Bishop blesses litter-picking pilgrims
The Bishop of St Asaph has blessed more than 30 people as they set off on a litter-picking walk, talk and prayer pilgrimage from Talacre to Llandudno.
Bishop Gregory Cameron joined people from churches along the north Wales coast for Shore to Shore, a weekly journey, for people to walk a section of the beach and coastal path, stopping to talk and pray as well as picking up litter. The 25-mile route has been split into six sections, varying in length from three miles to six miles.
Launching Shore to Shore this week, Bishop Gregory said, “It is a pleasure to join you on the beach today as you set off. The shore was an important place for Jesus to meet with people and hear their stories. Shore to Shore is a straightforward and down to earth example of the church seeking to serve its local community and make a difference. We’re encouraging congregations to open their church doors, to leave their building behind and meet the needs of their local community. As we begin the school summer holidays, beaches here will be busier than ever and we hope to do our bit to keep them clean and tidy.”
Shore to Shore is part of a coastal strategy to reinvigorate church-life by the sea in north Wales. Many of the churches are based in large Victorian buildings in need of substantial modernisation. Some of the communities they serve are among the most deprived in Wales and have suffered disproportionately through the Covid pandemic. Shore to Shore has been organised by the Archdeacon of St Asaph and is supported by Church in Wales churches in Prestatyn, Rhyl, Towyn, Pensarn, Abergele, Llanddulas, Colwyn Bay, Rhos on Sea, Craig y Don in Llandudno and Deganwy.
The churches are working in collaboration Keep Wales Tidy / Cadwch Gymru’n Daclus, which is providing litter-picking equipment to congregations as part of the initiative Caru Cymru (a Welsh phrase meaning ‘Love Wales’).
The initiative is led by Keep Wales Tidy, in partnership with all local authorities in Wales. Caru Cymru aims to inspire everyone to take action and care for the environment. The vision is for Caru Cymru to be interwoven into life in Wales, so it becomes second nature for everyone to do the right thing, from taking litter home to cleaning up after your dog.
Gareth Jones, Keep Wales Tidy Project Officer for Denbighshire said, “It’s great to have so many people interested in helping the environment by removing litter and waste. I hope all of the volunteers enjoy the experience, and it looks like an amazing route to walk. I just hope that there isn’t to much litter to collect along the way!”
Caru Cymru has received funding through the Welsh Government Rural Communities – Rural Development Programme 2014-2020, which is funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and the Welsh Government.
You can find details of Shore to Shore on the Diocese of St Asaph website.