Bishop Paul McAleenan warned the charges will prevent vulnerable people from receiving medical treatment and have been introduced without sufficient impact assessments.

Jonathan Cox, deputy director of Christian social justice charity Citizens UK, echoed Bishop McAleenan’s concerns.

Speaking during News Hour Cox said: “People who need treatment are going to be less ready to actually look for that treatment and we know that might have a big effect in terms of infectious diseases.

“We know it will have a big impact in terms of people with developmental diseases that will not seek treatment until it’s often too late.”

The House of Lords will debate the changes on Thursday.

Speaking ahead of the debate, Bishop McAleenan said in a statement: “The level of concern expressed by medical professionals and charities, including several Catholic organisations, reflects how catastrophic the consequences of these new regulations are likely to be.”

Migrants and visitors to the UK not eligible for free healthcare will from now on be charged upfront for the cost of their treatment, as rules come into force that also extend charging community health services and charities that receive NHS funding.

Cox told Premier why Christians should also be concerned about the charges.

He said: “The core principle of the NHS is that we must first do no harm and I think the problem with these charges is that it really violates that…

Officers are calling for anyone who saw what happened at Bath Central United Reformed Church in Argyle Street last week to get in touch.

Crew members from Devon and Somerset Fire Service were called to the scene at approximately 3am on Wednesday 8th November.

It appears that the belongings of a rough sleeper were set alight before the flames spread to the doors of the church, causing damage.

Photos reveal scorch marks left on two exterior walls of the building, and the extent to which the green-painted doors were left blackened by the fire.

In a statement, Avon and Somerset Constabulary said: “It’s possible that a passing taxi or delivery driver, or a person on their way to work, may have witnessed the offence.”

Anyone with information should call 101 and quote reference 5217255283.

Trouble began on Sunday when traffic officers attempted to tow away a car belonging to a member of The Revelation Church of God in Johannesburg.

A video posted on social media sites shows angry church-goers approach an officer who retaliated by firing warning shots.

He is then thrown to the ground after appearing to have been hit.

The church has defended its congregants, insisting they were attacked.

In a Facebook post‚ the church released a different video with the caption “This is the freedom we fought for… for our own people to attack us”, where the officers can be seen arguing with several church members.

Many people took to the social media post also signalling their support for the church member’s actions.

One Facebook user said: “If they knew what The Revelation church of God is doing for this country, they should be ashamed of themselves.”

While another commented: “It’s a huge shame for what we VOTE for.

“The church change [sic] people’s lives, it has an impact on the Hillbrow community, crime has decreased, but they come and do this to us – naah its too much.”

However, many people on social media have also blamed the church for the incident, which happened during a service on Sunday.

Local councillor Michael Sun released a statement on Twitter and called the attack “cowardly” and urged “the church members where this took place to identify those involved… so these perpetrators can be arrested and charged”.

I am happy to announce the arrest…