Three bishops will this week lead calls for the Church of England to make a public statement standing up for the right of Christians to wear a cross.
They have signed a motion condemning the "silencing" of outward displays of Christianity in Britain and a "growing trend" towards the "restriction of religious liberty" which is to be debated at the Church's national assembly.

One hundred other members of the Synod, including clergy and lay people, have backed the call for the Church to defend Christians against the "overzealous" interpretation of human rights and equality legislation by judges, politicians and employers.

Its backers believe that by passing the motion the Church would make a landmark statement that wearing a cross is an integral part of the Christian faith.

It cites "ludicrous" cases of Christian practices and symbols being forbidden, saying attempts to scrap prayers at council meetings and to ban employees from wearing the cross could ultimately lead to religion being confined to the home.

The Bishop of Peterborough, the Rt Rev Donald Allister, said the move would make the point that although Christians are not bound to wear a cross they have a "duty" to be "public" about their faith as well as observing it in private.

He said: "It is to say, OK, if you say wearing a cross isn't a compulsory part of Christianity, we agree. But it is a duty of a Christian to be public about their faith as well as private, and that is clear New Testament teaching.

"I hope the General Synod will affirm that because it's saying to those judges - not all, but to those few -, it is not quite as simple as you think."

He added: "Christianity isn't to be privatised and shut away behind closed doors for consenting adults - it's public."