Bishop Alan calls for all churches to turn up the heat on Climate issues

Bishop Alan was among the welcomers at the Cathedral on Wednesday August 11th when the Young Christian Climate Network relay pilgrimage to COP26 reached St Albans.  In glorious sunshine, supporters from across the Diocese and from local churches of all denominations gathered to hear leaders from YCCN speak about their inspiration and to pray together for wider awareness of the environmental crisis and for a greater commitment for action from global leaders.

Bishop Alan said, ‘It is wonderful to greet the pilgrims to St Albans as we work together for the good of the planet.  Caring for creation is a theme that runs through the entire Bible, from start to finish.  Christians are called to be good stewards of the planet and to care about the environment.  This is an area where many young people are taking the lead.  Your relay to Glasgow for COP26 demonstrates that you are taking a lead and you are turning up the heat on climate issues.  I call on us all in the communities of this diocese to hear the call and turn up the heat on climate issues so we can turn down the heat on the planet.’

YCCN pilgrims at Berkhamsted Castle

Churches along the route have been involved in the organisation of the pilgrimage with St Michael and All Angels, Borehamwood and St John’s, Boxmoor generously providing overnight hospitality; thanks also to St Peter’s London Colney and St Peter’s Berkhamsted and representatives from many other churches who provided support and encouragement along the route, and to the Abbey Eco Team for expert boat building and co-ordinating a wonderful picnic lunch.

Starting from Carbis Bay in Cornwall, site of the G7 summit in June and ending in Glasgow for the climate talks in November, the pilgrimage will cover more than 1000 miles and involve hundreds of walkers in a relay to call for climate justice for the world’s poorest and most vulnerable.   Travelling with them is The Pilgrim, the boat which is the symbol of the YCCN’s call for climate justice. More information about the pilgrimage can be found at www.yccn.uk 

The pilgrimage has also attracted the attention of the press and you can read an article in the Herts Advertiser here.