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The Church of England has defended Muslims against an ultranationalist rightwing group, telling members of “Britain First” they don’t need to represent the church.”

East London rector Reverend Prebendary Alan Green addressed “Britain First” members at a protest they organized outside the East London Mosque, telling them to "stop waving crosses around and making them a symbol of hate".

Green chairs Tower Hamlets’ Inter-Faith Forum, a coalition of thirteen different religious communities in the UK.

A statement on their website calls out Britain First by name, saying members of the group “strongly oppose the presence of Britain First on our streets and reject their views.”

“We are proud to be part of the diverse communities of Tower Hamlets and will continue to work with all of them, including our Muslim neighbours, to maintain that diversity in the face of any who attempt to undermine it,” the statement reads.

In an interview with HuffPost UK, Green elaborated on his statements to the hate-group.

"I went to the Britain First protest today to tell them they're not welcome here, and they don’t need to represent the church because we're already doing that”. Green indicated that he was standing in solidarity with his “Muslim friends”.

Britain First developed out of the British National Party (BNP) and the English Defence League (EDL), becoming an anti-immigration and specifically anti-Islam group, although they openly espouse anti-Semitism and support for neo-Nazism.

The group operates through vigilantes in East London, harassing and inflicting violence on others in the name of Christianity. They are fundamentalist Christians who believe in a coming religious war.

And while they are mocked and ridiculed throughout Britain, the group is a serious threat to religious freedom.

Reverend Green’s public disavowal of the group is a positive sign that their brand of hateful fundamentalist Christianity is problematic to other faith communities.

Tower Hamlets’ press release concludes: “Britain First try to justify their mis-named Christian Patrols on the basis that we are constantly endangered by the (equally mis-named) Muslim Patrols out to enforce their own set of standards. That very small group were active for only one weekend at the beginning of 2013 and, because of prompt action by the police and community groups – including local mosques, were quickly arrested and have been sent to prison. Neither group is welcome and neither speaks in the name of the Christians or the Muslims who live here.

The Christian churches here in Tower Hamlets remain active, lively and committed to living out our discipleship to Jesus Christ through worship, teaching and service. Britain First do not just threaten Islam by their presence here, but all of us, by their hateful words and behaviour. They do not represent Christians in Tower Hamlets and they do not represent Christianity. Please do not come back!