Environmental and Social Justice April - June 2022
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Welcome St Albans Cathedral, home to Britain’s first saint, is the oldest site of continuous Christian worship in Britain. Key to the Cathedral’s mission and values is Environmental and Social Justice. Discover what the Cathedral community is doing to stand with St Alban in truth and justice to make our world a better place, and find out how to get involved.
Contents Message from the Dean
pg 4
Cathedral Groups
pg 5
Eco Team
pg 6
Environmental Working Group
pg 7
Social Justice Group
pg 8
Congregational Giving Team
pg 10
Traidcraft Stall
pg 12
The Vineyard Food Bank
pg 13
Hands at Work
pg 15
pg 16
Alban Pilgrimage
pg 17
Calendar
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Message from the Dean
At the heart of the Scriptures we find God’s commission to care well for the earth and for all that inhabit it. In the creation account of Genesis 2 God tells the humans, made in God’s image, to ‘till and keep’ this great gift. Through the prophets we hear God’s call for justice and in the ministry of Christ we see that lived out as he broke down the walls that divide, bringing to safety those who were at the margins of society, declaring to be good and beloved those who the world of his day put aside and even hated. In our community, our diocese, our nation and in God’s world, in these most challenging and anxious times, there is much need for us to respond to. Every indicator tells us also we need to take very seriously the 2030 carbon neutral target. As a Cathedral we have committed ourselves to work for environmental and social justice, which is taking our part in bringing to pass what we pray that God’s kingdom would come on earth as it is in heaven. In the pages ahead you will read of some of the ways we are engaged in these ministries and all are welcome to join in, each bringing our gifts, to help us reach out further. Jo Kelly-Moore, Dean of St Albans
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Cathedral Groups
The Cathedral has set up several groups active in Environmental and Social Justice, which are working together to ensure a coordinated approach to the Cathedral’s social and environmental mission. The following few articles explain what these are, what they are doing, and how to get involved. There is also now a dedicated section of the Cathedral website for Environmental and Social Justice. Although the formal groups – which report to Chapter (the governing body of the Cathedral) or Abbey Assembly – are identifying needs and how to meet them, most of the work is done by members of the Cathedral community, who are raising money, volunteering for causes and activities, and running charities. We would love to hear about what you are doing to promote Environmental and Social Justice. If you would like to write for our next newsletter, or want to find out more about how to get involved in Cathedral groups, please email the Parish Administrator, Sara Harvey: sara.harvey@stalbanscathedral.org
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Eco Team The Eco Team is a friendly and informal group drawn from across the Cathedral community which works to improve the ecology and biodiversity of our grounds, and to promote sustainable policies and practices. Taking our cue from General Synod (the governing body of the Church of England), we aim to respond with practical actions and advice to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2030, which we communicate monthly via the Sunday notice sheet. Some of our recent projects include establishing a wildflower meadow in the Abbey Orchard, supporting the Young Christian Climate Network’s pilgrimage to COP26, and organising surveys of flora and fauna in the Cathedral estate by local and national conservation bodies. Each year we co-ordinate the Cathedral’s contribution to St Albans ‘SustFest’ (a series of events across the local district celebrating environmental sustainability, which this year runs from 15 - 31 May). Activities typically include a prayer tree in the Welcome Centre, talks by prominent guest speakers, litter picks and a pollinator count. We are planning this year to collaborate with other Cathedral groups – particularly the Flower Guild - to re-develop the former garden of the flat in the old Deanery into a bio-diverse space suitable for prayerful meditation, and will be looking for volunteers to assist with weeding and digging in the coming months. Take action Contact the Parish Administrator to get involved in one of the Eco Team working parties. Geoff Mcmahon
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Environmental Working Group In February 2020, the Church of England’s General Synod voted to set a target of reaching ‘net zero’ across all parts of the church by 2030. For many small, rural churches this is within relatively easy reach – especially when they are used only on Sundays and have no heating! For a place like St Albans Cathedral, the target is considerably more challenging. However, that does not mean we should give up before we even start. As part of our response, Chapter has set up the Environmental Working Group (EWG) to begin looking at ways in which we can make our buildings more environmentally friendly. It is ‘buildings’ plural, of course. We are also responsible for the Deanery Offices, clergy housing and a number of other properties. So, the focus of the EWG is on the fabric and policies. This work complements that of the Eco Team which looks at more general environmental issues around lifestyle, biodiversity and sustainability. We have already made some progress. A bike rack has been installed alongside the pathway that runs down to the Deanery. We hope that this will encourage staff to cycle to work, rather than drive. Most of the internal lighting has now been replaced with LED bulbs. Not only are these more energy efficient, but they also last considerably longer. A walk around the Cathedral by the EWG helped us see where there are draughts that can be easily dealt with. Most obvious is the work that is underway to relandscape Sumpter Yard as a green space. However, there is more to do. The EWG is constantly seeking to balance what will make the biggest difference, with what is feasible. Whatever route we take, we remain committed to working towards net zero by 2030. 8
Reverend Dr Tim Bull
Social Justice Group The Social Justice Group was set up in 2020 to find ways of strengthening the Cathedral community’s response to social injustice, reflecting Jesus’ teaching and standing with St Alban for truth and justice. Many members of the Cathedral community are already engaged in a wide variety of work which comes under the broad heading of Social Justice. The purpose of the group is to provide support and encouragement for this activity and deepen the commitment and contribution of the Cathedral to social justice issues more widely. Following an enthusiastic meeting in December 2020 a steering group was formed to consider priorities and how to promote social justice aims in the Cathedral. Over the past year we have worked to identify areas for action and advocacy. High on the agenda are issues of homelessness, asylum and refugee support and conditions for Christians in Israel/Palestine and we plan to focus on these in a series of meetings over the coming months. However, there are many other areas in which members of the Cathedral community are involved and we are keen to learn more about the support we can provide – so please let us know how the Cathedral can help you or the groups you support. We are building partnerships with local organisations to learn more about work which is already going on and offer practical support. Here are a few of the activities we are involved with.
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Homelessness The Cathedral and some of its congregation actively support homelessness charities including Centre 33, which offers food and support for homeless and socially disadvantaged people; Open Door providing shelter for the homeless; and the Winter Beds Project run by Open Door, with St Albans City and District Council and Emmaus. Take action Centre 33 urgently need volunteers and financial support. Find out more| www.centre33.org Refugee support There are over 100 asylum seekers accommodated at the Noke Hotel in St Albans and we need to provide support for them. We have made links with the main groups coordinating support across the county to understand more about how we can help. Thanks to local initiatives, English conversation groups are being offered for asylum seekers at the Cathedral and at Greenwood URC in Chiswell Green. These groups, while still in the early stages, are already welcomed and valued by those attending. Take action Contact local groups supporting refugees to find out more about local needs. St Albans for Refugees | www.stalbansforrefugees.org Herts Welcomes Refugees | www.hwsf.org.uk Herts for Refugees | www.hertsforrefugees.org Legal Advice Clinic We are working with the University of Hertfordshire Law Clinic to offer a branch of the clinic at the Cathedral, providing a place where people needing advice can seek support, complementing the work of the Citizens Advice Bureau in meeting local needs. Phil Waller 10
Congregational Giving Team I joined the Congregational Giving Team (CGT) 10 years ago. It has two functions: to run stewardship campaigns encouraging members of the congregation to give generously to the work and mission of the Cathedral, and to allocate 10% of that income to support charities and social enterprises active in social justice and environmental work locally, nationally and globally. The 2021 recipients of our giving are on the notice board in the South Transept and on the website. Over those 10 years CGT has helped the congregation give more than £3m in giving and allocated over £300,000 to those good causes. During my time both roles have become more important. The number of good causes seeking our support is rising, usually thanks to recommendations from members of the congregation. We have a continuing debate within the group on whether we focus on a few charities where we might give enough to make a real difference or giving smaller sums to more as a way of saying thank you on behalf of the congregation irrespective of ‘need’. One of the ways we are trying to reconcile this dilemma is to align our giving to good causes more closely with our mission groups: especially social justice and the environment. To encourage this, we are splitting the collecting and giving functions of CGT. When that happens, I’ve decided to nail my colours to the ‘getting the money in’ mast. Why? Well, it is important. And challenging. Not because you aren’t very generous, although the team does collect less per head than other parish congregations, which I suspect is because in a large congregation it is easier to underestimate the importance of individual contributions and because we have a very large electoral roll which distorts the maths. 11
It is also interesting because patterns of giving are changing. Even before covid we were all carrying less cash which meant more income was by regular giving (standing orders and direct debit via the Parish Giving Scheme). Over the last two years this regular income has been essential as other sources of the Cathedral’s income have dried up. One of the priorities of the new group will be to encourage more giving by these modern cashless routes, whether via the contactless offertory plates or using QR codes on the notice sheet. Another priority is to make congregational giving more of a year-round thing. Most of us no longer come to church every Sunday without fail, so having one Sunday a year when we highlight Giving makes less sense. Likewise, we cannot assume everyone instinctively knows how to give to the Cathedral. We need to make better use of the Cathedral noticeboards, newsletters like this and our website. Whether you are a longstanding member of the congregation or brand new, we need to ensure it is really easy to give to the Cathedral. If you would like to find out more about congregational giving, email the Parish Administrator or visit the community page of the website. 12
Julian Bowrey
What’s going on?
Discover what members of the Cathedral community are doing for environmental and social justice initiatives.
Traidcraft Kevin, the Cathedral’s Canon Chancellor, is shown holding his usual purchase of a large bottle of Zaytoun oil. Join him in supporting the Palestinian producers of Zaytoun foodstuffs, available at the Fairtrade stall held after the 9.30am service on the second Sunday of each month (at approximately 10.45am). Not just delicious oil, but also dates, maftoul, freekeh and za’atar. If you do not know what these products are, come and find out. All are highly recommended by our regular customers. The next date is Sunday 10 April – a good time to buy or order your Easter eggs and cards - and then on 15 May. Remember - Fair Trade is not just for a fortnight, but all year! Linda Waller
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Vineyard When you enter the Cathedral from the Welcome Centre, to your right you will find a food bank donation box underneath the parish table. But where does the food go? The foodbank the Cathedral supports, occupies two large warehouses next to Vineyard Church on the Brick Knoll industrial estate. It has a large café area, a ‘shop’, family room, interview rooms and extensive storage space for food, children’s clothing and equipment. Throughout the pandemic, Feed foodbank continued to support large numbers of people in the St Albans area. Now partnered with the Trussell Trust St Albans and district foodbank, it has set up a new ministry called ’Bridge’ with the focus on enabling guests to move on from dependency on the foodbank. At the Wednesday session, people pay a nominal monthly sum to access the ‘social supermarket’ for groceries, toiletries, fresh vegetables, fridge food and frozen meat and fish. As importantly, each person is assigned a mentor with a personalised programme of support, from support getting a job to help with mental health issues. On Monday mornings, for guests not on the Bridge programme, pre-packed bags of groceries are provided in different sizes according to the number of people in the household. In addition, they can also have toiletries, nappies and cleaning items, plus bread, fresh vegetables and frozen food when available. Many enjoy the social aspect of both Monday and Wednesday sessions, with hot drinks and light refreshments served to guests as they chat to volunteers and other guests. Opportunities for more focused conversations, either with mentors or pastoral volunteers, are welcomed by many and personal prayer is offered. Debt advice and help with mental health can be accessed.
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There are four main sources of food supply: individual donations, group collections such as from churches, schools and streets, supermarket collections and supermarket surpluses. Some donors give financially, either direct to the Vineyard or via Bankuet, an organisation which buys goods as ordered by different foodbanks at commercial prices. Several members of the Cathedral community volunteer at the care centre and others would be welcomed for a variety of roles. The paid post of care centre manager is currently being advertised – see the Vineyard website. Financial donations via the Vineyard Care Centre Fund, either one-off or regular, enable Bridge to plan ahead for continuing support adapted to changing needs. Donations of food are always welcome. At present, there is a plentiful supply, but the need continues. As well as individuals and families, the centre supports the Women’s Refuge and other group living facilities and works closely with other charities in St Albans and Hertfordshire. Take action Find out what supplies are currently needed by visiting the food bank’s website. Vineyard | www.thevineyardchurch.co.uk/bridge Bankuet | www.bankuet.co.uk If you have any questions or would like more information about the food bank, please email the Parish Administrator, who can pass on your message to myself or Jane Waller. We have both worked at the food bank for a number of years and if we don’t know the answer, we can find out. Linda Waller
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Hands at Work One of the organisations supported by the Cathedral’s Mission Giving is Hands at Work. This Christian charity strives to support the most vulnerable children in communities across Africa where HIV/AIDS, orphans and poverty are at overwhelming levels and support structures for the children and their communities are very low. In previous years a group has gone from the Cathedral and other local churches to visit communities in South Africa and Eswatini, where we have a special relationship with the community at Msengeni. Last year we could not visit, but in June a team from the Cathedral responded to a special request to support specific projects. We chose to raise money for a borehole to give people in the Zambian community of Miswa access to clean fresh water, which would also enable a new care point for children to be set up. The group held a fundraising afternoon in the Deanery Garden. This was a huge success, both for achieving the funding target (more than £2,500 raised!) and for bringing people from the congregation and the wider community together. We have just heard that the borehole is now in place and being used; the people in Miswa now have their water supply, and at least some of their problems will have been alleviated. Thank you all for supporting the community at Miswa! Take action Find out more about Hands at Work on their website at www.handsatwork.org Chris Lyal and Chrystalla Spire
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Environmental and Social Justice Calendar Over the next three months there are a number of events and days of observance that you may want to get involved in or pray for. Here are some dates to remember. Thursday 7 April
World Health Day
Sunday 10 April
Traidcraft stall in the Welcome Centre (am)
Friday 22 April
World Earth Day
Sunday 24 April
Fashion Revolution Week
Monday 25 April Sunday 8 May
UN(CBD) biodiversity conference (COP 15)
Saturday 30 April
Emmaus Evensong
May
No Mow May
Sunday 15 May
Traidcraft stall in the Welcome Centre (am)
Sunday 15 May Saturday 21 May
Christian Aid Week
Sunday 15 May Tuesday 31 May
St Albans SustFest
Tuesday 17 May
Climate and social justice day at the National Cathedral’s Conference
Friday 20 May
World Bee Day
Sunday 22 May
International Day for Biological Diversity
Friday 3 June
World Bicycle Day
Saturday 4 June Sunday 12 June
Love your Burial Ground Week
Sunday 5 June
Environment Sunday
Wednesday 8 June
World Oceans Day
Sunday 12 June
Traidcraft stall in the Welcome Centre (am)
Sunday 12 June
Tax Justice Sunday
Monday 20 June
World Refugee Day
Monday 20 June Sunday 26 June
World Refugee Week
Monday 20 June Sunday 26 June
National Insect Week
Wednesday 22 June
World Rainforest Day
Saturday 25 June
Alban Pilgrimage
Sunday 26 June Tuesday 28 June
G7 Summit
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Alban Pilgrimage Saturday 25 June
Our annual Alban Pilgrimage returns this summer on Saturday 25 June as the city comes together to celebrate one of the greatest stories in the Christian faith in a truly spectacular way. Enjoy a wonderful spectacle as giant carnival puppets tell the story of the remarkable man, now patron saint of refugees, who gave the city its name. This year, the preacher for Evensong will be the Rev’d Inderjit Bhogal, Theologian and Methodist Minister. He is founder and President of City of Sanctuary, a former President of the Methodist Conference and former Leader/CEO of the Corrymeela Community.
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Opening times The Cathedral is open daily 8.30am – 5.30pm. Entry is FREE All donations are gratefully received. Tickets Book online at www.stalbanscathedral.org, inperson at our Box Office, located in the Cathedral Shop, or call 01727 890290. For the latest information visit our website and sign up for our What’s On newsletter. St Albans Cathedral Sumpter Yard, St Albans, Hertfordshire, AL1 1BY Telephone: 01727 890210 Email: mail@stalbanscathedral.org www.stalbanscathedral.org
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