Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Matt Turmaine and Andrew Rosindell

Thursday 15th January 2026 Commons Chamber

[Matt Turmaine (Watford) (Lab)]

1. What steps the Church of England is taking to help support persecuted Christians in other countries.

[Andrew Rosindell (Romford) (Con)]

3. What steps the Church of England is taking to help tackle the persecution of Christians in other countries.

[The Second Church Estates Commissioner (Marsha De Cordova)]

It is a pleasure to see you at Church Commissioners questions this morning, Madam Deputy Speaker. I thank the Leader of the House for stepping in to cover questions last month, when I was unwell.

The Church of England remains deeply concerned about the rising persecution on grounds of faith and belief worldwide, including recent cases in Iran, Sudan, India and Palestine. Christian communities remain the most targeted. The Church is working closely with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office to improve the faith literacy of its officials; supporting the International Panel of Parliamentarians for Freedom of Religion or Belief; regularly providing resources to bishops to raise cases in the other place; and developing resources for use across the global Anglican communion.