By Odesola JF., PhD
There is something deeply human about the debate surrounding King Charles III and Christianity in Britain.
It is not really just about a royal title. It is not simply about words written in an official document. And it is certainly not only about what happens inside Buckingham Palace.
At its heart is a question many people in Britain—and indeed across the Western world—are quietly asking: How does a nation honour its Christian heritage while making room for people of other faiths and for those who have no faith at all?
That question has come into sharper focus following criticism from Gavin Ashenden, a former chaplain to Queen Elizabeth II, about changing language surrounding the King’s religious role.
The concern centres on the description of King Charles III as Supreme Governor of the Church of England and as someone who protects “the space for Faith” in a multi-faith nation.
To some people, this language makes perfect sense. Britain is no longer a society where almost everyone identifies as Christian. Christians live alongside Muslims, Hindus, Jews, Sikhs, people of other religions and people who do not believe in any religion.
So why should a modern monarch speak as though Christianity alone defines the nation?
But others see a danger in the change.
They wonder whether moving from defending the Christian faith to protecting “faith” generally could gradually turn Christianity from a defining part of Britain’s historic identity into merely one religious option among many.
That concern should not simply be laughed away.
Britain Has a Christian Story
Whatever Britain becomes in the future, it cannot honestly rewrite its past.
The British monarchy has deep Christian roots. The monarch is Supreme Governor of the Church of England, and the traditional title “Defender of the Faith” has been associated with the monarchy for centuries.
The story behind that title is fascinating.
In 1521, Pope Leo X granted Henry VIII the title “Defender of the Faith” after Henry wrote against Martin Luther. Yet Henry’s later break with Rome dramatically changed the context in which the title was used. It became associated with the English Reformation and, eventually, the monarch’s relationship with the Church of England.
History can be complicated. Sometimes it is even uncomfortable.
But that does not make it meaningless.
Think about an old family home. Perhaps it has stood for generations. The owners renovate it, replace the windows, modernise the kitchen and repaint the walls. The house changes, but the family story remains embedded in it.
Britain is something like that.
The country has changed enormously. Its population has changed. Its culture has changed. Its religious landscape has changed.
But change does not require amnesia.
Britain can welcome new citizens and respect different religions without pretending that Christianity did not profoundly shape its history, institutions, traditions, literature, music, moral language and national life.
Respecting Everyone Does Not Mean Believing Everything
This is where the conversation needs a little more honesty and a lot less shouting.
There is nothing wrong with protecting religious freedom.
Indeed, Christians should support the freedom of people to worship—or not worship—according to their conscience.
Jesus did not force people to follow Him.
He invited them.
He said, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me” (Matthew 16:24).
That is very different from coercion.
A modern British monarch has a duty to serve the whole nation. That includes Christians, Muslims, Hindus, Jews, Sikhs, people of other faiths and people who have no religious belief.
But serving everyone does not mean believing everything.
A Christian can respect a Muslim without becoming a Muslim.
A Muslim can respect a Christian without becoming a Christian.
A Hindu can respect a Jew without becoming Jewish.
That is the difference between respecting people and surrendering convictions.
Jesus Himself demonstrated this beautifully. He spoke with Samaritans. He welcomed outsiders. He ate with people whom respectable society rejected. He showed compassion to sinners and engaged religious opponents.
Yet His compassion never required Him to become vague about who He was.
He could love people deeply and still declare:
“I am the way, the truth, and the life.”
— John 14:6
The Quiet Danger: Christianity Becoming Decoration
Perhaps the greatest concern is not that Christianity will suddenly disappear.
It is that Christianity could slowly become nothing more than decoration.
The church buildings may remain.
Christmas may remain a national holiday.
Biblical phrases may still appear in royal ceremonies.
Christian hymns may still be sung at important occasions.
But the faith behind those traditions could gradually become unfamiliar to younger generations.
That is how cultural memory often disappears—not through one dramatic attack, but through gradual neglect.
Imagine a grandmother who attends church every Sunday.
Her daughter attends occasionally.
Her grandchildren attend only when there is a wedding, funeral or Christmas service.
Eventually, the great-grandchildren may know Christmas as a holiday without knowing why Christians celebrate it.
Nobody officially abolished Christianity.
It simply became less important with each generation.
That is the subtle challenge facing much of the Western world.
Across parts of Europe, church attendance has declined while secularism has grown. Christian symbols may still be visible, but Christian belief is increasingly treated as something private.
And that raises an uncomfortable question:
Can Christianity survive as a culture if it is no longer embraced as a faith?
What Should a Christian King Do?
King Charles III occupies an unusually difficult position.
He is expected to represent everyone.
That means he cannot behave as though Britain belongs only to Christians. It does not.
Muslims are British.
Hindus are British.
Jews are British.
Sikhs are British.
People of other faiths are British.
And people who profess no religion are British too.
A monarch must protect the dignity and freedom of all of them.
But perhaps there is another possibility beyond choosing between Christian exclusivity and religious neutrality.
The King can say, in effect:
“I respect every citizen. I protect everyone’s freedom. I honour the religious diversity of this nation. But I also remain faithful to my own Christian convictions.”
That would not be intolerance.
It would be honesty.
Imagine a headteacher leading a school where children come from twenty different religious backgrounds. The headteacher should treat every child fairly. But fairness does not require pretending the school’s history and founding values never existed.
Likewise, religious pluralism does not require a nation to erase its history.
Christianity Does Not Need to Be Afraid
There is also a lesson here for Christians themselves.
Christianity does not need to attack Muslims to prove Christianity is true.
It does not need to insult atheists.
It does not need to mock Hindus, Jews or people of other faiths.
And it certainly does not need political power to validate Christ.
The Church’s calling is different.
Christians are called to live the truth, speak the truth, love their neighbours and bear witness to Jesus.
Jesus never changed His message simply because a crowd became uncomfortable.
There were moments when His teaching became difficult, and some followers walked away.
He did not dilute the message simply to keep the numbers.
Peter understood the heart of the matter when he said:
“Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.”
— John 6:68
That confidence is needed today.
Christians can be gracious without becoming vague.
They can be inclusive without becoming indifferent.
They can be compassionate without compromising conviction.
They can respect other religions without pretending that Christianity has no distinctive truth claim.
The King Will Pass; Christ Remains
There is another perspective that Christians should never lose.
King Charles III will not reign forever.
Neither did Queen Elizabeth II.
Neither did George VI, George V or the monarchs before them.
Every human crown eventually passes to another head.
Palaces change occupants.
Governments change.
Public opinion changes.
National identities evolve.
But Christianity points beyond all earthly institutions to a King whose reign is described as eternal.
The Bible says:
“Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever.”
— Hebrews 1:8
That is where Christian confidence ultimately rests.
The future of Christianity does not depend entirely on royal titles.
It does not depend on Buckingham Palace.
It does not depend on Parliament.
And it does not depend on whether every cultural institution continues to use explicitly Christian language.
It depends, above all, on whether Christians continue to know Christ, live for Christ and make Christ known.
Britain may become increasingly multi-faith.
Europe may become increasingly secular.
Western culture may continue to change.
But none of those changes alters who Jesus is.
Let the Light Shine
Perhaps this controversy offers a lesson that goes beyond King Charles III.
The Christian response to a changing society should not be panic.
It should not be hostility.
It should not be retreat.
It should be faithful witness.
Jesus said:
“Ye are the light of the world.”
— Matthew 5:14
Light does not need to insult darkness.
It simply shines.
A Christian monarch can respect everyone without abandoning his Christian identity.
A Christian citizen can welcome neighbours of different faiths without surrendering his or her convictions.
And a Christian Church can engage a changing culture without changing the heart of the Gospel.
The real challenge, therefore, is not simply what words appear beside the King’s title.
The deeper challenge is whether Christianity will remain a living faith or gradually become merely a cultural memory.
Royal titles may change.
Nations may change.
Cultures may change.
But the Christian message remains:
“Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever.”
— Hebrews 13:8
The crown may represent a kingdom on earth.
But Christians believe that Christ is King forever.
