Priests should provide context on Christmas carols so they can make diverse communities “feel welcome”, a bishop has said.

Church leaders have been accused of “losing the plot” after it wrote to ask clergy to think about how they can use language to celebrate Christmas which won’t add “further tension”.

An email sent to clergy members in the Birmingham Diocese, seen by the Mail on Sunday, reportedly read: “Try to use language that won’t add further confusion or tension or take away anything from the good news of the Nativity.”

Hymns mentioned in the correspondence included: “Lo, He Comes With Clouds Descending”, a favourite carol of Queen Victoria, was reportedly cited as containing “problematic words” by stating Jesus is the “true Messiah”.

The hymn “O come, O Come, Emmanuel”, was also singled out for the phrase “captive Israel” – which is sung in its first verse.

The Bishop of Birmingham, the Rt Rev Dr Michael Volland, suggested to The Telegraph the decision was partly because of ongoing tensions over the Israel-Hamas War.

“No one has been asked to change words in carols or liturgies,” he said.