Before the service of thanksgiving and reflection for Christian Aid’s 80th anniversary at Westminster Abbey, church leaders gathered for a breakfast and conversation.
Inspiring messages of hope and challenge were heard from partners and churches alike. The commitment to justice was felt from all through the reflection and discussion.
Where we started and where we’re going
Chair of Trustees, Bishop Sarah Mullally, opened the conversation with some words of reflection on the challenges the world faced in 1945.
She outlined how the moral leadership of churches shaped the global response through the creation of international law and institutions as well agencies like Christian Aid.
80 years later questions of decolonization, racism and power are shifting the way aid and development are done, but the gospel call of justice remains. Bishop Sarah outlined how new challenges like the climate crisis, and familiar ones like inequality, war and nationalism, are putting pressure on the institutions created in 1945.
She called for a recommitment to the cause, and for the church to continue to draw on hope from God as we look to the future.
Right now, we need the power of hope more than ever. As tragic events continue to unfold across the world, we can’t stop here. Donate and help us in making lasting change possible.
A challenge from our partners
Diana Gichengo, a civil rights expert from Kenya, Bezwada Wilson, a human rights campaigner from India, and William Bell, Christian Aid’s Head of Middle East Policy & Advocacy brought experience from Christian Aid partners of the current context.
Diana spoke about the experience of churches in Kenya responding to calls for justice from young people. Churches have opened their buildings to host meetings where young activists had struggled to find a place to gather. Her experience of the power of churches acting together to put pressure on governments to act justly was very powerful.
Wilson shared his journey of campaigning for the rights of the Dalit Community and the outlawing of manual scavenging as part of a personal testimony as well as a challenge to the UK churches.
There are over 250 million Dalits and very little documentation on the historical roots. They’re referred to as the ‘untouchables’, or the ‘scheduled castes’. Mahatma Gandhi called them ‘Harijans’ or the ‘children of God’. But today they have opted to call themselves the ‘Dalits’, a Sanskrit word meaning crushed and downtrodden.
Wilson also spoke of the difference between the change of policy and genuine engagement and solidarity and challenged churches to connect their worship and mission with the issues of social justice affecting the people in their congregations.
William Bell lamented the fact that it wasn’t possible to have a partner from our Middle East programme in the room due to ongoing conflict. He brought a stark update about the situation for those across Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory and reflection on where the risks lie in speaking out about what we see happening to those in Gaza and beyond.
Join The Restore campaign and help bring justice to those affected by conflict and crisis.
What are the plans for the future?
It was great to hear from Mervyn McCullagh, Christian Aid’s Director of Strategy and Global Change, who presented Christian Aid’s plans for the future. The plans included Christian Aid's commitment to growing our faith partnerships and affirming our relationship with the churches.
This then led into a discussion between Christian Aid CEO, Patrick Watt, and Bishop Mike Royal, Chair of Churches Together in England concerning the role that British churches can play in the future of Christian Aid.
Hearing from our churches
Another key talking point before the 80th anniversary service took place at Westminster Abbey, was discussion about the unstoppable power of hope and especially the stories from our partners.
Reflections and feedback were constructive and thoughtful, with an emphasis on how to meet the challenges of the present and the future. We highlighted a commitment to working together in deeper partnership and to further equipping churches to speak out and address the injustices we see.
To conclude, Revd Prof Dr Jerry Pillay, General Secretary of the World Council of Churches brought words of encouragement. He reflected on the journey the churches and Christian Aid have been part of, along with the global church, and how we can work together in strength to answer God’s call to love our neighbour.
What happens next?
After the morning of fascinating discussion and reflection, we were then led straight into the moving service in Westminster Abbey, where a procession of church leaders representing Christian Aid’s sponsoring denominations started off the incredibly moving time of worship together.
The day was an uplifting time marking what has been achieved together in partnership over 80 years and committing to continuing that journey.
![Women of the Dalit Community [BANNER]](/sites/default/files/styles/teaser_pod_xl_x1/public/2025-04/long-banner-1.png?h=c673cd1c&itok=JWYm0FiF)
