venerable Dr Sue Lucas, Archdeacon of Southend
