Young Christian Climate Network (YCCN) Relay to COP26
The United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) is being held in Glasgow this November. The YCCN are walking to Glasgow in a relay to hold the government to account over their climate change promises. Enjoy this account of one stage of the relay.
By Laura, Maya and Errol Corbin


On Thursday 5^th August 2021 we set out early, carrying little paper boats, adorned with copies of handprints from the St John’s East Dulwich First Communion Altar Cloth, thinking of them as extending ‘welcome’ and ‘care’ to all around the world being tossed on the stormy seas of climate change.
 
Alighting the train at a small halt, only previously seen from the fast train window, it was delightful to find intersecting plots of green, hidden behind the grey high road. This was St Paul’s Clapham; with its peaceful garden, wild churchyard extension and lovely community garden, all set next door to allotments. Like so much of our world, all this green and yet surrounded by houses on every side.
 
The other pilgrims for that day’s section of the relay gradually arrived; young and old, some just for the day (like us), some veterans travelling the longer road.
          “Where’s The Pilgrim?”
          “It’s in the van. Too heavy for us to carry all the way.”
We heard this exchange and it soon became clear that the subject in question was ‘The Boat’. The large, wicker and cloth equivalent of our small origamis, which, as we speak, still travels through the streets and fields, a symbol that we all might care for creation, including one-another, in active ways.
 
As our group walked along the back streets, people looked on curiously. As we reached the more central portions of our route, this became less noticeable amongst the crowds. We had somehow thought that the walk would be 8 miles, but by now had clarified that it was actually around 5½. Still a significant challenge for little legs, however.
 
A stop for lunch. Having only seen the outside of Lambeth Palace before; being let in through the small, ancient gate was intriguing. We were welcomed eagerly by more fellow travellers and entered the grounds to the wonderful site of younger children, also working for a fairer climate future. They had been making banners to carry, as they would be joining us for the final 2 miles. There were also lovely refreshments for us. The Chef, who seldom had members of the public to cook for, insisted on making us cake.
 
We were very lucky, as the Head Gardener gave us a guided tour of the grounds, sharing his passion for God’s creation along the way. We enjoyed the wildflower meadow, because there was a diverse variety of plants that we wouldn't often see. Another part of the garden he showed us was a reminder of how far around the world spreads the Anglican Communion. A new and growing avenue of olive trees, each one representing a country, reminding us that we need look no further than our own Church Family to find people already living with the effects of climate change.
 
Refreshed, we were on our way again. The increasingly busy route maybe added to the increasing sense of purpose as we strode along. Other walkers could be heard speaking about various marches and protests they’d been on, as the lead walkers and back stops diligently made sure all kept together through the crowds of the South Bank.
 
The feeling of walking past the National Covid Memorial Wall has to be mentioned here. Its hearts and messages seemed to stretch for miles and were given even more poignancy as health care workers from St Thomas’ Hospital sat on top of the wall to take their breaks.
 
We were now taking the second detour of the route. Branching away from the, up until now, straight line to St Paul’s Cathedral, and instead going across Westminster Bridge to be in Parliament Square. We formed a group and held up our banner “Rise to the Moment” in front of the Houses of Parliament. People coming together from across South London and beyond to make a positive statement, challenging our leaders to go above and beyond in their decisions; to wield their power for good.
 
As we grew nearer to completing our route the terrain grew very familiar, with landmarks and tourist attractions. We could look on the day-trippers in a new context, we are all sharing and enjoying our world together.
 
One very special moment, a few hundred yards from our destination, at Tate modern we were joined by people who were travelling all the way from Canterbury. They carried a flag showing the Canterbury Cross – a symbol we were seeing with fresh eyes from learning of its significance in a recent trip to that very City.
 
Across the Millennium Bridge, St Paul’s loomed closer. Approaching the front we could see and hear speeches starting. To our surprise, we continued and climbed up the steps in front of the crowd to celebrate our completion of just one day’s section of this 5 month and 500 miles long stand (walk) for Climate Justice.
 
As the moment calmed and we descended the stage, a huge banner with a very striking message became visible “Same storm – different boats”. We now began to understand the significance of the little paper boats we had prepared, and “The Pilgrim”, which we now saw in person.
 
With the inequality and the imminent, life-threatening danger starkly illustrated behind him, John Sentamu, Lord and former Primate of England, then spoke; briefly but powerfully. His parable; of a snake and a man forced to co-operate in order to stay alive; spoke personally to each one of us, about how essential it is that we ‘Rise to the Moment’ and demand that our leaders do the same.