Christian preachers win legal victory restoring right to evangelise in Uxbridge

A west London church has won a major legal victory against a local council, restoring its freedom to preach the gospel and share Christian literature in public spaces.

The Kingsborough Centre in Uxbridge successfully challenged a Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) introduced by the London Borough of Hillingdon in 2023.

The order had banned the use of amplifiers, distribution of leaflets, and public displays of Bible verses in the town centre, sparking concern among local Christians.

The church, which has previously welcomed worshippers including England footballer Bukayo Saka, said it was shocked to learn that its street evangelism efforts could be punished with fines of up to £1,000.

Pastor Tunde Balogun explained: “As Christians who are committed to our faith, carrying out street evangelism is essential to manifesting our Christian beliefs. These rules threatened not only to prevent us from loving our community, but also to criminalise us for doing so.”

The PSPO came under immediate scrutiny after police officers confronted church members the day after the order took effect.

Preachers were told that their outreach—holding signs reading “Jesus Christ is Lord of Lords and King of Kings” and handing out tracts such as “How Can I Know God”—was in breach of the new rules.

Supported by the Christian Legal Centre, the church brought a legal challenge, claiming the order infringed their rights under the European Convention on Human Rights, specifically the freedoms of religion and expression.

Following a public consultation, Hillingdon Council revised the PSPO in May 2025 to allow religious activity to resume. The council also agreed to pay approximately £20,000 towards the church’s legal costs.

However, it denied accusations of religious discrimination, stating: “It is utterly misleading to suggest there was a ban on 'sharing Christian beliefs' or any censorship on preaching.”

Pastor Balogun welcomed the outcome, saying: “We are relieved and grateful. Our mission is to bring hope and the love of Jesus Christ to the people of Uxbridge. The services we provide should be supported, not suppressed. We hope this case sets a precedent for others.”

Christian Legal Centre chief executive Andrea Williams added: “This case is an important moment for free speech. Christian open-air preaching has a long and respected history in the UK and should continue to be protected.”