Rising anti-Semitism, Islamophobia and fear of foreigners must be challenged at election time, a prominent churchman has told Easter worshippers.

In his Easter Sermon, leading Episcopalian The Very Rev Kelvin Holdsworth said ecumenical work carried out by his church in recent months had thrown up rising concerns within Scotland's Jewish and Islamic communities.

The Provost of St Mary's Episcopal Cathedral in Glasgow warned politicians in May's poll to avoid raising community tensions during their campaign.

Mr Holdsworth, who has previously issued strong social commentary in previous Easter and Christmas sermons, also criticised benefit sanctions and austerity measures during his Easter service.

He said: "We have known some cruel things in recent times. A cruel massacre in Kenya. A cruel plane crash in Switzerland last week. And the cruelties of rising anti-Semitism, Islamophobia and fear of foreigners being brought into play at election time.

"One thing that Christians need to say clearly at Easter is that if Jewish people don't feel safe in our society, as Jewish people in Scotland apparently don't feel safe, then all people of goodwill need to commit themselves to build a world where every community feels secure.

"And the election itself takes place against a background where cruel benefit sanctions have been sold to people as a positive good and austerity measures risk dismantling the safety nets that have taken decades to build."

Late last year the Episcopalian Church was embroiled in a row with UKIP after St John's Church in Edinburgh, which has a 30 year tradition of politically provocative paintings, erected a mural depicting the party's leader Nigel Farage standing in front of Hitler, British Fascist Oswald Mosley and former BNP leader Nick Griffin.

Senior figures in UKIP discussed legal action against the church.

Mr Holdsworth has also used his sermons to urge Scotland's politicians to voice opposition to all human rights abuses within the Commonwealth in the run-up to Glasgow's Games last summer.

Last Easter he also raised concerns over the Archbishop of Canterbury's comments over gay people in Christian churches, as well as an attack on Tory leader David Cameron over "foodbank Britain".

Speaking before the service, Mr Holdsworth said it was "shocking" people felt threatened because of their ethnic origin or religion, adding: "It is clear that many Scots do not feel as safe as they have a right to feel."

A LibDem candidate in the 2005 General Election, he said all politicians needed to commit themselves and their supporters "to ensuring that none of their words or actions during this election campaign raise community tensions".