Christians must reclaim the flag and the faith from desecration by far-right protesters who are using patriotism and Christianity as camouflage for their racism, a Church of England bishop has said in a sermon.

Wooden crosses and banners with Christian slogans were visible among the Union Jacks and crosses of St George at a “unite the kingdom” march in central London last weekend, where crowds were led in chants of “Christ is King” and a recital of the Lord’s Prayer.

The Bishop of Kirkstall, the Right Rev Arun Arora, said that some of those behind this trend were “reckless voices of hate seeking to camouflage themselves in the language of patriotism and faith, all the while debasing both”, and warned of a “rising toxic tide of racism”.

At a licensing service for a priest in the east of Leeds, near Seacroft, where protests against the temporary housing of asylum seekers have taken place, Arora, 53, said: “Such incidents have followed weeks of hotel protests and flag-flying across the nation with barely concealed racist overtones.”

He said that some of the asylum seekers that had been the subject of protests were “Christians who worship at our churches here in Leeds”. He added: “The time has come for us as a church, to reclaim both the flag and the faith that is being desecrated by those who would use both to divide us as a nation.”