THERE is a chance to welcome climate justice pilgrims as they pass through the city on a 500 mile walk to Glasgow.

The group of 15 walkers will reach Worcester tomorrow (Thursday) as they make their way from Bristol to the United Nations Climate Change Conference of Parties (COP26) in Glasgow.

People have a chance to meet the pilgrims first at 5pm for a shared meal at the Church Hall of St George’s Roman Catholic Church in Sansome Place.

Later, there will be a chance for a joint reflection and prayer meeting in St George’s Church at 7pm.

Guests of all faiths and no particular faith are welcome to meet the climate justice pilgrims who will be making the journey on foot alongside other groups who have already set off from London and other locations.

Some of the pilgrims will walk in excess of 500 miles to reach their destination on time.

Tom Piotrowski of Green Christian UK, an ecumenical environmental movement, said: "We are delighted and honoured to welcome the Climate Justice pilgrims in our city.

"Green Christian movement is one of the local organisers welcoming the pilgrims as they make their long journey to Glasgow to demand swift and effective action of the global leaders.

"The challenge of the climate crisis is a global one but we all should be doing our bit locally.

"This remarkable journey that the pilgrims have undertaken is aimed to raise awareness and motivate people to action because we all share something very precious and that’s, of course, our concern for the natural environment and our responsibility to protect it not only for us but for generations to come.

"A decisive political and economic action is needed if we are to leave a habitable planet for future generations." 

Michael Dunn, of XR Faith Bridge who is one of the walk organisers said he was grateful for such generous response from all local churches and other faith communities in Worcester.

Mary C Carns, parish secretary at St. George’s Catholic Church, said: “We are delighted to welcome pilgrims to our city and St George's in particular.

"The tradition of pilgrimage is very much alive in many faiths and this walk follows the recent call of Pope Francis to play our part in highlighting the need for action and environmental conversion.”

The walk has been called Camino To COP in reference to pilgrimages made since medieval times.

People are welcome to join the pilgrimage with details of the route found at caminotocop.com/route.