In recent years Christians have been prevented from wearing crosses to work, praying for medical patients and - until a change in the law - barred from including prayers in council meetings.

Judges at the European Court of Human Rights will consider a landmark test case on religious freedom in Britain later this year bringing together four separate cases, including that Mrs Chaplin.

It emerged last month that Government lawyers will use it to argue that Christians do not have the "right" to wear a cross because it is not viewed as an essential component on Christianity.

But Lord Carey described the cross as an "indispensable image of Christianity" and called for Christians to wear it as a public expression of faith.

"I have no doubt that those who have tried to impose restrictions on the wearing of crosses are either deliberately or inadvertently attempting to sideline the Christian faith," he said.

"I would like all Christians, men as well as women, to wear the cross publicly."

He added: "It is an iconic symbol of Christ's sufferings for us all, his humiliation and yet his glory. There could be no talk of Christ's resurrection without the cross. St Paul talks of glorying in the cross."

Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor, the former leader of the Catholic Church in England and Wales said: "It would be a great pity if overt symbols were somehow airbrushed out of public life and people's choices.

"Most people in this country would feel that people should be free to wear a religious symbol provided it is not overtly offensive to anybody else and of course the cross is part of the traditions of the country."

In Scotland, Cardinal O'Brien, will use his Easter homily on Sunday to urge Catholics to wear the cross and consider giving crosses as gifts instead of Easter eggs.

He will say: "Why shouldn't each and every Christian similarly wear proudly a symbol of

the cross of Christ on their garments each and every day of their lives?"

The Archbishop of York said that Good Friday should be a celebration.

"On the cross of Christ love triumphs over darkness," he said.

The Bishop of Norwich, the Rt Revd Graham James - tipped by bookmakers as a possible successor to the Archbishop of Canterbury - said: "The cross is a potent symbol of the connection between sacrifice and love.

"Human beings often sideline a saviour but Easter's surprise is that Christ cannot be hidden away or locked in a tomb."

Mrs Chaplin said people "should not be afraid" to wear the cross.

"It demonstrates that Christianity isn't a minority issue any more, that the country needs to stand up and show that it is proud of its faith," she said.

"We welcome all minorities, we are very culturally aware but we seem to have put Christianity on the back burner, it would be nice to see it brought to the forefront again."

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