The Charity Commission regulator is assessing concerns raised about a church charity that has received public support from Nigel Farage amid a dispute with a local authority.
Reform UK leader and Clacton MP Farage voiced support for preacher Stephen Clayden earlier this month after Colchester council issued his charity a community protection notice over “behaviour which caused alarm and distress” to the public.
The Bread of Life Community Church’s lawyers claimed in an appeal hearing at Colchester Magistrates Court on 1 May that the banning order was “the first attempted by a local authority to control the speech of a group”, the BBC reported.
As the hearing continues, the National Secular Society (NSS) has now contacted the commission over public comments Clayden, also a trustee of the charity, has made including that Muslims want to take over the country.
In one video, Clayden said that a woman’s love for a man was one of submission, and that the feminist movement aimed to “emasculate man” and was “the work of the devil”.
A spokesperson for the commission said that all charities, regardless of purpose, must operate for public benefit and within the law.
"Concerns have been raised with us about alleged sermons linked to Bread of Life Community Church and we are assessing these,” the spokesperson confirmed.
Clayden confident despite assessment
The Clacton-based charity was registered in 2024 and is governed by five trustees, including Clayden.
In response to Civil Society, Clayden said that he was confident that the commission would uphold his organisation’s right to “teach”.
“We wholeheartedly reject the accusation that our views and statements are anti-Muslim, homophobic, and misogynistic,” he said.
“All of the statements I have been quoted on are statements which come straight from the Holy Bible.”
Clayden added: “Don't shoot the messenger.
“We love LGBT people and we love Muslims, we care about them, and we have a fervent desire for them to come to faith in Jesus Christ to receive his forgiveness, just as we have.”
Clayden added that his charity was grateful for Farage’s support who he said likewise believes in “Christian values” and freedom of speech.
NSS calls for increased vetting of applicant charities
Meanwhile, NSS has called on charities minister Stephanie Peacock to increase due diligence checks for organisations applying to be charities.
Earlier this month, the Home Office set out standards that it expected faith organisations to meet and said they would be subject to due diligence checks.
The membership body has since written to Stephanie Peacock, asking the Department for Culture, Media and Sport to work with the commission and apply this code to faith charities.
Megan Manson, NSS head of campaigns, said: “We urge DCMS and the Charity Commission to explore how a rigorous code of conduct and due diligence scheme can be rolled out for registered charities, to prevent any public money going to organisations which foster division.”
A DCMS spokesperson said that it was strengthening the commission’s powers to protect the “vast majority” of charities that do good.
“Where individuals use charitable status to promote violence or hatred, the Charity Commission must have the powers to act quickly and decisively to protect public trust,” they said.
Neither Farage nor Reform UK responded to a request for comment.
