Bishop of Bristol Denies Permission to Officiate to Retired Priest Facing Climate Protest Trial

The Rt Revd Vivienne Faull, Bishop of Bristol, has refused to grant Permission to Officiate (PTO) to retired priest Revd Sue Parfitt, 82, who is currently facing trial for criminal damage linked to a climate protest. Revd Parfitt is accused of damaging the protective glass surrounding the Magna Carta at the British Library during a protest in May 2024. Alongside a fellow activist, she allegedly broke the glass and glued herself to the display, holding a sign reading, “The Government is breaking the law,” in a bid to raise awareness about the climate crisis.

PTO, which allows retired or non-stipendiary clergy to continue officiating services, preaching, and conducting ceremonies, was withheld from Parfitt, whose previous PTO expired on 31st December 2022. While Parfitt described the decision as “painful,” she expressed her commitment to speaking out against the climate crisis, accusing the Church and other powerful institutions of suppressing the issue. A spokesperson for the Diocese of Bristol acknowledged the ongoing legal proceedings and reaffirmed support for peaceful and lawful environmental activism but stated that the charges facing Parfitt were the basis for withholding PTO.