A retired vicar who was arrested at Bath Abbey three weeks ago has helped unfurl a banner outside Lambeth Palace calling on Bishop Sarah Mullally to ‘speak truth to power’ in tackling the climate emergency in her new role as Archbishop of Canterbury.

Rev Bill White, 70, a retired vicar and grandfather, and others gathered at Lambeth Palce on Sunday 5th October to give thanks for the work that the Church of England is already doing to tackle the climate crisis and pray that Bishop Sarah finds courage to speak truth to power in this climate emergency. The banner read: ‘Don’t Crucify Creation’.

Just a month ago, Christian Climate Action launched a new document calling for radical change within the Church of England to protect creation in the face of climate breakdown. The document is being sent to hundreds of people within the Church of England and can also be downloaded.

As part of the launch Christian Climate Action members took the document and banners to vigils at Cathedrals across the country where they received a mixed response. At some locations they were invited to speak during services and thanked for drawing attention to climate change. At others they were carried from the building by security guards and at Bath the police arrested four people, including Rev Bill White.

Bill with three others at the top of the tower of Bath Abbey, shortly before they were all arrested.

Mark Francis, Local Groups Coordinator for Christian Climate Action, said:

‘We congratulate Bishop Sarah on her appointment and her mention of those on the frontlines of the climate crisis in her inaugural address.

We visited Lambeth Palace to send our love and courage to her and to the Church of England as a whole and to give thanks for the hard work already being done by the Church to reach Net Zero by 2030.

We also prayed that the church would find its courage to speak out prophetically and persistently about climate change, cease doing harm through its own activities and return to it roots of prayer, confession and building loving community as we face climate breakdown.’

A Christian Climate Action spokesperson said:

‘We acknowledge the many unseen climate and nature champions who are working tirelessly across Church of England dioceses to mitigate the impacts of the crisis. This is despite the huge pressures many parishes face. This vision document is offered to all in love, solidarity and prayer. We are calling on the church to return to its roots and step up further to the challenge of tackling the most urgent issue creation faces: climate breakdown.’

CCA believes that, together, we can change things and bring hope during this time of planetary crisis. The document urges those who read it to contact Christian Climate Action, corporately and individually, to explore ways in which we can work together, alongside other climate advocates, to revolutionise the Church’s response to the Climate and Nature Crisis.

L: Rev Bill White, 70, being arrested. R: banner at Bath Abbey