Petition launched to get church member to stop preaching in Carlisle

Dale McAlpine, a member of the Grace Baptist Church in Workington, is known in Carlisle for preaching loudly in Carlisle city centre about his Christian, conservative, and anti-LGBT views.

He records the public during his preaching sessions by the entrance to The Lanes shopping centre near Greenmarket in Carlisle and calls out passers-by on occasion.

It is not the first time action has been sought against him for his actions, and his recent exploits in Keswick where he preached that women should not be allowed to speak in church have garnered significant controversy locally and online.

However, Mr McAlpine has frequently defended his views as being 'not hateful, true to Christian scripture, and the word of God'.

Others have defended him citing his freedom of speech and to opinion

Asa Pegler (Image: Asa Pegler)

Asa Pegler, a 19-year-old activist and resident in Carlisle said: “A lot of people, regardless of what you believe in politically, agree that he is a nuisance.

“No one wants to sit outside one of the many cafes there having to listen to someone saying that they’re sinners and that they’re going to hell.

He added: “I understand freedom of speech, and I think that no one should be restricted in that aspect, but people are being made to feel intimidated and afraid.

“Numerous times, he has gone against the Equality Act 2010, and there are people who may be neurodiverse with sensory issues who are intimidated by him and his microphone.

“He’s not even just standing there talking, he’s got equipment and he’s filming people.

“Why doesn’t he get a job? He should stop harassing people, and if he wants to preach, why can’t he do it where people want to listen?

“People are entitled to their beliefs, but it’s clearly causing more upset in the city centre more than it is getting more people on his side.”

There is general concern that his preaching affects businesses nearby that have outdoor catering and may give a negative image of Carlisle to visitors, such as the new students coming once the Citadel campus is built.

“I don’t know a single person who hasn’t been affected by this man, either by being disturbed by eating or drinking outside, trying to walk past peacefully as he’s telling everyone they’re going to hell if they’re a single mum or if they’ve had sex before marriage.

“He was banging on about vegans at one point, he has talked rubbish about every single type of person in society except white men, and if I was a new student in the city, I would not be happy, let’s just say that.”

His petition has so far amassed over 160 signatures.

The council said that no license is required to broadcast speech via a sound system and that there are no plans to take any action against Mr McAlpine.

A spokesperson from Cumbria police said: "The police recognise an individual’s right to freedom of expression and freedom of religion."

A spokesperson from Grace Baptist Church said: "Grace Baptist Church Workington is fully behind the preaching of the gospel in Carlisle and elsewhere in our county. 

"We are eternally grateful to God for the good news that Jesus Christ came to this dark world to save sinners just like us.

"We will continue to pray for all our neighbours throughout Cumbria, who hear of Jesus and what He has done on the cross, that they too may be saved from fast-approaching judgement, by repenting of sin and trusting fully from their hearts in Him and nothing else."

For further information about the petition, visit https://chng.it/Nf67SHybRf.