A church in west London has successfully overturned a council ban that blocked it from preaching in Uxbridge town centre.
The Kingsborough Centre, which was previously attended by England footballer Bukayo Saka, challenged a Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) introduced by the London Borough of Hillingdon in 2023. The order prohibited religious groups from using amplifiers, distributing leaflets and displaying Bible verses in public spaces.
Church leaders said they discovered the restriction during a prayer meeting and were shocked to learn their outreach efforts could lead to fines of up to £1,000. They described the measures as “oppressive” and accused the council of criminalising their attempts to share the gospel.
Pastor Tunde Balogun, who leads the church, told The Telegraph that street evangelism is central to their faith.
“As Christians who are committed to our faith, carrying out street evangelism is essential to manifesting our Christian beliefs,” he said. “These rules threatened not only to prevent us from loving our community, but also to criminalise us for doing so.”
The Christian Legal Centre, which supported the church’s case, said police confronted a group of worshippers the day after the order came into effect. Officers reportedly warned them their activities - which included preaching, handing out leaflets and holding signs - were in breach of the PSPO.
According to the group, the officers asked them to turn their signs around so messages such as “Jesus Christ is Lord of Lords and King of Kings” could not be seen. Leaflets titled “How Can I Know God?” and “What is Christianity: An Introduction to the Story of Jesus” were also flagged for breaching the rules.
Lawyers representing the church argued the order violated the European Convention on Human Rights. Following a review and public consultation, the council introduced a revised order in May 2025 allowing religious preaching and literature to continue.
Pastor Balogun welcomed the decision, saying he was “relieved and grateful”.
“Our mission is to bring hope and the love of Jesus Christ to the people of Uxbridge,” he said. “The service we provide should be supported, not suppressed. We hope this case sets a precedent for others.”
Andrea Williams, chief executive of the Christian Legal Centre, said the ruling was an important moment for free speech.
“Christian open-air preaching has a long and respected history in the UK and is seen as a pillar of free expression, whether or not people agree with the message,” she said.
The council denied targeting Christian groups. In a statement to The Telegraph, Hillingdon Council said: “It is utterly misleading to suggest there was a ban on ‘sharing Christian beliefs’ or any censorship on preaching.”
It said the PSPO was introduced to address unlicensed events and disruptions in the town centre, including street trading and promotional activity.
The council has agreed to pay the church’s legal costs, which total around £20,000.
