Christian climate activists staged a dramatic protest at Bath Abbey on Saturday, September 13, to urge the Church to take a stronger position against climate and ecological collapse. Four members of Christian Climate Action climbed to the top of the abbey’s tower during a public tour and unfurled a large banner declaring, “Don’t Crucify Creation.” They then refused to come down, drawing the attention of Avon and Somerset Constabulary and the fire service.
Kate Chesterman, 59, a retired administrator and one of the protesters, expressed her belief that the climate crisis stems from “unspiritual values” such as the rejection of God, idolization of power and money, and fostering inequality. “Jesus’ message of forgiveness and love offers hope and a different way of living,” she said. “Yet the Church too often sides with power and money instead of standing courageously against destructive ways of life. I want to be part of a transformed Church that is faithful to God and protects all that is sacred.”
Rev Bill White, 70, who also took part, reflected on his time as a parish priest, saying the church tower gave him a sense of “the bigger picture and the interconnectedness of everything.” He lamented that too much energy in ministry was spent on trivial matters, while climate injustice—the greatest evil of our age—remains inadequately addressed. “Fossil fuel companies and their powerful allies must be denounced,” he said. “The Church, rooted in love and justice, must speak out and say ‘Stop Crucifying Creation.’”
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Stephen Pritchard, 66, a maintenance worker involved in the protest, noted the Church’s complex history: “Did the Church support slavery? Yes. Did it support women’s suffrage? No. I’m here to help it regain moral courage and become relevant again.” The activists’ banner drop formed part of a day of coordinated actions with around 20 Christian Climate Action supporters protesting at cathedrals and abbeys across the UK, including Canterbury, Durham, Westminster, Winchester, and York.
These actions involved hanging banners from cathedral towers and silent displays during tours. A spokesperson for Christian Climate Action emphasized the need for the Church not only to adopt sustainable practices such as solar panels and rewilding but also to take bold prophetic action. “We must speak and act unapologetically to bear witness to the destruction of our God-given planet, refusing to be silenced regardless of the consequences,” the spokesperson stated.
Avon and Somerset Police have been contacted for comment regarding the protest.