Last weekend saw clergy from Diocese of Salisbury, amongst many others at a large, peaceful, climate protest in London. Parliament Square was filled with people who want the government to do more to address the climate crisis.
On the Friday, the "No faith in fossil fuels" service was held at Saint John’s Waterloo, and from there 1,400 Christians marched to join approximately 60,000 other people in Parliament Square.
Former Archbishop of York and current Chair of Christian Aid, John Sentamu said: “Climate change is the greatest insidious and brutal indiscriminate force of our time. The people suffering the most have done the least to cause it. That is why continuing to search for new sources of fossil fuels, despite explicit warnings against this from the International Energy Agency, is such an offence against humanity. If we want to limit climate suffering we have to leave fossil fuels in the ground. The Church has a proud history of standing up against injustice and once again we need to see Christians calling on the Government to take decisive actions.”
During the march they paused outside the headquarters of Shell for John Sentamu to deliver a letter on behalf of the protestors, however, they refuse to receive the letter, locked the doors and called the police as he knelt on the ground outside their door.
Christian Climate Action had a constant presence at the faith hub in Parliament Square throughout the weekend. There were regular times of public worship and prayer including sessions led by young people, and black majority churches.
On the Friday Bishop Andrew visited and spoke with Rachie Ross and Mick Oliver from Operation Noah about diocesan divestment and use of land.
Revd Hilary Bond, Schools worker and Pioneer Priest for the Parish of Wareham said: "It was great during the weekend to talk with Christians who came to visit the faith hub about why care of creation and the climate crisis in particular is an integral part of the expression of our Christian faith, and a matter of justice; and it was also good to hear from them many people of other faiths and none how much they valued the presence of the church among them and how moved they had been by seeing Christian Worship acted out in public."