Other options include writing to a local newspaper in order to express concerns about the potential for the temporary change in the law to become permanent.
 

The suggestions come in a briefing document prepared by the Joint Public Issues Team of the Baptist Union of Great Britain, the Methodist Church and the United Reformed Church.

Earlier this year new legislation was fast-tracked through Parliament to suspend Sunday trading laws throughout the country for eight weeks to cover the Olympics and Paralympic Games.

The laws only apply to large shops, restricting them to six hours of trading on a Sunday, and the Government has suggested that relaxing them might benefit the economy to the tune of £175m.

However, the three churches which make up the Joint Public Issues team are among many denominations and unions in favour of maintaining the current trading laws in order to keep Sunday as a time for families, rest and relationships. 

The Baptist Council has stated that it is 'totally against the complete deregulation of Sunday Trading hours', and argued that 'there remain large sections of the population who for social, economic or religious reasons believe...that some restriction should be maintained.'

The Methodist Church has said that as well as being a time of significance to Christians, 'a weekly celebration of the Easter event', it is necessary to preserve Sunday 'as a day when the overwhelming majority of the community may enjoy rest, recreation and other pursuits.'

As a result JPIT has prepared a briefing document, arguing that 'the need for some protection for Sundays, for the health of individuals, families and local economies, is still clear.'


Jonathan Barr, researcher with the Baptist Union of Great Britain's Faith and Unity department, has looked into the history of Sunday trading and its restrictions.