A pastor in England has come under fire for telling a group of elementary school children that Santa Claus doesn’t exist. The announcement reportedly left many students in tears and outraged their parents. The incident unfolded during a religious education lesson at St. Faith’s Church in Portsmouth, where the Rev. Paul Chamberlain told a class of 10 and 11-year-olds, “Santa isn’t real,” while discussing the Nativity story.

According to reports from The Telegraph, Chamberlain’s remarks caused audible gasps among the children, some of whom began crying when he further explained that it is parents—not Santa—who buy and wrap Christmas gifts and eat the cookies left out on Christmas Eve.

“He also was saying what Santa likes. Someone said, ‘He likes cookies.’ Then he said, ‘Do your parents like cookies?’… He said how the parents were the ones that were eating it,” a 10-year-old pupil recounted to The UK Times.

The parents’ reaction was swift and fierce. One mother described her child’s heartbreak: “Lots of children started crying in class. Mine was upset but she still believes, so I’m quite lucky. She thinks he’s lost the plot.”

Another parent, whose younger child heard about the comments secondhand, called the pastor’s statements “absolutely disgusting.” Expressing concern about the long-term effects of the revelation, the parent added, “I don’t know how to bring the magic back. I don’t want him anywhere near my daughter. I hope he never comes into the school again.”

The incident prompted the school to email parents in an attempt to address the situation. The school assured families that “all stories and legends around Christmas” are respected and reminded them that their personal beliefs about Christmas are valid.

The Anglican Diocese of Portsmouth responded to the backlash by issuing a statement acknowledging the pastor’s misstep. “Paul has accepted that this was an error of judgment, and he should not have done so,” a diocesan spokesperson said. “He apologized unreservedly to the school, to the parents and the children, and the headteacher immediately wrote to all parents to explain this.”

The diocese also confirmed that Chamberlain had worked closely with the school to manage the fallout. A second message, including a direct apology from the pastor himself, was sent to parents.

Despite these efforts, a complaint has reportedly been filed against Chamberlain, and he is not expected to participate in an upcoming carol service at the school.

The controversy highlights the tension that can sometimes arise between faith-based teaching and the cultural traditions surrounding Christmas. While some see Santa as a fun and innocent part of childhood, others believe the focus should remain on the religious significance of the holiday.