Meet the Team
Many people contribute to Earth Justice at St James’s, bringing a wealth of experience, imagination and expertise to our activities. We have a steering group, and other teams and groups to write and lead eco-contemplative liturgies; devise creative and community projects; maintain the website; and support campaigns, protests, prayer walks, vigils and more. We also have a garden and biodiversity team, and net zero and sustainability teams. Many of us do more than one thing!
Deborah (Earthling, born 318ppm carbon dioxide in the atmosphere) is an educator and environmental activist, with roots in farming and agricultural science. Deborah works on outreach with A Rocha UK and the Diocese of London among others, and gets involved with most areas of Earth Justice activity at St James’s.
“I see the root of the climate and ecological catastrophe as a crisis of spirituality and values for much of humanity, so our response needs to address this, especially through ritual and communal action.”
Deborah Colvin
Zoe’s enjoyment of being in nature led her to deeply care about our planet, its beauty and mystery, and its increasingly rapid changes. Zoe creates eco-contemplative liturgies and leads on building this website.
“Despite the immense challenges facing our planet and communities worldwide, the collaborative, endlessly creative and innovative projects at St James’s make me more hopeful for the future of our shared planet.”
Zoe Cuckow
Petra has had a commitment to a green and holistic spirituality since her involvement with Creation Spirituality in the 1980s and 1990s which introduced her to the Christian contemplatives. She is a member of Greenspirit and supports local sustainability initiatives in North London. In addition, Petra coordinates our campaigning and communications.
“Through our Journeying Together group and Living Spirituality Connections network we explore what an embodied spirituality that is embedded within the web of life means to us.”
Petra Griffiths
Dee was inspired by Friends of the Earth and Fair Trade in her childhood and is committed to making a difference in the climate emergency. Dee is Churchwarden and coordinates Carbon Literacy training and our Sustainability Group at St James’s.
“I make most of my domestic cleaners and use sustainable clothing companies. It is a cause of great sadness to me that I am part of exploitative consumerism. Working in my allotment gives me hope. As part of the Earth Justice Group I can pray and be with like-minded people who raise awareness, protest and take action. All of this and my faith allows me to feel part of the dance of creation.”
Dee Hetherington
Joan is a retired United Church of Christ minister splitting her time between California and London. Joan is developing a programme of climate change and Moral Injury repair at St James’s.
“I first became aware of the problems of pollution as a youth listening to the daily ‘smog alerts’ on the radio in my hometown of Los Angeles. More recently I keep an N95 mask to hand and used it during the raging wildfires. I am grateful to be part of the St James’s Earth Justice group which challenges me to live more sustainably during this destructive Anthropocene age.”
Joan Ishibashi
Diane is a writer who became involved with the Earth Justice group through contributing poetry and reflections to projects like Daily Bread. Diane continues to write poetry for our projects and is building creative project collaborations.
“I love the way Earth Justice at St James’s combines practical action with contemplation and reflection. Participating in this group has convinced me that we need a fundamental change in the way we see and relate to the earth, and this is increasingly the focus of my writing.”
Diane Pacitti
Penelope Turton
Penelope is a retired social scientist who has long been exercised by the environmental catastrophe we face. Penelope engages with issues of economic justice and blogs for this website.
“I have a particular interest in finding ways of living that honour our connectedness and interdependence with the natural world and seek to minimise the damage that we do.”
Sara Mark
Sara is an artist: placemaker. She asks whether the inanimate can be imbued with ‘presence’ by ritual, time and the innate languages of materials. Outcomes include poetry, installations, video, print with integral elements of public engagement and co-making. Her creativity and art-making are integral to our project work and community engagement.
‘‘I am interested in alternative narratives that respond to the animate Universe, nurturing deeper insights into kinship, reciprocity and our interconnectedness.’’
Jonathan Sutton-Smutnà
Jonathan is an ecologist working to understand the impacts of human disturbance on natural ecosystems. Jonathan works on the ‘Breathe’ project, monitoring particulate air pollution in and around St James’s.
‘‘Human attitudes towards the natural world have resulted in a lot of harm to all of the Earth’s inhabitants, and practices like factory farming have been catastrophic for human and non-human animals, and the environment. I hope that we work to create real and lasting change for all God’s creatures.”
Catherine Tidnam
Catherine is St James’s gardener and works in community gardening settings that support mental health, adult learning and schools. Catherine has nurtured our shady, drought-prone green space into the richly biodiverse haven you see today and supports our projects, community engagement and citizen science in the garden.
‘‘My interest in horticulture is simple – how can you use it to lift people’s spirits, create a sense of place and give visitors the opportunity to engage in the natural world in the heart of the city.’