Senior figures in the Church of England claim misguided liberal thinking and a politically correct agenda by secularists are behind attempts to stop worshippers talking about their faith in public.

But they insist it is neither possible nor desirable for people to keep their beliefs private, and say Christians must ensure they are given the same rights by public bodies to express their “diversity” as ethnic minorities and followers of other religions.

It comes as Jennie Cain remains off work and under investigation for alleged professional misconduct after she sent a private email to 10 friends asking for prayer, when her daughter was scolded at school for talking about Jesus.

The 38-year-old was shocked when her five-year-old daughter Jasmine was reprimanded for the way she talked about God and Heaven to a friend in her class, as The Daily Telegraph disclosed this week.

But her email message found its way to Gary Read, the headmaster of Landscore Primary School in Crediton, Devon, and she was told to “stay away” from work as an investigation was launched into her actions.

Yesterday the Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, backed Mrs Cain, saying that she was the victim of a “seeming intolerance and illiberality about faith in God which is being reflected in the higher echelons of our public services”.

Now a series of bishops in the Church of England, gathering in London for a meeting of its governing body, the General Synod, have added their voices in support.

The Bishop of Bradford, the Rt Rev David James, said: “There is a certain political correctness which tends to target Christians especially and forbid Christian expression.

“Often people claim to be doing this in the interest of other faiths, but they welcome Christians being upfront on their beliefes.

“I think in part it arises out of a secular agenda which wants to restrict religion to the private sphere. But all our faiths impact on the way we live in the public domain.

“I think the secularists have to get real and accept the fact that Christianity, like other religions, isn’t something that happens between consenting adults in private.”

The Bishop of Blackburn, the Rt Rev Nicholas Reade, added: “It is because of the secular society that we live in and because, quite wrongly, they feel that because we are in a multi-faith society this is discriminating against other faiths.

“The stupid thing is that other faiths expect this to happen. It’s misguided liberal thinking.

“Hopefully our society will remember the huge contribution that the faith groups are giving. People can’t have it both ways. They’re very pleased for us to be running youth clubs, to do all our work for elderly people and run schools.”

The Rt Rev Michael Nazir-Ali, the Bishop of Rochester, said: “People need to be more relaxed about the language of faith in the public sphere.

“It is perfectly legitimate for people to express their faith and also for people to express their lack of faith. That is part of ordinary conversation, or should be.

“I think what has happened is that public bodies have learned to make room for people from different ethnic backgrounds, and sometimes art of that has to do with faith. They have not learned to do this with Christians from the indigenous community.

“I think those Christians are now asking why should they be discriminated against. They should have the same opportunities and rights as others.”

Mrs Cain, who works part-time at the primary school but was asked not to go in on Thursday or Friday, is still waiting to hear if she will be sacked.

She is due to attend a meeting at the school on February 24 because next week is half term.

Gary Read, headmaster of the school, said Jasmine had “frightened” a seven-year-old pupil by telling her that she would “go to hell” because she did not believe in God.

He said a complaint had been made which was his duty to investigate and insisted that the school was tolerant of religion.

“We are a very, very open school and are in no way intimidating people.

“Unfortunately the context of the conversation between the two girls had a religious nature, but it could have been over any issue. When one pupil is upset by another and is crying, we take action.

“In absolutely now way are we trying to supress discussion or making it difficult for pupils to discuss or express faith.”

Mr Read said Mrs Cain’s email contained a false allegation about the school, but would not discuss it further. He said she had not been suspended and that the investigation into misconduct was ongoing.

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