Community Outrage as Church Promotes Homophobia and Displaces Nursery

Parents in Ashford, Kent, are expressing outrage after Living Faith Church Worldwide, also known as Winners Chapel, was granted permission to open a new chapter at Kingsnorth Recreation Centre. The church's doctrine includes teachings that label homosexuality as a 'trap of the devil', which has heightened community concerns. The nursery, Little Acorn's Pre-School, which has served the area for 30 years, is being forced to vacate its space for this new church initiative. Many parents have voiced their objections, with over 380 formal complaints submitted against the change. Some local representatives, like Cllr Neil Bell, argue that transforming the site from a community space to a place of worship violates existing covenants established when the building was constructed. The church plans to discontinue the nursery's operations, despite the council's initial support for the nursery to stay. Representatives for Little Acorns allege that they have been told by the church that they cannot continue their operations, regardless of council permissions. Concerns have also been raised about the additional traffic, noise, and disruption that the church may bring to the neighborhood. The church's leadership has dismissed these worries, emphasizing their religious objectives. The controversy reflects a struggle between community need for child care services and the aspirations of religious organizations in public spaces.