The words of the Prime Minister, the daughter of a Church of England vicar, come as millions of Christians are facing persecution abroad. In Syria and Iraq, parts of the world where the first Christians lived, the rise of Islamic State and other extremist groups has seen Christianity almost wiped out. The Government also faced huge criticism this year when Mrs May refused an asylum request for Christian woman Asia Bibi who faced death threats after being acquitted of blasphemy in Pakistan.

We must stand up for the right of everyone, no matter what their religion, to practise their faith in peace

Theresa May

Meanwhile, campaign groups in Britain claim red tape and prejudice against church values is posing an unprecedented threat to the faith domestically.

In her Easter message, Mrs May celebrated the Christian message of hope and pledged to tackle the persecution of Christians abroad – many have been attacked, killed or forced to flee.

She said: “For millions of Christians in this country and around the world, Easter is a particularly special time, when we remember the powerful message at the heart of our Christian faith.

“A message of hope – of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. But for many Christians around the world, such simple acts of faith can bring huge danger. Churches have been attacked. Christians murdered. Families forced to flee their homes.

“That is why the Government has launched a global review into the persecution of Christians.

“We must stand up for the right of everyone, no matter what their religion, to practise their faith in peace.” 

According to human rights groups the most dangerous place to practise the faith is North Korea, which has around 300,000 Christians. There are also 70,000 imprisoned in labour camps in China. Last year 50,000 Christians fled from northern Nigeria to escape persecution. There has been a genocide of Christians in the Middle East with 100,000 alone forced out of Ninevah Plains in Iraq. Coptic Christians in Egypt have protested over persecution and mass murders.

Last week, Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby and head of the Catholic church in England, Cardinal Vincent Nichols, demanded MPs took the issue more seriously.

They said: “We ask Her Majesty’s Government to take meaningful action not only in protecting Christians facing persecution but also in promoting freedom of religion and belief more widely.”

However, the Evangelical Alliance also raised concerns traditional family values in Britain were being marginalised. This included promoting a secular view of the world in schools. Dr David Landrum, director of advocacy, wrote in a letter to Education Secretary Damian Hinds: “To many orthodox Christians, ‘British values’ would appear synonymous with secular beliefs that stand at odds with their support of traditional marriage and biblical teaching that underpins the reasons we celebrate Easter.”

Liverpool Archbishop Malcolm McMahon warned of a threat against Catholic state schools. The Catholic diocese of Brentwood wants to turn its schools into academies outside council control. He said it was due to “groups who would like to degrade or remove faith schools, such as ours”.

It was opposed by Labour MPs in east London and Essex who want councils to maintain control of Catholic schools. Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn used his Easter message to urge support for refugees.

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