The Christian Institute is a conservative British Christian organization that seeks “the furtherance and promotion of the Christian religion in the United Kingdom and elsewhere.” Known for their political attacks on the LGBTQ community, their anti-trans positions are based in the “parental rights” movement and using “religious freedom” as an excuse for opposing trans rights. In addition to opposing marriage equality, The Christian Institute states that “transgender ideology” constitutes “deeply unbiblical thinking.”
In 2026, The Christian Institute was listed in retracted reports by Amnesty International UK on anti-rights movements in the United Kingdom.
note: for the unrelated US nonprofit offering Christian outreach and training related to drug and alcohol use, see Christian Institute.
Background
In 1988, Newcastle-area teachers Colin Hart and John Burn opposed proposals for Section 28 educational reform that they believed gave insufficient recognition to Christianity in schools. After presenting a paper on their views, Hart received an unexpected donation of £20,000 and used it to spend the next two years developing what became The Christian Institute.
The Christian Institute was launched on March 21, 1990 by Hart, Burn and a group of supporters. Burn became the organization’s first chair and Hart its first director, a role Hart held until dying in 2024. The Christian Institute was incorporated on August 1, 1991.
During the 1990s, the Institute expanded from a small start-up into a national organization producing publications, conducting research, and engaging with legislators. It campaigned on issues including marriage, family policy, education, religious liberty, abortion, euthanasia, and constitutional matters. By the late 1990s, it was also involved in parliamentary lobbying and legal interventions concerning freedom of religion and conscience.
In the late 1990s, The Christian Institute opposed the Labour government’s proposals to repeal Section 28, arguing it protected children from the “promotion of homosexuality” in schools. In 2001, they campaigned against reducing the age of consent for sex between men from 18 to 16. Parliament nevertheless passed the legislation.
In 2001, the UK Charity Commission criticised The Christian Institute for publishing the 1998 report “Homosexuality and Young People” and using the slogan “influencing public policy.” The slogan was removed.
In 2002, they expanded their opposition to the repeal of Section 28 in England and Wales, and later in Scotland. In 2004, they opposed the Civil Partnership Act 2004. In 2006, they campaigned against the Sexual Orientation Regulations, particularly exemptions for religious organizations.
In 2006, The Christian Institute established a legal defense fund to support Christians involved in significant legal disputes concerning religious freedom. They have supported a number of Christians disciplined or dismissed by employers after expressing traditional views on sexuality.
In the 2010s, they became one of the most prominent organizations opposing the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act, which legalized same-sex marriage in England and Wales. In 2019, they published numerous articles opposing compulsory LGBT-inclusive relationships education where parents had limited withdrawal rights, arguing parents’ religious freedoms were being undermined.
Following Hart’s death, Ciarán Kelly was appointed director.
Anti-trans activism
Starting around 2016, The Christian Institute increased their focus on gender identity issues following government consultation on reform of the Gender Recognition Act 2004. That year, they created a dedicated section of their website to “Transsexualism,” later renamed “Transgender Ideology.” In 2018, they submitted evidence opposing self-identification for legal gender recognition.
In 2022, they published commentary supporting restrictions on medical transition for children and welcomed the closure of the Tavistock Gender Identity Development Service. In 2023, they criticized Scotland’s Gender Recognition Reform Bill. In 2024, they lauded the publication of the Cass Review, arguing it validated long-standing concerns about youth gender medicine. They also continued to campaign against proposed conversion therapy bans that included protections for transgender people if it might affect religious teaching or pastoral conversations.
People
Current and former trustees
- Rod Badams
- Rupert Bentley-Taylor
- George Robert Curry
- David Ronald James Holloway
- Trevor Ernest James
- Michael Thomas Stanley Judge
- James Henry Aufrere Leggett
- Kenneth John “Ken” Nelson
- William J U Philip
- Philip Robinson
- Richard Turnbull
Current and former staff
- Ciarán Kelly: Director
- Colin Hart: Director (1990–2024) [died 2024]
- Simon Calvert: Deputy Director
- Judi Coulson: Recruitment contact
- John Denning: Head of Education
- Pratigya Dulal: Administrator
- Paul Eddy: PR condultant
- Rosalynne Hutchings: Communications officer
- Trevor James: Treaurer
- James Kennedy: Northern Ireland policy officer
- Nigel Kenny: Scotland officer
- Michael Larbi: Legal researcher
- Ken Nelson: Member, executive group
- Jenny Olson: Policy researcher
- Ana Prodan: Policy researcher
- Angus Saul: Head of Communications
- Martha Shillaker: Policy researcher
- Mark Taylor: Multimedia Designer
- Joanna Timm: Senior public affairs officer
- Richard Turnbull: Chair, executive group
- Nathan Wallace: Research associate
References
McLean, A., & Stretesky, P. B. (2025). The Influence of Authoritarian Beliefs on Support for Transgender Rights in the UK. Sociology Compass, 19(7). https://doi.org/10.1111/soc4.70088
Morgan, R. J. (2023). Evangelicals, Feminists, and the “Unlikely” Discursive Alliance at the Heart of British Transphobia. DiGeSt – Journal of Diversity and Gender Studies, 10(2). https://doi.org/10.21825/digest.85310
Burman, Theo (January 6, 2023). Scotland’s plan to ban barbaric conversion therapy is already upsetting Christian bigots. PinkNews https://www.thepinknews.com/2023/01/06/scotlands-conversion-therapy-ban-upsetting-christian-bigots/
Moore, Mallory (November 30, 2022). For Women Scotland join Christian Right and Far Right activists for conference against LGBT sex ed in schools. Trans Safety Network https://transsafety.network/posts/fws-christian-institute/
Barber, Laurence (August 2, 2018). Evangelical Christian Institute says God wants you to misgender trans people. Star Observer https://www.starobserver.com.au/news/international-news-news/evangelical-christian-group-says-god-wants-misgender-trans-people/170881
Duffy, Nick (August 1, 2018). Christian Institute claims God wants you to call transgender women men. PinkNews https://www.thepinknews.com/2018/08/01/christian-institute-claims-god-wants-you-to-call-transgender-women-men/
Phillips, Stephanie (July 10, 2008). ANALYSIS: What is the Christian Institute? PinkNews https://www.thepinknews.com/2008/07/10/analysis-what-is-the-christian-institute/
Anti-trans coverage
Combe, Victoria (August 24, 2001). Campaigning charity told to steer clear of politics. The Telegraph https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1338340/Campaigning-charity-told-to-steer-clear-of-politics.html
Selected media
The Christian Institute / Faith in Action with Angus Saul and Ciarán Kelly (July 30, 2026). Faith In Action | Episode #6 | Rights and wrongs. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B_ll9Mqx9b0
The Christian Institute with Ana Prodan (October 17, 2025). CI News: 17 October 2025. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DijQe1bcEtk
The Christian Institute with John Denning (September 20, 2024). ‘Government must act to protect children from gender ideology.’ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qkhD2syKEok
The Christian Institute with Angus Saul (June 28, 2024). Election Focus: Gender Ideology. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YAO4fank4Fo
The Christian Institute with John Denning (June 30, 2023). ‘Gender ideology harmful and regressive.’ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JRK0xIJqrrk
The Christian Institute with Angus Saul and Jo-Anne Nadler (June 21, 2023). Gender crises, self-censorship and Government guidance. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=asztGKhUdUA
The Christian Institute with Simon Calvert and Matthew Roberts (May 26, 2023). LGBT Pride: A new religion? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tsNcW3hYzBw
The Christian Institute with Simon Calvert and Alistair Begg (April 13, 2023). Alistair Begg talks to the CI on LGBT issues and ‘conversion therapy.’ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r77LFlpPAm4
The Christian Institute with Simon Calvert and Miriam Cates (April 3, 2023). In Conversation With… Miriam Cates MP. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GPhRloW7phQ
The Christian Institute with John Denning, Colin Hart, and Matthew Roberts (February 6, 2023). Gender and sexuality. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jyuKyAJsu8I
The Christian Institute with Colin Hart and John Denning (November 16, 2022). The problems with gender self-ID. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ki_c8Lxs9ck
Resources
Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org)
The Christian Institute (christian.org.uk)
- Transgender Ideology
- christian.org.uk/issue/transsexualism
LinkedIn (linkedin.com)
- The Christian Institute
- linkedin.com/company/the-christian-institute
X/Twitter (x.com)
Facebook (facebook.com)
Instagram (instagram.com)
TikTok (tiktok.com)
YouTube (youtube.com)