THE refusal of leading UK cinemas to show an advert featuring the Lord's Prayer is part of an agenda "to remove Christianity from the public square", the Free Church of Scotland has said.

The Free Kirk said it hoped the publicity surrounding the ban by the agency which handles adverts for Odeon, Cineworld and Vue cinemas would draw more attention to it.

A  spokesman said: “If the subject of prayer can’t even be mentioned in cinema adverts, freedom of religion is under threat right before our very eyes.”

The Church of England advert shows the Lord's Prayer being recited by a members of the public ranging from body builders to children, and also features Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby.

The advert received clearance from the British Board of Film Classification and the Cinema Advertising Authority, but the Digital Cinema Media (DCM) agency has refused to show it.

DCM said it had a policy not to run adverts which could potentially cause offence.The Archbishop of Canterbury has said it is "extraordinary" that Britain's biggest cinema chains have banned the advert, while the CoE has threatened legal action claiming it is the victim of religious discrimination.

A Free Church spokesman said: “Coming to a cinema near you – the secularist agenda seeking to remove Christianity from the public square altogether.

“It is alarming that the Church of England advert for prayer has been banned on the grounds it may be offensive. 

“Only a few days ago millions of people around the world, including David Cameron, Nicola Sturgeon and other leaders, said they would be praying for Paris.

“Was this promise of ‘thoughts and prayers’ just a sentimental but hypocritical gesture they had absolutely no intention of performing? Or can we pray for Paris, but just not in cinemas?

“If the subject of prayer can’t even be mentioned in cinema adverts, freedom of religion is under threat right before our very eyes.”

A CoE spokesman said it was initially believed that their minute-long advert had been approved and would be played before showings of Star Wars: The Force Awakens from December 18.

They were later informed that the video would not be shown.

The Archbishop of Canterbury said: "I find it extraordinary that cinemas rule that it is inappropriate for an advert on prayer to be shown in the week before Christmas when we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.

"Billions of people across the world pray this prayer on a daily basis. I think they would be astonished and deeply saddened by this decision, especially in the light of the terrorist attack in Paris where many people have found comfort and solace in prayer.

"This advert is about as 'offensive' as a carol service on Christmas Day."

DCM were unavailable for comment.