Bishop‘ really disturbed by climate of anti-Semitism’ under Corbyn
‘It’s deeply regrettable the Christian church endorsed anti-Semitism in any way and participated in it’
THE Bishop of Oxford was left “disturbed” by anti-Semitism that “grew” under Jeremy Corbyn, he said, as the Church of England’s offers an apology 800 years after it expelled Jews.
Today marks the 800th anniversary of the 1222 Synod of Oxford, the Magna Carta of English canon law, which implemented some of the most egregious anti-Semitic decrees, and instigated a particularly disturbing time in Christian-Jewish relations in England, with repercussions across Europe for centuries to follow.
Speaking ahead of today’s commemorative events, the Bishop of Oxford, the Rt Rev Dr Steven Croft, said: “Three or four years ago, I was really disturbed by how deeply Jewish friends and the Jewish community in Oxford were affected by the anti-Semitism that was growing in society as part of the climate that was around.”
The bishop said he was referring to Jeremy Corbyn’s time as Labour leader as well as the party as a whole.
Mr Corbyn’s tenure as Labour leader, from 2015 to 2020, was dogged by accusations of anti-Semitism within the party, and also failure to act on reports of racism.
In October 2020, he was suspended by Labour after claiming a highly critical report on anti-Semitism within the party was “dramatically overstated”.
Bishop Croft also blamed rising antiSemitism on “the general kind of fragmentation of the UK society which seem to be happening before and after the vote to leave the European Union”.
He was speaking before a commemorative event being held today at Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford, to mark the 800th anniversary of the 1222 Synod of Oxford.
Last year the Church of England said that it would, for the first time, offer an apology for the anti-Semitic expulsion of Jews from medieval England, which was welcomed by Jewish groups as “better late than never”.
The infamous Synod added a range of further anti-Jewish measures for the medieval Church in England.
The resulting canons forbade social interactions between Jews and Christians, established specific church tithes on Jews and imposed the need for English Jews to wear an identifying badge.
Bishop Croft said: “It’s deeply regrettable that the Christian church endorsed anti-Semitism in any way and participated in it.
“But that makes it all the more important that we keep these things at the front of people’s minds and awareness and continue to build bridges between [different] communities and strengthen interfaith relations so that we are all reminded of the need to work.”
The prejudicial laws were followed by anti-Jewish statutes in the 13th century, culminating in the mass expulsion of the Jewish community in 1290.
By the late 1200s, a string of laws were passed in England restricting the rights of Jewish people.
They were forbidden from owning land or passing on inheritance to their children instead of the Crown.
Hundreds were arrested, hanged or imprisoned.
In 1290, King Edward I passed the Edict of Expulsion, a royal decree that remained in place for the duration of the Middle Ages, expelling all Jews from the country. It was overturned when Oliver Cromwell permitted Jews to return to England in 1656 and practise their faith practise their faith openly.
Despite the Church of England not existing in the 13th century – until its creation hundreds of years later by Henry VIII – Church officials have apologised for the role of the church in England throughout history, and its part in stoking anti-Semitism.
Today’s event will be attended by Bishop Croft, Ephriam Mirvis, the Chief Rabbi, and Rt Rev Dr Michael Ipgrave OBE, the Bishop of Lichfield and Chair of Trustees of the Council of Christians and Jews.
Mr Corbyn’s office was contacted for comment about the bishop’s comments.