Christian walkers from across denominations set off on the Camino to COP pilgrimage on Sunday, aiming to highlight the need for action to address the global climate crisis.
After a service at St James, Piccadilly, followed by a walk to Parliament Square where a vision statement was read out, walkers from London headed north through London on their 500-mile trek to Glasgow. Another stream from Bristol is also setting out, with the aim of arriving in Glasgow on 30 October for the eve of the United Nations Climate talks, Cop26.
Banners and messages of hope were waved as the lively 40-strong group, accompanied by a samba band, walked northwards through central London.
The purpose of the camino is to lobby world leaders meeting in Glasgow and communities along the route about the need for meaningful action to address the global climate and ecological emergency.
The walk will take place over an eight-week period in stages averaging around ten miles a day.
Eleven people of various faiths and ages, mostly linked to Extinction Rebellion Faith Bridge, are walking the whole route, among them 60-year-old barrister and mother of four Catholic Melanie Nazareth of Christian Climate Action. She said: “One of the things that has struck me is that actually climate migrants have to do this; there isn't a choice; those of us who are doing it make the choice to do this and it feels a little bit about trying to experience something that stands in solidarity with them.”
She was raised in the Solomon Islands which face rising sea levels and is passionate to spotlight the climate emergency. Another half dozen walkers are doing stretches of several weeks, with day walkers invited to join in.
The second evening of the walk on Monday, walkers held an open meeting from their stopover at Kenton Methodist Church in Harrow, one of many churches offering accommodation and hospitality along the route. Members of local Methodist, Anglican and Catholic churches were among a group that heard “the walk is for everyone, and not just faith communities”. A Coat of Hopes, carrying positive messages and images, was displayed. Patches of rainbows, trees, waves, flowers have already been sown into the coat and others will be added along the route. Somebody wondered if Pope Francis might be encouraged to put it on while he is in Glasgow!
Meanwhile the Young Christian Climate Network Relay to COP has walked Nottingham to Sheffield and Bamford. They have been travelling to Glasgow since the Cornwall G7 meeting in June.