A vicar has spoken out against the "PC Brigade" for trying to take the Christianity out of Christmas.

In a tirade in his parish magazine Reverend Brian Wilcox, rector of Holy Cross Church in Uckfield, berated society and the media for marginalising his religion in the name of non-discrimination.

Rev Wilcox said: "I see that the politically correct brigade are on the campaign trail again. Now we are told that all festivals of whatever faith or none should be given equal prominence. So welcome Winterfall.

"It seems to me that Governments of all political persuasions, aided and abetted by the media and opinion formers have been systematically undermining and deriding Christian values in this country into matters of merely personal opinion."

He wrote of his annoyance that freedom of speech had seemed to become the freedom to shout down and denigrate someone else's views and opinions.

He added that it seemed Islamic values were now being promoted ahead of others.

He said: "From the PC brigade now comes the call for Islamic values of chastity, peace and alcoholic abstinence.

"It makes me want to stand up and say well hello hasn't the Christian church been standing up for such values, living and speaking of a Gospel of Christ's forgiving love.

"But oh no the word goes out in the name of inclusivity that these are solely Islamic values."

Rev Wilcox wrote that it was no wonder it was often said society was broken when the religious base of the country was being systematically rubbished.

He questioned how many of the ten commandments people would be able to quote and said principles of respect and understanding had been tossed aside.

In his piece, which was distributed to parishioners around Uckfield, Isfield and Little Horsted, Rev Wilcox said it was important not to lose track of the good morals which underpin the Christian Christmas.

He said the temporary truce of Christmas and notion of peace and goodwill to all men were important concepts.

He added that the lesson learned from Joseph wanting to protect Mary after discovering she was pregnant was admirable.

Rev Wilcox said: "Finding that the child to be born is not his, he acts to protect her integrity rather than rubbishing her on daytime TV.î He concluded his piece by saying ìso hush ye men of strife and hear the angels sing."