St Paul’s Cathedral may be forced to close its doors in light of the growing number of anti-capitalist protesters setting up camp outside. Comparisons with situation at Trinity Church, Wall Street.
Officials at the cathedral initially welcomed protesters but said they were now reviewing the situation due to the “increased scale and nature of the protest camp” since it first sprung up on Saturday.
The churchyard has attracted protesters due to the cathedral’s location in London’s financial district.
The cathedral has asked protesters to respect its need to provide worship and to “acknowledge the risk to the life of the cathedral posed by the current situation”.
“The cathedral has managed so far to remain open on a reduced basis,” a statement read.
“The increased scale and nature of the protest camp is such that to act safely and responsibly the cathedral must now review the extent to which it can remain open for the many thousands coming this week as worshippers, visitors and in school parties.
“Is it now time for the protest camp to leave? The consequences of a decision to close St Paul’s cannot be taken lightly’.”
Protests spread to London after anti-capitalist campaigners occupied Wall Street in New York. Some of the protesters have expressed their intention to stay outside St Paul’s until the New Year.
The London protest, calling itself the Occupy London Stock Exchange action, was part of a worldwide demonstration of anger against capitalism and greed in Berlin, Vienna, Paris, Rome and Tokyo as well as the wellspring of the movement, Wall Street and other parts of New York City.
A statement issued by Occupy London Stock Exchange (Occupy LSX) quoted Andy Robert, one of the protesters, saying: “We’ve now been welcomed by St Paul’s … We are here to talk about the role of the financial sector, government and corporate greed have in ruining the lives of ordinary people and how we can bring about change.”
The opening response at St Paul’s by Canon Giles Fraser, reflected a similar situation faced by a well-known New York parish. Trinity Church on Wall Street in Manhattan is right in the centre of the disturbances which took place in lower Manhattan. The Rector posted a statement on the parish website offering hospitality to the protestors and its hope that it could be a place of reconciliation.
The Trinity Wall Street statement reads:
“For a number of weeks now, “Occupy Wall Street” protesters have encamped in Zuccotti Park, a square of open space just north of Trinity Church and south of St. Paul’s Chapel. Trinity Wall Street respects the rights of citizens to protest peacefully and supports the vigorous engagement of the concerns that form the core of the protests – economic disenfranchisement and failure of public trust.
As a prayerful community with a deep history of relationships in Lower Manhattan, Trinity continues its pastoral outreach and welcomes any of those involved in the ongoing situation to parish spaces. Many protestors have found the opportunity for rest and revitalization in Charlotte’s Place, Trinity’s new neighborhood center, and have expressed deep appreciation for the hospitality there. We welcome any of those involved in the protest for pastoral care and reflection.
With its long history, Trinity is also a place where meaningful conversations between people with divergent viewpoints can happen. We also offer our meeting spaces to groups for conversations and forums on issues of public concern.
As the protest unfolds, I invite you to hold all those involved in your prayers: the protesters, neighborhood residents and business owners, the police, policy-makers, civic leaders, and those in the financial industry – all – and to consider the ways we might take steps in our own lives that improve the lives of others.”