Bernard Randall

Bernard was dismissed from his role as school chaplain and reported to the government’s terrorist watchdog, Prevent, for a sermon he gave at the school on ‘identity politics’.

Supported by the Christian Legal Centre, Rev. Dr Bernard Randall, a former chaplain of Christ’s College, Cambridge, is taking Trent College to court for discrimination, harassment, victimisation and unfair dismissal after the school reported him – without his knowledge – to the government anti-terror watchdog (‘Prevent’) for a sermon he gave at the school on ‘identity politics’. The incident occurred in 2019, and Dr Randall has not given a sermon or been able to work in Christian ministry since, a situation he is continuing to challenge.

Dr Randall commented: “My story sends a message to other Christians that you are not free to talk about your faith. It seems it is no longer enough to just ‘tolerate’ LGBT ideology. You must accept it without question and no debate is allowed without serious consequences. Someone else will decide what is and what isn’t acceptable, and suddenly you can become an outcast, possibly for the rest of your life.”

In January 2024, Dr Randall, supported by the Christian Legal Centre, was cleared by the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) after malicious referrals by his former employer, Trent College in Derbyshire. This follows clearances by Prevent and the Teaching Regulation Authority (TRA).

This leaves the Church of England (CofE) as the only public body that still has Dr Randall blacklisted as a safeguarding risk.

After an employment tribunal ruling upheld Dr Randall’s sacking in 2023, his appeal of this concerning judgment was due to have a hearing in 2024, but this was postponed until after the ruling in Kristie Higgs case – which was a victory for free speech.

His appeal hearing started on the 4th of March 2025 at the Employment Appeal Tribunal.

In an appeal permission hearing, Judge James Tayler ruled that the previous employment tribunal decision which upheld the sacking of Dr Randall is ‘unsafe’ due to revelations of anti-Christian bias on the presiding panel. He ordered Dr Randall’s case to be remitted urgently back to the Employment Tribunal for a full retrial and ordered £20,000 costs against Trent College.

Key links

• The remarkable case history of sacked chaplain
• Judge overturns ‘unsafe’ ruling in Randall case due to bias
• Chaplain reported to Prevent and sacked for sermon to begin appeal
• Archbishop ‘whitewashed’ complaint in ‘egregious’ blacklisting case
• Dr Randall cleared by the Disclosure and Barring Service, and Educate and Celebrate close down
• Read an explanation of what happened to Dr Randall
• Read or watch the sermon Dr Randall gave
• Make a gift to support his case