FOREST rector the Rev Nick Bromfield is warning his flock and others in the area that a growing number of Christians are beginning to feel persecuted for their faith.
Like other faiths they had every right to their views and should stand up for people like nurse Shirley Chaplin who has been removed from the wards for refusing to take off a cross she had worn for 38 years.
He said he had no evidence of the "wave" of anti-Christian sentiment here in the Forest but "it could happen at any time. I'm wary."
Mr Bromfield said church call centres giving legal advice were being inundated by calls from Christians facing outright discrimination and hostility at the workplace. Incidents like this were becoming more common.
"Five police officers, including two mounted on horses and three in body armour, went to question the assistant minister of Chorlton Evangelical Church in Manchester after a complaint he was handing out 'offensive literature' which was racist and incited hatred. Incidentally you can't blame the police for this – they were only doing their job.
"When this turned out to be flyers for Holy Week, each with a picture of a daffodil and a caption reading 'Easter – new life, fresh hope' and listing service times, it was decided nothing was amiss. Then the officers received a second complaint that that it was wrong simply for Christians to approach anyone with such information.
"You might think, 'Oh, come on, this can't be true' but it is. Stories of Christians being suspended without reason, sacked and even prosecuted because of their faith appear now every week. Many local authorities have been taken in by aggressive, mouthy secularists who demand that Christians be shut up and pushed out of public life."
Advice centres had been set up to resolve 'idiotic' disputes before expensive lawyers were involved, but there were other queries like whether or not it is acceptable to send Christmas cards to colleagues at work.
Mr Bromfield said he was happy for people to call him on Dean 542232 to discuss anti-Christian incidents and sentiments.
Alternatively organisations like the Christian Legal Centre on 02033 271129 or the Christian Institute Legal Defence Fund on 01912 815664 could be consulted.