In a second attack, the Church of England teamed up with a union and a shopkeepers’ group to call for curbs on opening hours to remain in place.
The interventions — in letters to The Sunday Telegraph — come as some Conservative ministers seek to scrap the law that restricts big stores to six hours’ trading on Sundays, in a measure aimed at boosting economic growth.
In his letter, Mr King says the regime has “great merit” for both shoppers and workers.
He writes: “Maintaining Sunday’s special status has great merit for our customers and our colleagues, and relaxing Sunday trading laws is certainly not a magic answer to economic regeneration.”
In an unusual alliance, the Rt Rev John Pritchard, the Bishop of Oxford, signed a joint letter with the Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers and the Association of Convenience Stores, describing as “alarming” the indications that the Olympic relaxation could continue.
The joint letter argues that many MPs and peers backed the temporary relaxation only because ministers pledged that it would not be a springboard to a permanent change.
“Yet, just halfway through the eight-week temporary suspension, those assurances have been called into question,” the letter said, adding that longer Sunday trading would undermine small shops and family life, and bring little economic benefit.
Emergency legislation this year temporarily lifted the restrictions, which apply to shops with floor space of more than 3,000 sq ft.
Vince Cable, the Business Secretary, told MPs the Government did not intend to make the change permanent.
But some Tories have backed proposals for longer hours all year round, while the Prime Minister’s spokesman suggested the issue could be considered.
The comments have caused concern among Christian leaders. Bishop Pritchard, who speaks for the Church in the House of Lords, said: “The danger is that we run into a 24/7 shopping society where the natural rhythms of life are gradually obliterated.”
The Catholic Church said the existing restrictions provide a “bulwark against the tide of commercialism”.
The joint letter argues that many MPs and peers backed the temporary relaxation only because ministers pledged that it would not be a springboard to a permanent change.
“Yet, just halfway through the eight-week temporary suspension, those assurances have been called into question,” the letter said, adding that longer Sunday trading would undermine small shops and family life, and bring little economic benefit.
Emergency legislation this year temporarily lifted the restrictions, which apply to shops with floor space of more than 3,000 sq ft.
Vince Cable, the Business Secretary, told MPs the Government did not intend to make the change permanent.
But some Tories have backed proposals for longer hours all year round, while the Prime Minister’s spokesman suggested the issue could be considered.
The comments have caused concern among Christian leaders. Bishop Pritchard, who speaks for the Church in the House of Lords, said: “The danger is that we run into a 24/7 shopping society where the natural rhythms of life are gradually obliterated.”
The Catholic Church said the existing restrictions provide a “bulwark against the tide of commercialism”.