A Christian campaign group has sued Fitzwilliam College, claiming that Fitz “directly discriminated” against it by declining to host a conference for young Christians.

Fitzwilliam College denied allegations of discrimination, claiming that they accept bookings “from a wide range of groups and organisations, with different beliefs and interests, including many religious groups”.

The charity was hoping to run its week-long Wilberforce Academy at the College in September. The Academy, which has run for more than a decade, is described as an event for students and young professionals interested in working out how to apply their Christian faith in the modern world.

The group added that it teaches “on biblical beliefs that have been recognised by the Christian Church globally for the past 2,000 years”.

As well as alleging discrimination, Christian Concern drew attention to the wider debate about free speech on campuses. In a statement, they argued that Fitzwilliam’s position was at odds with the University's free speech regulations.

In court, representatives of Fitz said that the College had been approached in January about a booking for 100 people, but research into Christian Concern had prompted “concerns about the reaction of the college’s students if the booking was accepted”.

Fitz’s head of catering and events expressed concerns that the group was not inclusive, particularly in its opposition to gay marriage, the High Court was told. A Christian Concern representative denied that the group was not inclusive but agreed that it regarded marriage as being between a man and a woman.

At the time of their unsuccessful booking, Christian Concern told Fitz that they “hold to the traditional historic Christian understanding of marriage and sanctity of life, in line with mainstream orthodox Christianity and the Church of England”.

In a statement after the High Court hearing, the College said that at the end of March, after contact with the legal representatives of Christian Concern, the College reconsidered the decision to decline the booking and offered to host the event on new dates, as the old ones were no longer available. The College said this offer was not taken up.

In a statement, Christian Concern said that the “brazen discrimination of Christian beliefs should concern anyone who cares about Christian freedoms and free speech”.

The group also raised concerns that “students at Fitzwilliam College who hold orthodox Christian beliefs might be being intimidated into silence on campus”.

Despite this, one Christian group told Varsity that they backed the College’s actions.

Representatives for the Cambridge chapter of Student Christian Movement (SCM) were critical of Christian Concern, saying: “If Fitz are uncomfortable hosting an event led by an organisation which considers Liz Truss too socially progressive, then that is a decision they should be within their rights to make.”

At an initial hearing at the High Court, Christian Concern failed in their application for judicial review. The case will now go to a lower County Court, though the judge said he hoped the case could be settled.