Prayer walks – The Green Tau

Pilgrimage for the Planet

– part of CCA’s Weekend of pilgrimages

Saturday 21st September: Hammersmith Bridge to Teddington Lock

The ancient practice of pilgrimage, honoured by many of the world’s great faiths, has a renewed focus in this age of climate and ecological emergency. Walking together with intention, mindfulness and prayer proclaims a different pace and place in relationship to the earth; and with each other. We become fellow travellers, learning again to ‘tread lightly’ on the earth. Pilgrimage invites a renewal of body, mind and spirit, while offering a visible sign of a different way of living and travelling.

Map – https://www.plotaroute.com/route/2757709

We meet to start our journey in the community garden at Holy Trinity, Barnes – to leave by 10.30am following these opening prayers

Most High, all powerful, good Lord,
To you we offer praise and glory, the honour and blessing.
All creation – all that lives and breathes and moves – praises you.

All the elements praise you –

Brother Sun radiant with light and energy, beautiful and awesome,

And who with Sister Moon, establishes day and night, tides and seasons.

All praise to God!

Brother Wind and air, calm and serene, powerful and fearsome,

Bringer of weather, and source of energy.

All praise to God!

Sister Water, humble yet precious, simple and beautiful,

fluid energy and source of life.

All praise to God!

Brother Fire, playful, robust and strong,

offering warmth and comfort, yet to be handled with care!

All praise to God!

Sister-Mother Earth who sustains us and governs us,

And produces plants and minerals, sustaining life in all its rich diversity.

All praise to God!

All the elements praise you

and so too all that lives and breathes within your creation!

All praise to God!

In your bountiful love,

forgive our carelessness, our greed and our destructive acts.

Lord have mercy

Forgive our selfishness, and our failure to show compassion.

Lord have mercy

Forgive our heartlessness, our narrowness of vision and our failure to act justly.

Lord have mercy

Forgive our self-certainty, our disregard for your wisdom and our failure to learn.

Lord have mercy

With humility and contrition, we praise you

and ask your blessing on our endeavours.

May we serve you with humility,

seeking justice and showing loving care for all creation.

To you be all honour and power, praise and glory.

Amen.

Pauses for prayer.

1. Hammersmith Bridge – this bridge reminds us of the importance of rivers as means of transport and also the obstacle they can present if no bridges are available. The current bridge was designed to allows ships and boats to pass underneath as well as allowing pedestrians, cyclists and until recently, other vehicles, to cross over the river. Weaknesses in the structure have resulted in the bridge being closed to vehicular traffic since 2019. During the heat wave in July 2022, the chains were wrapped in foil and cooled with air-conditioning to 13°C to prevent further cracking – a reminder that climate change presents us with many unforeseen concerns.

We give thanks for bridges and sustainable means of transport that enable us to travel to school and work, to visit friends and family, to send and receive goods and services.

Yet we lament our human perverseness in developing and using modes of transport that damage the environment and disrupt life .

Lord have mercy:

Let justice flow on like a river, righteousness like a never failing stream.

2. Leg of Mutton reservoir – Built in 1838, the Leg o’ Mutton Reservoir supplied water until its decommission in 1960. After much toing and froing, it avoided becoming a house estate and in 1990, became a local nature reserve. The reservoir hosts a wealth of wildlife including over wintering teal and shovelers, Common terms, Pochards and Little Grebes, whilst the reed beds are home to various warblers and dragon flies.

We give thanks for these small but biodiverse rich pockets of wild habitat, that remind us of the beauty and interconnectedness of the natural world. We give thanks for the work and dedication of volunteers and staff who enable such places to flourish.

Yet we lament the relentless pursuit of profit which inhibits more widespread development of such sites, and we lament the ease with which we humans expect to dominate over nature and land use.

Lord have mercy:

Let justice flow on like a river, righteousness like a never failing stream.

3. Black poplar tree – the native black poplar is a rare tree in the UK so it is surprising and delightful to find that a number of them have been identified here along the tow path. They are a floodplain species that thrives in waterlogged habitats, but with many natural wetland areas being drained and cleared for other uses, the loss of habitat has contributed to their decline. To ensure their continued survival, cuttings have been taken allowing some 300 saplings to be planted both here and in suitable sites across the country.

We give thanks for the diversity of trees and plants in creation, each one uniquely special, and acknowledge that it is the diversity of flora that enables humans and other species to thrive.

We lament our shortsightedness in reducing the range of habitats that exist both here in the UK and across the world, and the knock on effect that has on the health and well being of so many human lives.

Lord have mercy:

Let justice flow on like a river, righteousness like a never failing stream.

4. Mortlake – here in the 17th century the famous Mortlake tapestries were woven by Flemish weavers. Some of the master weavers were granted English citizenship, whilst orphaned boys from the City of London were taken on as apprentices.

Following the potato famine in the 1840s many Irish people sought work in the market gardens that then abound in Mortlake, and this gave rise to the building of Mortlake’s first Roman Catholic Church – St Mary Magdelene’s.

This riverside location has also attracted other migrants; we passed by the Swedish school in Barnes, and further upstream we will pass the German school at Petersham.

We give thanks for the diverse people who have settled along the Thames enriching the lives of their local communities.

Yet we lament the failure of governments to assist those fleeing from climate disasters and the failure of harvests, and those fleeing from wars and conflicts inflamed by climate change.

We lament our failure to offer all in need safe passage and a warm welcome.

Lord have mercy:

Let justice flow on like a river, righteousness like a never failing stream.

5. Chiswick Bridge – where the Oxford and Cambridge boat race has its finishing line. The participating crews then celebrate or commiserate at the boathouse opposite home to the Quintin Boat Club and the University of Westminster Boat Club. Much of the land on the north bank is used for various sporting and fitness activities.

We give thanks for joy that the Thames provides a place for sport recreation both in, on and by the water, and for the health giving benefits of exercise.

We lament the inequalities of our society that precludes everyone having easy access to open spaces and sporting facilities. We lament the loss of school playing fields and youth clubs.

Lord have mercy:

Let justice flow on like a river, righteousness like a never failing stream.

6. Kew Gardens – which has a plant collection of some 17,000 species from around the world. Kew Gardens also carries out research into climatechange-resistant crops, zero-carbon fertiliser, and plant- and cell – based foods products. Yet even Kew Gardens is not free from the threat of climate change. A recent report has found that some 50% of Kew’s trees are threatened by rising temperatures, whilst plans are in place to relocate Kew’s herbarium to Reading to avoid the risk of flooding.

We give thanks for the rich diversity of plants that exists around the world, and for the research being done to protect and enhance plants, habitats and food supplies.

Yet we lament the industrialisation of farming and the over grazing and exploitation of land to satisfy our desire for meat. We lament the economic models that leave many in the world with inadequate and poor diets .

Lord have mercy:

Let justice flow on like a river, righteousness like a never failing stream.

Lunch break!

7. Richmond Lock. The Thames is still tidal here and the lock helps maintain water levels between here and Teddington Lock. Even so during high tides and/ or times of heavy rain land either side of the river can flood and the risk is growing as a result of the climate crisis with both rising sea levels and extreme weather systems. To ease this, work is being carried out in the Old Deer Park to create creeks and swales, allowing the land to become once again a real floodplain.

We give thanks for the natural capacity of the soil, trees and plants to absorb rainfall. We give thanks for the diversity of habitats that enhance sustainable ecosystems.

Yet we lament the pressure we are placing on the environment to cope with the climate crisis that we have caused. We lament the threat that rising sea levels causes for so many small nations.

Lord have mercy:

Let justice flow on like a river, righteousness like a never failing stream.

8. Water meadows and parks – between roughly Barnes/ Mortlake and upto Kingston /Weybridge, this section of the river is known as Arcadian Thames. It’s a leafy green environment with, as here, real water meadows, and a number of country houses whose grounds stretch down to the river side. These homes were built by past generations of the rich and influential who sought a rural retreat – and the area is still one of desirable and expensive housing. This stretch of the Thames forms part of a scheme called Rewilding Arcadia which seeks to restore the natural, intrinsic functioning of the flood plain as a means of reducing the risk and effects of flooding. Flooding will be – and indeed already is – an increasing problem due to the climate crisis. Rewilding the river allows new and better relationships between people and their lives, the river and its ecosystems.

We give thanks for the beauty of the Arcadian riverine environment, its green spaces and its relaxing atmosphere. We give thanks for the enhanced biodiversity that it supports, and we give thanks for the restorative and health-giving capacities of these blue and green spaces.

Yet we lament the thoughtless creep of urbanisation that can destroy such beauty. We lament the pollution that seeps into the river from roads and homes, from commercial and industrial sites. We lament the careless use of plastic in all its guises which so easily ends up in rivers and waterways.

Lord have mercy:

Let justice flow on like a river, righteousness like a never failing stream.

9. Teddington Lock – here the powers of the Port of London Authority give way to those of the Environment Agency. The locks allow the passage of boats of various sizes whilst the weir regulates the level of water upstream. A scheme to replace part of the weir with a hydro electric plant was turned down in 2016 because of the objections of the nearby Lensbury Club.

More recently this area is the subject of controversial proposals by Thames Water, involving extracting large volumes of water from the river for use by customers, and replacing it with treated sewage which would be released into the river, adversely affecting the biodiversity of this unique location where the tidal river meets the freshwater river.

Meanwhile the construction work involved would severely damage the special habitats that form the Ham Lands Local Nature Reserve.

Better alternatives would include fully treating sewage at the Mogden and Beckton treatment plants such that the water could be reused to fill key reservoirs, mending the leaks which account for the loss of some 600 million litres of water a day, and encouraging customers (both domestic ones like us and commercial customers) to use less water. Domestic use in the UK averages 140 litres per person whilst in Denmark it is 104 litres per person.

We give thanks for the gift of clean water for drinking and washing. We give thanks for gift of rain and for the streams and rivers which flow through each river basin bringing life and vitality to the environment. We give thanks for the diversity of plants and wildlife that these waters support.

We lament our folly when we let good water run to waste, when we let pollution damage our waterways, when we fail to value what is so precious. We lament our selfishness when we use water as if it was an endless supply, when we use more than we need, putting other lives at risk. We lament the economic system that allows water to be sold, profiting share holders at the expense of the vulnerable.

Lord have mercy:

Let justice flow on like a river, righteousness like a never failing stream.

10. St Richard’s, Ham

Let us make a final pause here at the end of our pilgrimage. Having begun our journey with a variation of St Francis’s Canticle of the Creatures, let us end with a modern Franciscan blessing.

May God bless us with discomfort at easy answers, half-truths, and superficial relationships, so that we may live deep within our hearts.

May God bless us with anger at injustice, oppression, and exploitation of people, so that we may work for justice, freedom, and peace.

May God bless us with tears to shed for those who suffer from pain, rejection, hunger, and war, so that we may reach out our hands to comfort them and turn their pain into joy.

And may God bless us with enough foolishness to believe that we can make a difference in this world, so that we can do what others claim cannot be done, to bring justice and kindness to all our children and the poor.

Amen.

Christian Climate Action – we are a community of Christians who support each other to take meaningful action in the face of imminent and catastrophic anthropogenic climate breakdown. We are inspired by Jesus Christ and guided by the Holy Spirit. Following the example of social justice movements of the past, we carry out acts of public witness, nonviolent protest and civil disobedience to urge those in power to make the changes needed. We also work to engage and mobilise people to take action.

Welcome

Location of black poplar trees

Prayer walk for Earth Day

Today is Earth Day!
22nd April is Earth Day. I shall be leading a prayer walk to mark this, setting out from St James’s Church Piccadilly at noon. We shall be using these prayers – if you plan to come, you might print of a set using this link https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ISH4g3rZoU1Ya6AqrT5f4nXPHB3hbQ9M/view?usp=drivesdk

– but feel free to use them even if you are not coming in person.

If you want to print a placard to bring follow this link

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1igXP5i7pAFtrzkz17q0jJ5DkMI3spd02/view?usp=drivesdk

Route – https://www.plotaroute.com/route/2563016

Start at St James’s Church

The Church

Christians and the church have a God-given role in caring for and working with the environment.

Genesis 2:5 “The Lord God took and put the human in the garden of Eden to till it and keep it.”

This mandate is included in the Church of England’s five marks of mission – the fifth mark: “To strive to safeguard the integrity of creation, and sustain and renew the life of the earth”.

Pope Francis has written extensively about the importance of care for creation in his encyclicals Laudate Si and Laudate Deum.

As Christians there are times when we have failed to live up to this calling and need to repent. And there are times when we have been able to celebrate the wonders of creation, acknowledging that we are brothers and sisters sharing in common with all parts of the created world.

Prayer of Pope Francis from Laudate Si:

All-powerful God, you are present in the whole universe
and in the smallest of your creatures.
You embrace with your tenderness all that exists.
Pour out upon us the power of your love,
that we may protect life and beauty.
Fill us with peace, that we may live
as brothers and sisters, harming no one.
O God of the poor,
help us to rescue the abandoned and forgotten of this earth,
so precious in your eyes.
Bring healing to our lives,
that we may protect the world and not prey on it,
that we may sow beauty, not pollution and destruction.
Touch the hearts
of those who look only for gain
at the expense of the poor and the earth.
Teach us to discover the worth of each thing,
to be filled with awe and contemplation,
to recognise that we are profoundly united
with every creature
as we journey towards your infinite light.
We thank you for being with us each day.
Encourage us, we pray, in our struggle
for justice, love and peace.

1 Vine Street

The Plastic Industry

We are outside the UK offices of LyondellBasell. This company is the largest licensor of polyethylene and polypropylene technologies. It also produces ethylene, propylene, polyolefins, and oxyfuels, in large refineries and chemical plants in France, Germany, the Netherlands, Texas, India and China.

Plastics have played an important role in improving life for many – clean water, medical aid, waterproofs – but now plays an even bigger role in polluting the earth: microplastics have now been found in on Mount Everest, in fish that live in deep ocean trenches, frozen in the Arctic ice and in human blood. Its resistance to decay means plastics will hang around in the environment causing pollution for centuries to come.

But who is to blame? Who should be held responsible for rectifying the problem? The manufacturers? The companies who use plastic for their products and packaging? The consumers who buy the products?

Prayer

God, the creator of heaven and earth,

You have given us the gift of inventiveness.

We created plastics with good intentions

but failed to recognise the harm and damage they cause.

Give us the will and the determination to make good the damage we have caused,

To recycle and remove plastics from the environment.

Inspire us to create better, safer alternatives.

We pray for the successful introduction of the Global Plastics Treaty.

Gracious God, in your mercy

Hear our prayer.

Regent Street

Consumerism

Regent Street has been a prime shopping street since 1825 and attracts many shoppers from all parts of the UK and across the world. Retail turnover in the West End totalled £8 billion in 2022 and is expected to top £10 billion by 2025.

But consumerism drives the consumption of the world’s limited resources at the expense of the poor and at the expense of the environment. The more we shop the greater our carbon footprint and often the greater our contribution to landfill. The richest one percent of the world’s population are responsible for more than twice as much carbon pollution as the 3.1 billion people who made up the poorest half. The top 1% have carbon footprints that exceed 50 tonnes per person when the average is 4.7 tonnes.

As consumers we may be willing or unwilling victims of the power of advertising. We can get sucked into a system that encourages us to buy more and more and not worry about the impact on the environment. Our current rate of consumption is now such that we need 1.7 earths to sustain our lifestyle.

Prayer

God, creator of heaven and earth,

You have given us a world full of resources

with which to fulfil our needs,

yet we are avaricious and always demand more.

We ignore the damage we are causing the earth

with our greed,

and we ignore the poverty we inflict on our fellow brethren

through taking way more than our fair share,

and we ignore the harm we cause to ourselves

as we constantly seek to outdo our neighbour.

Gracious God, in your mercy

Hear our prayer.

1 Eagle Place

The Arms Industry

Here we are outside the UK headquarters of Leonardo which designs, develops and manufactures weapons, armaments and helicopters – both commercial and military. It contributes £1.9 billion to the UK’s GDP, and 45% of its sales are made to customers within the UK.

Global spending on arms rose by 9% to a record $2.2tn during 2023. Often referred to as defence equipment, the growth in arms has not brought an end to war and conflict in the world. Wars do not reconcile the injustices that lead to conflict, nor do they build peace.

Instead armed conflict kills and maims people, destroys homes, infrastructure and communities. It pollutes the soil, the air, and water systems, destroys crops, and wrecks ecosystems.

Prayer from the Community of Nails

Litany of Reconciliation

All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.

The hatred which divides nation from nation, race from race, class from class,

Father forgive.

The covetous desires of people and nations to possess what is not their own,

Father, forgive.

The greed which exploits the work of human hands and lays waste the earth,

Father, forgive.

Our envy of the welfare and happiness of others,

Father, forgive.

Our indifference to the plight of the imprisoned, the homeless, the refugee,

Father, forgive.

The lust which dishonours the bodies of men, women and children,

Father, forgive.

The pride which leads us to trust in ourselves and not in God,

Father, forgive.

Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

Amen.

1 St James Square

The Fossil Fuel Industry

BP is the eighth largest oil company globally, base on revenue but faces conflict with shareholders because it has – more than other fossil fuel companies – also invested in green energy such as solar, wind and biofuels, against the time when demand for oil falls. Such ventures are expensive and do not as yet, bring in the same returns as the highly profitable returns on oil and gas. Nevertheless BP’s annual profits more than doubled to £23bn in 2022 after a sharp increase in gas prices linked to the Ukraine war. Even so, with a new CEO, BP is drawing back on green energy and expanding once its fossil fuel ventures.

Fossil fuel companies bear a heavy responsibility for the escalating climate crisis and the damage it is causing to all earth systems. Fossil fuels are – and have been for been for the last 100 plus years, the main source of CO2 emissions. In 2023 this industry produced 35 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide raising the concentration in the earth atmosphere to a high of 420 ppm (NB this is still rising). Their failure to curb output and to instead transition at speed and with fairness to renewable energy is surely criminal. Their role in hiding the truth about carbon emissions and their misuse of their power to persuade governments not to act against the expansion of their industry, is surely criminal.

Creator God,

source of power and might,

you gave us the sun and the wind,

the tides and seasons:

we have ample means to generate energy

without damaging the earth.

Change the hearts and minds

of those trapped in the outdated fossil fuel world,

to recognise the harm that has been caused

and to embrace the change that is possible.

Give them courage to take the lead,

to place the common good above profits.

Gracious God,

In your mercy hear our prayer.

6 St James’ Square

The Mining and Extractive Industries.

Rio Tinto is the second biggest mining and minerals corporation with projects in all parts of the world, producing iron ore, aluminium, copper, diamonds, lithium, and industrial minerals such as borates, titanium dioxide and salt. Its ethical and environmental standards have frequently been called into question at sites in Canada, Western Australia, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and Guinea, provoking objections from governments, environmentalists and academics.

Mining and other extractive industries denude the earth of valuable resources that cannot be replaced – we can only hope that these resources are being retained and recycled for generations to come. In 2019 3.2 billion tonnes of minerals and ore were mined, of which 94% were iron ore. Australia has the largest reserves of iron ore – 58 billion tonnes.

Methods of production often cause widespread damage to both the environment and to wellbeing of their workers and of nearby communities – as companies seek to maximise profits. The failure of companies to repair the damage they have caused, only adds to the misery they cause.

But we too as consumers must be aware of our own complicity. We have become to used to consuming things without questioning where or how they were produced, or how the raw materials were extracted, nor how – if at all – the product can be recycled at the end of its life.

Creator God,

you have given us a world full

of raw materials

with which we can make and grow

the things we need.

Too easily we are overcome

by apparent abundance,

that we do not safeguard

people and places, habitats and landscapes.

Release from the grips of profit seeking and greed.

Teach us the ways of sufficiency and conservation,

that we may live simply so that all may simply live.

Gracious God,

In your mercy hear our prayer.

181 Piccadilly

The Food Industry

Fortnum and Mason was established as a grocery store in 1707. Although it has since expanded into a department store, its food hall is still its most renowned feature, with a reputation for supplying high end speciality items. In 2010 it was targeted by the animal right group PETA UK for its sale of foie gras – the production of which involves considerable animal cruelty. In 2020, Fortnum and Mason replace foie gras with foie royals which is said to be more ethical.

The farming of land and animals, the production of food and its dietary quality, the distribution and availability of food are all crucial to the way in which the earth is cared for and its populations fed. In the name of profits, it is sadly all to easy for large corporations to ignore or overlook the damage their industry is causing the world. Deforestation, mono cultures and soil depletion are all endangering the ability of the earth to provide food for future generations.

We too as consumers have a responsibility to consider the impact of what we eat. If we are both to reduce carbon emissions to a safe level and ensure that enough food is produced to feed everyone, we need to reduce our consumption of meat and dairy produce. Livestock farming takes up nearly 80% of global agricultural land, yet produces less than 20% of the world’s supply of calories, and accounts for about 14% of global emissions.

Creator God,

who made both animals and humans

to tend and nourish the earth,

we repent for the times

we have mistreated our creaturely brethren,

for the times we have despoiled the soil,

and for the times we have not shared

the earth’s bountiful harvest fairly.

Help us once again to re-establish

honourable relationships with all creatures,

to nurture the soil with understanding

and to ensure that all receive their daily bread.

Gracious God,

In your mercy hear our prayer.

Return to St James’s Piccadilly

Our final prayer comes from an ancient holy person called Brendanus Scotus

Come Lord Christ, king of the earth,

lead us as we walk with you

that the earth may be healed.

Come, Holy Spirit hovering over the water

and guide us as we sail to you,

that the waters may flow with life.

Come, you angels of the fire and light

and show us how to dance with you,

that in the light may be born

the flame of love.

Come, you breath of the air,

and inspire us with the breath of you,

that the air may reverberate with

the sound of the word.

Come, Lady Mary and the saints of heaven

and help us to pray with you,

that the earth may be redeemed through

the love of Christ. Amen.

Pilgrimage for the Climate: All Saints’, Kingston to Christ Church, West Wimbledon

You can find a map for this walk on Plot a Route – https://www.plotaroute.com/route/2485740?units=km

(This walk is going to be part of a series taking place in the Southwark Diocese for Lent 2024).

Beginning (If you arrive with time in hand do take a look round the church building and its many treasures)

Our journey today begins at the church of All Saints’ in Kingston. This place, rather than the building (which is old but not that old), is believed to have been where seven Saxon kings were crowned. Commemorating this, All Saints’ has commissioned a series of embroidered panels which will hang beneath the east window. Four are already complete and in place but to find out more about all seven visit – https://www.allsaintskingston.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/All-Saints-Kingston-Seven-Saxons-Embroidery-Project-2022-.pdf

Of these King Athelstan stands out as being the first king of England who, having subdued or conquered the neighbouring Viking, Northumbrian and Welsh domains, established a centralised form of government. He coronation at Kingston was also ground breaking as he was made monarch with a crown rather than a military helmet – all of which took place within a new order of service led by Archbishop Athelm.

Did this unification create a period of peace and stability allowing the common person the chance to safely gather in the harvest without the threat of their home being burnt down?

Possibly but retaliatory incursions and invasions nevertheless continued over the next hundred plus years. Although at times, the various kings would chose to pay tribute to their enemies as a price for peace.

It is interesting to note that after a while the newly established tribes of Israel decided that they did not want their lives governed by a panel of judges but wanted instead a king to govern over them: a king who might invaders or turn the tables and take over other adjoining territories. When they voiced their request, God advised them against it, telling them that kings would take their young men as soldiers, their daughters as servants, and the better proportion of their lands, their crops and their livestock as payment. 1 Samuel 8:10-18.

The way a country is governed can vary from the absolute control of an absolute monarch (or dictator), governance by a ruling class or elite, a combination of rule by monarchy and the elite, or a democracy (with a varying degree of shared governance depending on who is allowed the vote – only the rich, only the men, only those of a particular religious faith etc). At times the seat of power can feel very remote which can be dissipated by devolving some of the powers eg to local and district councils, urban councils, (secular) parish councils etc. More recently democracies have experimented with citizens assemblies that can bring together a cross section of the populace together with experts, so as to discuss and agree policies that will be meaningful to the whole community. A citizens’ assembly was used to shape the legislation created when abortions were made legal in Eire.

Citizens’ Assemblies can provide a way of creating legislation to tackle the climate crisis that reflects the long term view of people rather than the short term political constraints of an elected government. To learn more visit – https://citizensassembly.co.uk/

Setting off As we prepare to set out on our pilgrimage from All Saints’, we will pause for prayer before we leave.

1. Walking along the Thames Path

The Thames is tidal as far as Kingston. It is navigable out to the estuary 56 miles downstream and upstream to Cricklade (135 miles). In the past it was an important means of communication between places of power – royal palaces, bishops’ palaces, abbeys and monastic houses, the houses of the aristocracy, and of Parliament itself. And upstream at Runnymede the Magna Carta Libertatum – “Great Charter of Freedoms” – was sealed establishing a sharing of power between the monarch, the church and the leading aristocracy.

Even today ease of communication is essential in ensuring a fair balance of power. It is important that all members of the electorate can contact their member of Parliament and local councillors and expect a reply. On the other hand there is much disquiet that large companies and organisations have an unduly large influence on government decision-making both here and abroad. At COP28 a record number of fossil fuel lobbyists – 2456 – were given access to the negotiations, far outweighing the 316 official Indigenous representatives.

Pause for prayer

God of justice,

we pray for all those who are marginalised

by political systems,

all those who lack a voice –

especially those forced to flee from their homes

because of conflict and climate change.

May their voices be heard,

may their rights be upheld,

may just governance prevail.

Amen.

2. Through Canbury Gardens and along Kings Road, to The Keep.

The Keep was built as a brand new set of barracks for the local militia in 1874-5 on what was then agricultural land, as part of Edward Cardwell’s reform of the army. It became home to the East Surrey Regiment. The castellated battlements and arched entrance was designed to attract new recruits and enhance the image of the army.

As we noted earlier at All Saints’, defence and the maintenance of law and order can be key in ensuring the peace needed for the good governance of a country. But as Christians we might want to question whether military might is the best way of establishing and maintaining that peace.

Pause for prayer

God of peace,

we pray for all those caught up

in the machinations of war,

for the homeless and dispossessed,

the injured and traumatised,

the fearful and those who have lost hope.

We pray for the success of those who are peace makers,

and those who bring aid and relief.

We pray for those in power

that their hearts may be softened

and the minds refocused on the richness of peace.

Amen.

3. Continue in Kings Road to Richmond Park’s Kingston Gate.

Richmond Park is a place of natural beauty as well as a place where biodiversity is cherished and enhanced. It was created as a new and larger royal hunting park for the palace at Richmond by Charles I. Having moved his court to Richmond in 1626 to avoid the plague, he commandeered 2500 acres of land and enclosed it with an 8 mile long wall. This acquisition of local farming land was hard on the then local community (it was a parliamentary stronghold during the Civil War) but is now an asset from which the local community greatly benefits.

One of the conditions when the Park was created was that pedestrians should continue to have access. When in the 1750s Princess Amelia tried to stop this right of access, a local businessman, John Lewis took legal action and successfully reinstated pedestrian access for all.

Richmond Park is designated a European Special Area of Conservation (SAC), a National Nature Reserve and a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSI) for its stag beetle and saproxylic invertebrates – ie invertebrates that are dependent on dead or decaying wood for part of their lifecycle. The Park is home to 1,300 veteran trees as recorded on the Ancient Tree Inventory, and around 320 of these are ‘ancient’. A veteran tree is one in its second or mature stage of life, whilst an ancient tree is one in the last third of its lifespan. The usual lifespan of a tree varies between species: an oak tree becomes ancient when it is more than 500 years old.

Pause for prayer

Creator God,

we give thanks for the beauty of creation.

With awe we acknowledge its diversity;

with wonder we marvel it at its complexity,

realising how little we know

and how much there is yet for us to learn.

Amen.

6. Follow the path along the southern edge of the Park to Robin Hood Gate

Robin Hood Gate owes its name to a pub of that name, long since gone. But the story of the counter-cultural hero still resonates with us. A nobleman skilled with both sword and bow, Robin Hood used his skills to stand up for the underdog, taking from the rich to give to the poor.

It is still true today that those with wealth and riches have greater power to determine their own lives and those of others around them – for good or ill. We might want to reflect how we as individuals and as groups, can readjust the balance of power between those with money and those without. To what extent do our lives and actions live up to the challenge of the values of God’s Kingdom as expressed in the Magnificat?

Pause for prayer

God of righteousness,

we pray for those who are marginalised by poverty,

for those whose life chances are limited by lack of money,

for those whose needs are overlooked by the market.

We pray for a restructuring of taxes and benefits,

of markets and opportunities

so that the divisions between rich and poor are closed.

Amen.

7. Leave the Park and make for St John the Baptist, Kingston Vale – and lunch

St John the Baptist has its own orchard and throughout the year holds ‘orchard church’ services.

Nearby Dorich House (now a museum) also has an orchard recently restored by the Orchard Project, whilst further afield in Kingston an allotment has been transformed into an orchard known as the Kingston Edible Forest.

From the story of creation in Genesis 2 we hear of the interdependency that God planned for humans, fruit trees and the soil. When we connect to the soil as tillers and guardians, and can eat produce of the tree we tend, then are our lives truly enriched.

In the aftermath of the English Civil War there was a radical movement called The Diggers. They believed that all men were created equal and that if the earth was treated as “a common treasury for all” poverty and oppression could be overcome. Their aims were first put into action at St George’s Hill, Weybridge, where they dug up and cultivated the common land to provide food for their newly formed community. Their success was short-lived as other landowners, feeling threatened, hired men to beat up the Diggers and destroyed their crops.

The Diggers were nevertheless pursing a philosophy that dated back at least to the Peasants’ Revolt in1381 when verse of the Lollard priest, John Ball, wrote the verse: ‘When Adam delved and Eve span, who was then the gentleman?’

We may no longer all aspire to have enough land to grow our own food (although the sit com, The Good Life, set in Surbiton reflected such as desire), but we do now know how important it is for our mental and physical health to have access to green spaces. In January 2023 the Government set a target (now only an ambition) that everyone should be able to access a blue or green space within 15 minutes walk from their home. Again part of the problem is inequality as surveys show that people with low incomes, disabilities or from ethnic minority backgrounds have the least access to green spaces.

For further information on the Green Infrastructure Framework visit – https://designatedsites.naturalengland.org.uk/GreenInfrastructure/Home.aspx

Pause for prayer

God of green pastures,

we praise you for the wisdom and delight

with which you created the first garden

and the first gardeners.

May we reclaim our vocation

as those called to till and tend the earth.

May we ensure that that heritage is shared equally

so that all may benefit from the bounty of the earth.

Amen

8. Crossing the A3 and into Wimbledon Common

As we cross the main road notice the safe space that has been created for horses. The high wooden walls screen out the noise and flashing lights of the traffic which might spook them. Further on we are going to make another crossing – this time by a bridge over the Beverley Brook.

The climate crisis is going to lead to a greater number of climate refugees. How can their journeys be made less scary? How easily will they be able to cross borders? And how easily can they be integrated as citizens in their new homes?

Pause for prayer

Shepherding God,

be along side all those who travel

to new lands and new homes.

Guide those who feel lost.

Comfort those who are anxious and frightened.

And in Jesus Christ, be an example for us to follow.

Amen.

9. Follow the course of Beverley Brook along the bottom edge of Wimbledon Common.

The land that is Wimbledon Common was originally part of the manor of Mortlake and owned by the archbishop of Canterbury. During the reign of Henry VIII the land was given to the King. The land and it various properties was frequently bought and sold, such that it belonged at various times to members of royalty including Charles I, and to members of the aristocracy.

As a manor – which was effectively an estate – some of the land was farmed, some was sold off for the building of country residences, whilst other parts were held as common land. Such land belonged to the Lord of the Manor but gave certain local residents commoners rights – such as grazing and gathering firewood.

By the 19th century the Manor of Wimbledon belonged to Earl Spencer. He sought to buy out the commoners’ rights so that he could enclose the land and develop it for housing. This was opposed by some local residents who greatly valued the amenity of the Common, and legislation was brought in the form of the Wimbledon and Putney Commons Act of 1871 which states that it is to be used for the benefit of the general public for informal recreation and the preservation of natural flora and fauna. In recompense an annual annuity is paid to Earl Spencer, with a charge being levied on properties adjoining the Common.

It is not uncommon for people (or organisations) who own land and the people who use the land on a day to day basis, to have different desires and objectives. Owning land and property gives people power and the ability to raise capital through loans and mortgages. Do our current systems of tenure and inheritance laws, ensure a fair distribution of land and resources? Might it be better if more land and resources were held in common rather than being in the hands of a select few?

Pause for prayer

Generous God,

you created and gave to your creatures

a vast and beautiful planet,

with resources enough for all to share.

With grateful hearts, we thank you.

With contrite hearts,

we confess that have often put our desires

before the needs of others.

Renew our hearts,

that our actions may always reflect your generosity.

Amen.

10. Continue along the Beverley Brook

The name Beverley translates as “Beavers’ Meadow” indicating that beavers were once an important species for this stream. The South East Rivers Trust is working with the Wimbledon and Putney Commons Conservators, to recreate a more natural shape to Beverly Brook, including obstructing parts of it with woody material imitating the activities of a beaver colony. Such processes create a more diverse range of habitats that can support a greater range of species. These changes also slow the flow of the stream during periods of spate, whilst at the same time allowing the adjoining meadows to regain their character as water meadows, where excess water can be accommodated during and after periods of heavy rainfall. This can limit flood further down stream. As we walk along side Beverley Brook we will see this as first hand as we splodge through muddy patches and later cross on raised boards walks.

We might reflect on the importance of working together with different organisations and with different parts of the natural world to create and maintain accessible green and blue spaces with biodiverse-rich ecosystems.

Pause for prayer

God of all that is,

we give thanks for the resilience of the natural world,

that when our past actions have caused damage,

there is still the capacity for new growth and recreation.

May we be ever ready to help

and to love all our neighbours –

plants and creatures and human beings.

Amen.

Walking along the Beverly Brook as far as Beverly Meads, let us walk silence and enjoy God’s presence with us.

12. Walk up Copse Hill to our destination, Christ Church West Wimbledon

Christ Church West Wimbledon was built in 1859 at a time when the population of Wimbledon was growing following the arrival of the railway. That said, the landscape then would have looked greener than at present with a mixture, on one hand, of fields and market gardens, and on the other, of Victorian villas with large gardens.

Christ Church has its own green space – a well-tended garden – and a silver Eco-church award.

Reflecting back over our pilgrimage we can see how important it has been that individuals and communities stand up for, protect and enhance green spaces because they are vital to our well-being. May we to be inspired to be people and communities who are passionate about understanding themselves as an interdependent part of God’s beautiful, generous and vulnerable creation.

Pilgrimage for the Planet

12th September 2023 – afterword

A Pilgrimage for the Planet –

Out of thirteen pilgrimages organised by Christian Climate Action across the country, four took place along the Thames including the one from Putney to Richmond. Our small band of pilgrims were sent off with a blessing and prayers led by John Whitaker, vicar of St Mary’s Putney. As we followed the Thames Path upstream we paused to give thanks for the beauty and benefits of the river and its environment, as well as lament our shortcomings in caring for both its vitality and for our failure to ensure justice for the vulnerable in our local and global communities. pilgrimages organised by Christian Climate Action. Our recurring refrain was Let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never failing stream (Amos 5:24 and one of this year’s tag lines for creation-tide. Halfway we benefited from the welcomed hospitality offered by St Mary’s Mortlake as especially with the heat we needed to refill water bottles and enjoy the cool of the church. Exhausted (slightly fewer in number) but exultant we finally reached Richmond Bridge closing with a modern Franciscan blessing:

May God bless us with discomfort at easy answers, half-truths, and superficial relationships, so that we may live deep within our hearts.

May God bless us with anger at injustice, oppression, and exploitation of people, so that we may work for justice, freedom, and peace.

May God bless us with tears to shed for those who suffer from pain, rejection, hunger, and war, so that we may reach out our hands to comfort them and turn their pain into joy.

For more information about Christian Climate Action visit https://christianclimateaction.org/ where similar events in the future will be advertised.

Pilgrimage for the Planet

Today, 10th September I am leading a pilgrimage as part of CCA’s Weekend of pilgrimages.

These are the prayers we will be using as we walk from Putney to Richmond along the Thames Path.

“Let justice flow on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream.” Amos 5:24

Opening prayers:

Most High, all powerful, good Lord,
To you we offer praise and glory, the honour and blessing.
All creation – all that lives and breathes and moves – praises you.

All the elements praise you –

Brother Sun radiant with light and energy, beautiful and awesome,

And who with Sister Moon, establishes day and night, tides and seasons.

All praise to God!

Brother Wind and air, calm and serene, powerful and fearsome,

Bringer of weather, and source of energy.

All praise to God!

Sister Water, humble yet precious, simple and beautiful,

fluid energy and source of life.

All praise to God!

Brother Fire, playful, robust and strong,

offering warmth and comfort, yet to be handled with care!

All praise to God!

Sister-Mother Earth who sustains us and governs us,

And produces plants and minerals, sustaining life in all its rich diversity.

All praise to God!

All the elements praise you

and so too all that lives and breathes within your creation!

All praise to God!

In your bountiful love,

forgive our carelessness, our greed and our destructive acts.

Lord have mercy

Forgive our selfishness, and our failure to show compassion.

Lord have mercy

Forgive our heartlessness, our narrowness of vision and our failure to act justly.

Lord have mercy

Forgive our self-certainty, our disregard for your wisdom and our failure to learn.

Lord have mercy

With humility and contrition, we praise you

and ask your blessing on our endeavours.

May we serve you with humility,

seeking justice and showing loving care for all creation.

To you be all honour and power, praise and glory.

Amen.

Pauses for prayer.

1. Putney Bridge, beneath which runs the newly constructed super sewer.

This tunnel will be 25km long and 7.2 metres in diameter, when it finishes construction in 2025. It will carry away London’s sewage and rainwater with sufficient capacity that even during storms effluent will not enter the Thames. Instead this effluent will make its way to Beckton Sewage Treatment Works before being discharged as clean water into the Thames estuary.

We give thanks for the super sewer that will prevent sewage spilling into the Thames. We give thanks for the rich diversity of wildlife – fish, flora and fauna – that a clean Thames can support.

Yet we lament our human foolishness that so often allows harmful chemicals, sewage and litter to pollute the waterways on which we depend.

Lord have mercy:

Let justice flow on like a river, righteousness like a never failing stream.

2. Betwixt the boat houses and the playground at Leader’s Gardens.

We give thanks for joy that the Thames provides a place for recreation and relaxation, both in, on and by the water. We give thanks for the healing and health-giving capacity of the natural world.

Yet we lament the thoughtless creep of urbanisation that can destroy such beauty and the inequalities of our society that precludes everyone having easy access to blue and green spaces.

Lord have mercy:

Let justice flow on like a river, righteousness like a never failing stream.

3. London’s Wetland Centre. Over the past twenty plus years these disused Victorian reservoirs have been transformed to provide a rich habitat for different wetland – and other birds, including sand martins – insects, reptiles and amphibians, bats and various other small mammals. The Wetland Centre is also working with the Borough of Richmond to rewild the lower sections of the Beverley Brook to help prevent locally flooding as well as enriching biodiversity. In the past Beverley meant beaver meadow and, like Eel Pie Island, reminds us that in the past there were many more species resident in these waters.

We give thanks for nature’s capacity to both recover and to recreate biodiverse rich habitats. We give thanks for those opportunities that have been taken to rewild the landscape, even within the confines of a city.

Yet we lament those times when nature has been pushed out of the picture. We lament lawns that have been lost to astroturf, flowers beds lost to driveways, streets that still lack the companionship of trees.

Lord have mercy:

Let justice flow on like a river, righteousness like a never failing stream.

4. Mortlake – where in the 17th century the famous Mortlake tapestries were woven by Flemish weavers. Some of the master weavers were granted English citizenship, whilst orphaned boys from the City of London were taken on as apprentices. This river location has also attracted other migrants; we passed but the Swedish school in Barnes, and if we went further upstream we would pass the German school at Petersham.

We give thanks for the diverse people who have settled along the Thames enriching the lives of their local communities.

Yet we lament the attitude of our our current government towards those who come to these shores seeking safety. We lament the affects of the climate crisis on communities across the globe, particularly for those who are already impoverished because of global inequalities.

Lord have mercy:

Let justice flow on like a river, righteousness like a never failing stream.

5. Kew Gardens – which has a plant collection of some 17,000 species, whilst at its millennium seed bank at Wakehurst it has 2.4 billion seeds from around the world. Kew Gardens is also carrying out research research into climate change-resistant crops, zero-carbon fertiliser and plant- and cell-based meat and dairy products.

We give thanks for the rich diversity of plants that exists around the world, and for the research being done to protect and enhance plants and habitats.

Yet we lament the industrialisation of farming and the over grazing and exploitation of land to satisfy our desire for meat. We lament the economic model that leave many in the world with inadequate and poor diets .

Lord have mercy:

Let justice flow on like a river, righteousness like a never failing stream.

6. Richmond Lock. The Thames is still tidal here and the lock helps maintain water levels between here and Teddington Lock. Even so during height tides and/ or times of heavy rain land either side of the river can flood and the risk is growing as a result of the climate crisis with rising sea levels and extreme weather systems. To ease this, work is being

carried out in the Old Deer Park to create creeks and swales, allowing the land to become once again a real floodplain.

We give thanks for the natural capacity of the soil, trees and plants to absorb rainfall. We give thanks for the diversity of habitats that create sustainable ecosystems.

Yet we lament the pressure we are placing on the environment to cope with the climate crisis that we have caused. We lament the threat that rising sea levels causes for so many small nations.

Lord have mercy:

Let justice flow on like a river, righteousness like a never failing stream.

Our final pause is at Richmond Bridge, the end of our pilgrimage. Having begun our journey with a variation of St Francis’s Canticle of the Creatures, let us end with a modern Franciscan blessing.

May God bless us with discomfort at easy answers, half-truths, and superficial relationships, so that we may live deep within our hearts.

May God bless us with anger at injustice, oppression, and exploitation of people, so that we may work for justice, freedom, and peace.

May God bless us with tears to shed for those who suffer from pain, rejection, hunger, and war, so that we may reach out our hands to comfort them and turn their pain into joy.

Amen.

further info:

Christian Climate Action is a community of Christians who support each other to take meaningful action in the face of imminent and catastrophic anthropogenic climate breakdown. We are inspired by Jesus Christ and guided by the Holy Spirit. Following the example of social justice movements of the past, we carry out acts of public witness, nonviolent protest and civil disobedience to urge those in power to make the changes needed. We also work to engage and mobilise people to take action.

Welcome

Earth Vigil – Westminster. Every Wednesday, 11-1pm, 1-3pm, we sit together outside parliament, praying to our Creator God For more info contact christianclimateaction@gmail.com

‘Make Polluters Pay’ 23rd September for a day of action with Christian Aid.

‘Oily Money Out’ 17th – 19th October. Join us for protest, prayer and action outside the annual Oil and Money Conference

Franciscan Prayer Walk

Franciscan Prayer Walk for The Big One 21st – 24th April 2023, 5pm daily

These prayers mark our concern for God’s creation in light of the climate crisis and climate justice crisis. In 2019 Parliament declared an environment and climate emergency, but words are not enough. Four years on radical action is needed by those in power, for, in the words of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres,“Humanity is on thin ice – and that ice is melting fast. Our world needs climate action on all fronts: everything, everywhere, all at once.”

We will stop to pray as we circumnavigate Parliament Square, calling on those with power for action. Each prayer will end with the phrase

Help us to respond to the cry of the earth, to the cry of the poor:

To which please respond: Everything, everywhere, all at once.

Station 1 The Mahatma Gandhi statue

Holy God,

we are not just individuals but the peoples of the world.

As Mahatma Gandhi stood up for the rights of the poor in his age, may we stand up for the rights of the poor in our age.

May we be united in tackling the climate crisis which unfairly affects those least responsible.

Help us respond to the cry of the earth, to the cry of the poor:

Everything, everywhere, all at once.

Station 2 The Supreme Court of Justice

Holy God,

In your ways we find the wisdom with which to shape our lives.

Inspire all who write and implement legislation that your wisdom may prevail and your will be done on earth as in heaven.

Help us respond to the cry of the earth, to the cry of the poor:

Everything, everywhere, all at once.

Station 3 United Nations Green

Holy God,

We give thanks for the hope that the United Nations gives us, for the hope that nations will work together for the wellbeing of all.

Empower all their meetings with energy and the power of possibility.

Help us respond to the cry of the earth, to the cry of the poor:

Everything, everywhere, all at once.

Station 4 between The Department of Education and Westminster School, Gt Smith Street

Holy God,

Life is an ongoing journey of learning. Help us to learn about the intricacies of your world, its interconnectedness and interdependencies, and make us willing to amend our way of life accordingly.

Bless all who teach and all who learn, that all our lives may be enriched.

Help us respond to the cry of the earth, to the cry of the poor:

Everything, everywhere, all at once.

Station 5 Church House

Holy God,

Spread across denominations and faiths, you call us all to be your people, your church.

Guide and inspire all in positions of authority in the churches to witness truthfully to your word and to lead by example in caring for your creation.

Help us respond to the cry of the earth, to the cry of the poor:

Everything, everywhere, all at once.

Station 6 by Marsham Street and Great Peter Street, The Home Office and other departments

Holy God,

We live in a world of systems that constrain and shape our daily lives, and which have the capacity to exert power to seek the common good.

Enrich all in power, those in the Civil Service and those elected, to desire what is good and life enhancing, and to shy away from self interest and self aggrandisement.

Help us respond to the cry of the earth, to the cry of the poor:

Everything, everywhere, all at once.

Station 7 Victoria Tower Gardens

Holy God,

We give thanks for green and blue spaces that remind us of the beauty of your creation.

Inspire us all to tend and care for what you have given to us, knowing that it is our mutual lifeline.

Help us respond to the cry of the earth, to the cry of the poor:

Everything, everywhere, all at once.

Station 8 Emmeline Pankhurst statue

Holy God,

We give thanks for all who have stood up for what is right, from your prophets of the biblical era, to the climate activists of our generation.

Imbue those who fight for justice with courage and patience, inspire them with your Spirit that the world may be transformed through the power of love.

Help us respond to the cry of the earth, to the cry of the poor:

Everything, everywhere, all at once.

Station 9 The Houses of Parliament

Holy God,

We give thanks for Parliament’s declaration of an environment and climate emergency in 2017 in response to the climate protests made that year. Now we pray that you will soften the hearts and attune the ears of those now in Parliament, to hear the cry of this year’s climate protests.

While there is yet a small window of opportunity, may they take action now!

Help us respond to the cry of the earth, to the cry of the poor:

Everything, everywhere, all at once.

These prayers conclude with The Grace.