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Norwich church bells to ring out for climate 

At least half a dozen churches across Norwich will be taking part in a UK-wide initiative to sound their bells on the eve of the COP26 summit.

Norwich churches planning to join in the ringing so far include St Andrew’s Eaton, Christ Church Eaton, St Peter Mancroft, St George’s Colgate and St Giles.
 
Ring Out for Climate Change is led by Edward Gildea, a Christian Aid organiser and a member of St Mary's church in Saffron Walden, Essex. He is encouraging churches to ring their bells at 6pm for 30 minutes on Saturday October 30. 

“We mostly associate church bells with the call to worship, weddings and very special national celebrations,” said Mr Gildea. “But they also have another historic function: to ring out warnings. I believe the climate emergency is a time of real national crisis and I would urge all churches to ring out a warning and to remind the delegates of the urgency of the dangers we now face.”

The bell ringing campaign has been endorsed by the Bishop of Norwich, the Rt Rev Graham Usher, the Church of England’s lead bishop on the environment, who will join the conference in Glasgow.

Bishop Graham described the bell ringing as “symbol of warning, but also of hope, that this conference will lead to action for us all, like Jesus, to tread more gently on our single island planet home and care more for those already adversely affected by climate change, especially in the economically poorest places on earth.” 

The Association of English Cathedrals is also supporting the campaign. “We join everyone across the world wanting action and commitment to safeguarding the integrity of the whole creation,” said Adrian Dorber, who is chair of the association and Dean of Lichfield. “Faith demands it of us.” 

There is a Facebook page here for anyone wanting to take part in the campaign
 
Image of bells from Ring out for Climate. Pictured below is St Andrews Eaton.

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Eldred Willey, 26/10/2021

Eldred Willey
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