Retired Church of England vicar charged denies aggravated trespass at Bath Abbey

Four people, including a retired Church of England vicar, have pleaded not guilty to charges of aggravated trespass and refusing to leave Bath Abbey in September 2025. Bill White, a retired Church of England vicar from Macclesfield, appeared via video link at Bath Magistrates Court. The other three appeared in person.

‘Don’t Crucify Creation’

A giant 4m banner with the words ‘Don’t Crucify Creation’ was displayed from the top of Bath Abbey’s tower as part of the launch of Christian Climate Action’s Stop Crucifying Creation campaign on 13 September 2025. Four people then sat peacefully on the bell tower roof, asking to speak to the bishop of Bath and Wells. The campaign urges the Church of England to take radical and urgent action in the face of the climate and nature emergency. This should include speaking out unapologetically against the powers that are causing climate change.

30 people took part in a peaceful prayer vigil outside the court in support of the four while the hearing took place.

The four charged are:

Bill White, 71, a retired Church of England vicar from Macclesfield

Stephen Pritchard, 66, a former parish councillor from Radstock, Somerset

Emma Ireland, 41, a mental health worker from Bristol

Kate Chesterman, 60, a retired university worker from Kent

After the hearing, White said:

It is not in the public interest to prosecute the truth tellers, the prophets of our time. The Church is falling to tell the truth about climate breakdown and its impact on all of us. The Abbey was more interested in keeping its tours running than in being a place of worship and in hearing our message.

When pleading not guilty, Pritchard said:

I want to be judged by the morality of my actions, not by the legality of my actions.

On Monday 5 January, two days before the court hearing, members of Christian Climate Action met with the bishop of Bath and Wells Michael Beasley. He listened to their concerns and said he would read the vision document Stop Crucifying Creation.

A case management hearing will take place on Wednesday 14 January at Bath Magistrates Court.

Stop Crucifying Creation is available here. Christian Climate Action asks people to write to their church, bishop, or diocese urging them to read it and respond.

Featured image via Christian Climate Action