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A Triumph of Delights was a month long festival, led by the Eco Team, in the lead up to COP26 in Glasgow during October 2021.
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Read more about the Eco Team on About Earth Justice
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A Triumph of Delights was a month long festival, led by the Eco Team, in the lead up to COP26 in Glasgow during October 2021
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‘A Triumph of Delights’ is how 17th century mystic Thomas Traherne described planet earth. But the climate and biodiversity crises are threatening planetary equilibrium, and the very existence of humanity.
The Warming Stripes graphic designed by climate scientist Ed Hawkins provides a stark warning. It shows global average temperatures from 1850 to 2020 – the redder the colours, the higher the temperature.
For this reason our Eco Team wanted to provide a variety of spaces to gather in solidarity, and to celebrate the beauty and fragility of our common home with a month long festival.
Style your Stripes Gala Event in partnership with Atelier Tammam
This gala launched the Tammam climate stripes couture collection and raised funds for the church’s organ restoration fund and climate charities. We had guest appearances by singer-songwriter Emeli Sande accompanied by pianist Yoana Karemova. A recital by acclaimed organist Anna Lapwood and a talk by Prof Ed Hawkins, University of Reading, creator of the Climate Stripes graphic.
In Conversation with Huw Edwards
We launched the ‘In Conversation’ series with this exciting event ahead of COP26. An evening of conversation with the BBC’s Huw Edwards and guests, the actor Hugh Bonneville, Sarah Butler-Sloss and Harriett Lamp from the climate change charity, Ashden. All proceeds were gifted to The Heart of St James’s Campaign.
A Triumph of Delights Festival
An afternoon festival packed with music, science, art and conversation followed by all-night vigil. Activities included an installation by artist in residence Esmeralda Valencia Lindstrom, including Video installation in the church and Micro-tours of the courtyard and garden using wearable magnifying glasses. Original artwork sale by our very own Finna Ayers, Fiona Notman and Sara Mark which raised £834 for the Solidarity Fund. A drop-in workshop on the creation of Britain’s first geological map by William Smith. In conversation with teenage naturalist, blogger and London National Park City Champion and Jazz settings of Thomas Traherne’s poetry, including work by Alison Beck.
Our Triumph of Delights festival celebrating planet earth ran throughout October 2021 in the run-up to COP26. Sustainable fashion gala #styleyourstripes in collaboration with Atelier Tammam was a real highlight. Tammam’s 2021 collection is based on the warming stripes graphic devised by Prof Ed Hawkins of Reading University, which demonstrates global temperature increase over the past 150 years. We were delighted to welcome organist Anna Lapwood and singer/songwriter Emeli Sande to this special event, as well as Lucy Tammam and Ed Hawkins.
Joan Ishibashi, a member of our eco team shows off a #styleyourstripes scarf on the red-and-blue carpet.
Emeli Sandé , Anna Lapwood and Ed Hawkins
Emeli Sandé performing at #ShowYorStripes Fundraising Gala
Poster for the inaugural ‘In Conversation’ series
All-night vigil in St James’s courtyard
Multi-faith blessing for those participating in Camino to COP26
Ọlá and the Amalgam
In 2023 the south-facing, sun-drenched curtilage of the church becomes a new Grow Space featuring The Three Sisters (corn, beans and squash) growing on the railings. Many cultures have a version of this staple food combination, which sustainably provides carbohydrates, protein and vitamins/minerals.
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Daily Bread is a community wheat-growing project connecting city-dwellers with food production, engaging with ecological and environmental concerns and exploring humanity’s 10,000 year relationship with wheat.
Aftermath is an ongoing collaborative community project lead by the Eco Team. In 1940 St James’s was badly bomb-damaged. 42 species of ‘weeds’ grew in the nave. We grew the weeds again in the aftermath of Covid, asking what they have to teach us.
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