A troubling trend has emerged in England that raises significant concerns for the future of Christianity and the spiritual upbringing of our children. We are 27 days away from Easter and Norwood Primary School, a school in Eastleigh, Hampshire, has chosen to exempt Easter celebrations. This is despite still making room for Diwali, Hanukkah, Ramadan, Eid, and even the Chinese New Year’s ‘Year of the Dog’ celebrations on it’s school calendar.

The Headteacher Stephanie Mander sent out a letter informing parents and guardians of the decision at the end of last week. The move has sparked confusion and anger amongst parents, Eastleigh residents, and even a Hampshire MP.

Suella Braverman, Conservative MP for Fareham and Waterlooville, shared her thoughts on social media platform X. She said:

“‘Refugee Week’ is more important than Easter because of ‘respect for diverse beliefs’. This isn’t inclusivity; it’s cultural surrender. Britain’s Christian roots are being erased by leaders who’d rather appease than preserve.”

The Inconsistencies and Hypocrisy in the Name of Inclusion

As a pastor and as a father, this deeply concerns me. When did celebrating Christianity become offensive? Why does every other faith and cultural event find a place in our schools, but the very faith that shaped Britain is being erased?

The decision to cancel Easter celebrations at Norwood Primary School, reportedly in favour of a Diversity and Refugee Week, highlights a glaring hypocrisy. Schools across the UK actively celebrate various religious and cultural festivals, from Holi to Ramadan, yet seem hesitant, even unwilling, to acknowledge Christianity. The inconsistency is stark: why is inclusion applied selectively? Why is Christianity being sidelined while other religious celebrations are given full attention?

This is not an isolated incident. Over the years, we have witnessed the rebranding of Christian holidays, the removal of nativity plays, and now the erasure of Easter in some schools. This signals a deep-seated bias against Christianity under the guise of ‘diversity’ and ‘inclusivity.’

The Danger of a Christianity-Free Future

By systematically removing Christianity from schools, workplaces, and public celebrations, we are inadvertently teaching the next generation that Christianity is of little relevance. This is deeply concerning because it influences young minds, shaping their worldview and spiritual understanding.

If children are taught that Christianity is not as important as other religions or cultural celebrations, they will naturally grow up disengaged from it. Over time, this could lead to a rise in atheism, agnosticism, and spiritual indifference. A nation that once stood firm on Christian values is now at risk of producing a generation that sees Christianity as outdated or unnecessary.

As a pastor, I worry that my children will grow up in an environment where their faith is constantly undermined. And you should be too. Schools play a crucial role in shaping young minds. If Christianity is deemed unimportant in their formative years, what will stop them from walking away from their faith as adults?

Biblical Perspective: A Warning Foretold

The Bible warns us of such times when the world will reject truth and embrace deception:

“For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.” (2 Timothy 4:3, NIV)

We are witnessing a time when the Gospel is being pushed aside, not because it has lost relevance, but because society is choosing convenience over conviction. The move to erase Easter while upholding other religious festivities is not about inclusivity; it is about prioritising secularism over Christian heritage.

Advocating for Our Faith and Our Children’s Future

As Christians, we cannot sit idly by while the faith that shaped our nation is systematically erased from public life. We must advocate for fair representation, ensuring that Christianity is not treated as inferior to other faiths. This includes:

1. Speaking Up – Parents must challenge schools when Christian celebrations are removed. If schools celebrate Diwali, Eid, or Hanukkah, they must also celebrate Easter and Christmas.
2. Educating Our Children – We must ensure that our children are taught Christian values at home, even if schools fail to do so. Christian education must remain a priority.
3. Engaging in Public Discourse – Churches and Christian leaders must speak against this growing trend and ensure our voices are heard in public policy and education.
4. Praying for the Nation – We must pray for spiritual awakening in the UK, that our nation will not drift further into secularism at the expense of its Christian heritage.

My thoughts

The removal of Easter celebrations and the renaming of Christmas festivities are not merely isolated incidents. They reflect a larger cultural shift that, if left unchecked, will shape a future where Christianity is sidelined entirely. As a pastor, my heart aches for the children growing up in this environment, where their faith is subtly yet systematically undermined. The Gospel is not a relic of the past; it is the living truth that must be upheld, taught, and celebrated.

Christianity is not a footnote in the history of the UK—it is the foundation upon which our values, morals, and traditions were built. If we want to push back against this erasure of Christian values, we must actively teach our children biblical truth. My books, Let Boys Be Boys and Let Girls Be Girls, are designed to instill godly identity and values in young minds—because if we don’t shape their worldview, the world will do it for them. You can find some of these here. To erase it is not just an attack on faith but an erasure of identity. If we do not take a stand now, what future will our children inherit?

As reported by GBN News.