On Thursday 15th June, Christian Climate Action joined with XR Bristol, the Bristol Climate Choir, Bristol Cathedral, and artist Luke Jerram, to stage a launch ceremony for Luke’s latest artwork entitled “Oil Fountain” currently on display in the Cathedral. The installation highlights contemporary society’s reliance on oil and the need to move away from this dependency. The sculpture flows with artificial oil instead of water, falling into black mirror-like pools.

After speeches outside on the green, there was a procession into the Cathedral led by the Red Rebels, with the Climate Choir singing the song “Voice of Change” about the need to protect the natural world from human induced climate change.

Revd Canon Jonnie Parkin of Bristol Cathedral, and CCA member, led the welcomes, gave a short talk and read Francis of Assisi’s Canticle of the Sun, which speaks of the sanctity of nature. As everyone emerged from the building, XR Youth staged a “Drowning in Oil” action, which was followed by the choir simulating a die-in, but then coming back to life again to the sounds of “Get Up Stand Up” by Bob Marley.

It felt appropriate for XR and CCA to be working alongside Bristol Cathedral on this project. Bristol Diocese have completely divested from fossil fuels and committed to not reinvesting and were the first diocese to declare a climate emergency in 2019. It was good to be able to celebrate what has been achieved so far, whilst acknowledging how far there is still to go.

Luke Jerram’s Oil Fountain is on display in Bristol Cathedral until 2nd July.