On Saturday 21st June, members of Christian Climate Action stood in prayer outside St Alban’s Cathedral, outside their St Alban’s Day Eucharist Service. We stood with two banners, which urged the cathedral to drop Barclays bank, due to it being the biggest funder of fossil fuels in Europe. This was done due to the cathedral not replying to our previous emails on the subject.
Shockingly, soon after we arrived at the service, Jimmy Aitken, Head of Property and Services for the cathedral informed us that they had called the police to arrest us. The police attended and then soon left upon finding no crime being committed. The cathedral then instructed volunteers to stand in front of our banners asking them to drop Barclays bank, so that this message was blocked from members of the public.
Nigel Harvey was one of the Christians present holding a banner linking the cathedral to Barclays. He is an Anglican, living in St Albans. He said: “This is a tragic over-reaction by St Albans Cathedral. We all know that the climate crisis is a huge threat to humanity. And yet, instead of welcoming and encouraging input on changes that can be made, the cathedral sought to shut down our small, respectful protest. That is shameful. The Christian response would be to engage, consider, and act. The best way the cathedral can now make amends is to urgently review their banking arrangements.”
A recent report, out last month, shows that Barclays increased their fossil fuel financing from 2023 to 2024. They have funnelled $98.9 billion into fossil fuels between 2021 and 2024.
If stories like this make you hang your head – Join us in a National Day of Climate Prayer for our Church
SAVE THE DATE – Sunday 14th September 2025
Imagine a world where people of faith stand together to protect God’s creation. Imagine a Church that puts love into action by pushing for climate justice. If this is a reality you long for, join us on Sunday 14th September 2025.
On this day Christian Climate Action will be releasing a booklet, calling on The Church of England to be a prophetic force in the climate emergency. And people will be gathering peacefully outside Cathedrals, with the aim of praying it into being.
Christian Climate Action 