Mayor of London Boris Johnson praises 'uplifting' carol service in Brent Cross and shrugs off criticism by gay rights campaigners (From Times Series)

Mayor of London Boris Johnson praises 'uplifting' carol service in Brent Cross and shrugs off criticism by gay rights campaigners

10:32am Friday 11th December 2009 in

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MAYOR of London Boris Johnson praised a carol service in Brent Cross as an “enormously inspiring start to Christmas”.

The comments came after he took up an invite to visit Jesus House Centre, in Brent Terrace, on Wednesday for the festive service.

He was joined by diverse congregation made up of hundreds of people from the North London area.

Mr Johnson said:"I was delighted to be invited to the carol service at Jesus House.

“They are a lovely congregation and do a lot of good work for the community in Barnet and beyond.

“Everyone made me feel very welcome and it was an enormously inspiring start to Christmas. The energy and fabulous music made for a very special and uplifting night.”

His visit did provoke controversy from gay rights campaigners, who said it was “a big mistake” that he agreed to attend a service hosted by a pastor with anti-homosexuality views.

Pastor Agu Irukwu founded Jesus House but has been associated in the past with movements against homosexual equality, claiming it is not part of the Christian religion.

Gay human rights campaigner, Peter Tatchell, of the gay equality group OutRage! Said: “Pastor Agu Irukwu is a long-time opponent of gay equality. His faith opposes civil partnerships and the fostering of children by same-sex couples.

“He should not attend this church, for the same reason that he should not attend a church where the pastor preaches against black or Jewish people or against equal rights for women or Muslims.”

But a statement from the Greater London Authority said Mr Johnson “deplores homophobia and would never promote intolerance against any community”.

It added: “He joined the congregation of Jesus House for a service in the spirit of Christmas.

“It is acknowledged for its positive service, particularly to the local population, and he is one of a number of public figures that have visited.”