from Religion Media Centre (Photo: Unsplash)
The Bread of Life Community Church, based at Clacton on Sea, is appealing against an order to stop intimidating behaviour when street preaching, after complaints about the words which allegedly caused “harassment, alarm and distress”.
It is said that preachers shouted at passersby, made homophobic comments and in one case, reportedly told a man that he was “going to hell”. The order prohibits using a loudspeaker or amplified equipment, and intimidating behaviour towards members of the public.
Church members deny behaving aggressively, threateningly or unlawfully. Colchester City Council, through the Safer Colchester Partnership, issued the church with a Community Protection Notice in March 2026, but the church, backed by the Christian Legal Centre, is appealing, arguing that the Notice seeks to restrict the substance of a religious message.
A petition with more than 27,000 signatures has been handed into Colchester City Council calling for the notice to be withdrawn. The appeal is listed for a two day hearing in a magistrates court.