Season of Creation 2026
The theme for the Season of Creation 2026 is ‘Living Waters’ which is an excellent fit with our ongoing ‘Wellspring’ project. The text for reflection is the extraordinary vision of abundance described in Ezekiel 47:1-12.
This international, ecumenical season is celebrated annually between 1st September and 4th October (St Francis’ feast day). You can find more resources on the Season of Creation website. In 2026, many denominations will adopt the new Feast of Creation in Christ on 1st September. At the end of the season on 3rd October, we commemorate the 800th anniversary of the death of St Francis of Assisi.
Sara Mark has designed this image of abundance featuring the Grinling Gibbons font at St James’s where William Blake was baptised.
Programme for 2026: Encounter at the Wellhead
Wells have taken care of us for thousands of years and are woven into our scriptures, folklore and myths. They are the site of life-changing encounters in the Hebrew scriptures and in John’s Gospel. Until recently, the daily meetings at the well and street pump were at the centre of our communities. Wells represent spiritual depth, the thirst for knowledge, wisdom, and God's life-giving presence.
As we live into the ever-deepening crises engulfing our world, this Season of Creation we take the theme of encounter at the wellhead to build community locally and globally and to celebrate together. Please join us for all or any part of our programme. For more information, please Contact Us.
Wednesday newsletters throughout the season
Every Wednesday through the Season of Creation
Look out for our Thoughts for the Week in the St James’s weekly newsletter. We’ll be exploring themes of living water, justice and action. If you don’t already receive the St James’s newsletter, you can sign up via the link below.
Sanctuary Eucharist
Tuesday 1st September, 6.00 pm at St Pancras Church, Euston Rd, and online
Our regular Sanctuary service at St Pancras, Euston Road, celebrates the new Feast of Creation in Christ on this day.
With a reflection by Diane Pacitti.
Living Waters: a Green Christian workshop
Wednesday 2nd September, 7.00 pm online
An online workshop in collaboration with Green Christian. How do we relate to the rivers, wells and undergrounds flows all around us? What practical and spiritual streams of living water might ignite imagination and transform lives? And what might the new Feast of Creation in Christ mean for our patterns of worship? Register on the Green Christian website via the link below.
Led by Deborah Colvin.
Celebrating the Eucharist with all of Creation
Sunday 6th September, 11.00 am at St James’s Piccadilly, and online
A special Eucharist to launch the season. We often say our worship is simply ‘joining in the praise of all creation’. At this service we will explore this through a sound and video installation inspired by the voices of our parish wells.
Sound installation by Sze Ying Chan
Video by Sara Mark
Our preacher is Rev Joan Ishibashi
Carbon Literacy Training
Saturday 12th September, 10.00 am – 5.00 pm at All Hallows by the Tower
Carbon Literacy training in collaboration with the Two Cities Environment Programme and All Hallows by the Tower. This one-day course accredited by the Carbon Literacy Project is specifically designed for church congregations. Find out more details and register via the link below.
The trainer is Deborah Colvin.
The People’s Emergency Briefing
Tuesday 22nd September, 6.30 pm at All Hallows by the Tower
A screening of the People’s Emergency Briefing in collaboration with the Two Cities Environment Programme and All Hallows by the Tower. An opportunity to meet people from neighbouring congregations, learn what churches are doing already and explore future action. Details about this national initiative are on the National Emergency Briefing Website. You might think about organising a screening in your own community.
Pilgrimage to St Olave’s, Hart Street
Sunday 27th September, 1.00 - 5.00 pm
A pilgrimage to St Olave’s Hart St in the City of London. St Olave’s has a medieval well in their crypt chapel. We will walk approximately 3 miles from St James’s to St Olave’s, encountering numerous well-sites and 12 other churches on the way, reflecting on Ezekiel’s vision and our shared lives in the Thames watershed. The walk will conclude with refreshments and a short service at St Olaves. Please email us via the Contact Us Page to register your interest. Numbers will be capped at about 25.
A Wellspring event in collaboration with Rev Phillip Dawson, Rector of St Olave’s Hart St and former St James’s member. We regret this event is not fully accessible as there are steep, narrow steps to the crypt at St Olave’s.
Pilgrimage to St Martin in the Fields
Sunday 25th October, 1.30 - 3.30 pm TBC
St Martin in the Fields has a modern borehole in their crypt, a living connection to the waters under London. We envisage a pilgrimage to their site for neighbourly conversation at the wellhead. More details coming soon. Contact Us with any questions.
With Simon Thomas, St Martin’s PCC, and members of St Martin’s Eco Group
In conversation with Hannah Gray,
Programme Manager - Nature-Based Solutions
Thursday 1st October, 7.00 - 8.15pm online
Hannah started at Water Resources East in January 2024 to lead the programme of work on Nature-based Solutions to water challenges. She is a Chartered Water and Environment Manager, who started her career at the Broads National Park managing protected wetland sites for 12 years. She has also worked for WaterAid in partnership with Anglian Water as Programme Manager for The Beacon Project, delivering water, sanitation and hygiene in Nepal, and at the University of East Anglia managing sustainable development global research partnerships.
Hannah lives in east Norfolk, between the coast and the broads, and enjoys spending time in nature, volunteering for Norfolk Wildlife Trust at the Trinity Broads (a site she previously managed). She also volunteers for A Rocha UK on the Churches Working Group and as a volunteer speaker. She attends Light of Life Baptist Church in Ormesby, and is a founding member of the Baptist Union Environment Network, encouraging and equipping Baptist churches to care for the environment..
Harvest Festival
Sunday 4th October, 11.00 am at St James’s Piccadilly and online
Details TBC – food will be involved!
