Cumbria MPs react to climate activists protest at St Paul's Cathedral

The action, taken by 16 members of Christian Climate Action, including several clergy members, saw activists storm the alter of the Cathedral on August 29 as part of the Extinction Rebellion London protest that began last week.

The London protesters have also been joined by members of South Lakes Extinction Rebellion.

After Holy Communion at a Eucharist service, the group processed to approach the altar and, facing the congregation, held up banners that read: ‘No Faith in Fossil Fuels’ and ‘Churches Divest Now’.

The group demand that the Church makes an immediate pledge to end all investment in fossil fuel companies and completes that divestment by December 31, 2021.

CHURCH: Activists demand the Church stop investing in fossil fuels

Barrow MP Simon Fell described the action as mindless and warned it will result in climate activists alienating the public from their cause.

He said: "This is just mindless protest and completely inappropriate.

"If you want to win people over to your cause you shouldn’t be seeking to alienate the vast majority of people who recognise that faith is private, personal, and to be respected.

"The climate crisis is too important and we can’t risk stupid stunts like this turning people’s minds against it."

South Lakes MP and former Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron saw the storming of St Paul's as unhelpful.

Tim said: “The climate emergency is by far and away the biggest issue that our planet faces.

“But I simply don’t see how storming St Paul’s Cathedral is in any way helpful in either encouraging people to play their part to tackle climate change or pushing governments around the world to take action. Unhelpful stunts like this instead run a real risk of alienating the public when actually we really need to be bringing people together to fight climate change.”

South Lakes XR commented on the demonstration.

CLIMATE: XR rebellion activists have launched the impossible revolution in London this week

"We support all communities taking non-violent direct action to raise the alarm on the climate crisis, and to force institutions to divest from fossil fuels, and it's for each community to decide what action is most effective and appropriate for them."

Rev’d Canon Jonathan Herbert from Hillfield in Devon, one of those involved in the protest, said: “The Church Commissioners and Pension Board rightly don’t invest in companies producing arms or tobacco, but surely investing in fossil fuels, with what we now know, is almost as deadly.

"It’s time for the Church Commissioners to take a lead and divest from death-dealing fossil fuels."

Rev’d Tim Hewes from Oxfordshire, 71, said: “The Pensions Board and the Church Commissioners, by investing in fossil fuels. mistakenly believe that they can steer these all-powerful companies towards climate friendly policies.

"After years of engagement we know it’s not working.

"These companies are deaf to the entreaties of the church. We need to divest.“