A mural outside an Edinburgh church featuring Adolf Hitler alongside Nigel Farage has been described as a "slap in the face" to UKIP supporters.

St John's Episcopal Church in the centre of Edinburgh frequently paints murals on a board outside the church, and doesn't shy away from using it to communicate controversial or political messages.

The current display is a form of timeline including portraits of Adolf Hitler, Oswald Mosley, the founder of the British Union of Fascists, the former British National Party leader Nick Griffin and UKIP leader Nigel Farage, under the question 'Evolution?'.

UKIP MEP for Scotland, David Coburn, told the Edinburgh Evening News: "It is an insult to UKIP voters in Scotland. It's a slap in the face to people by comparing them to fascists. Many of the people who voted for me are Episcopalians or Church of Scotland, and good Christians."

But rather than having a negative effect on UKIP support in the city, Coburn seemed inclined to think that any publicity was good publicity, adding: "I think if anything it is a recruiting poster for us.

"There is nothing hard­working Scots like better than to be patronised by a bunch of clergymen," he said.

The murals are listed on the church's website under 'mission', and it is clear that it the church sees this as one way to engage with the community and demonstrate the church's interest in current affairs.

Rector Rev Markus Dünzkofer told Christian Today: "It's asking the question of the current climate of fear and angst around immigration.

"There is a danger in the discourse, that we become slaves to fear and not to hope. Advent is all about God's prophets speaking truth into the situation – so what does it mean to bring light and not fear?

"Party politics is a different thing. But we cannot not be political – because if you say nothing, that's a political statement too."

Previous topics covered by the murals include gay marriage, food banks, the Iraq war, and mental health awareness.

The murals are planned by a small group from the church, including Dünzkofer and associate rector Rev Dr Stephen Holmes. They are painted by art group, Artists for Justice and Peace.