In a time when many talk about change, Pilgrim Church gets on with it.
From its base in Nottingham, this dynamic faith-led community has spent decades not only preaching justice — but delivering it. Whether tackling systemic inequalities or responding to everyday need, Pilgrim has built a reputation as one of the city’s most active and consistent voices for social transformation.
So when Reverend Clive Foster MBE, the church’s Senior Minister, was appointed the UK’s first-ever Windrush Commissioner, it didn’t come as a surprise. It came as confirmation — of years of trust-building, policy-shaping, and truth-speaking. The appointment isn’t just personal recognition. It reflects the collective credibility of a church that has been standing for others long before it was fashionable.
Justice is a Practice, Not a Slogan
Pilgrim’s commitment to justice is more than a campaign. It’s a culture. It’s visible in every project led by Pilgrim Social Action (PSA) — the church’s hands-on response to the social issues affecting the local community.
PSA was launched by Rev Canon Christian Weaver and is driven by one clear purpose: to inform, educate, and act. The team doesn’t just highlight injustice — it does something about it.
- Saturday Schools combat underachievement in local children through direct educational support.
- Luncheon clubs provide not only hot meals for seniors, but connection, care, and dignity.
- Through Hope Meadows Food Bank, Pilgrim helps local families access food and essentials — quietly, respectfully, without barriers.
The organisation has taken on hard issues — from hate crime to housing inequality, from youth safety to employment — always advocating for those who might otherwise go unheard. And their campaigns have reach. Through Nottingham Citizens, Pilgrim collaborates with schools, universities, and other groups to push for structural change on issues like social care, BME policing, and the Living Wage.
Their impact hasn’t gone unnoticed. From hosting Rev Jesse Jackson to standing alongside those affected by the Windrush Scandal, Pilgrim doesn’t posture — it partners.
From Local to National
Reverend Foster’s appointment to lead the Windrush Commission brings Pilgrim’s legacy into the national conversation. But it’s not a detour from their work — it’s a natural progression.
For years, the church has fought for recognition, dignity, and justice for the Windrush Generation and their descendants. Now, that voice will be heard at the highest levels of government — backed by a track record, not just good intentions.
Built by the Community, For the Community
Pilgrim’s strength comes from its people. It’s not a top-down institution. It’s locally rooted and people-powered. Everything they do — whether feeding 150 families at Christmas, supporting anti-gun violence campaigns, or hosting public dialogues around race and justice — is led by those who live the issues, not just study them.
This is why their work resonates: it’s real. It’s responsive. And it doesn’t stop at the church door.
Rising to the Moment
Pilgrim Church is not resting. As Reverend Mark Stewart put it,
“This moment calls us not to rest, but to rise.”
And that’s exactly what they’re doing — rising to meet the needs of a city, a nation, and a generation demanding more.
They are faith-led, yes. But their impact is felt well beyond Sunday. It’s in the schools, the food banks, the policy rooms, and the public squares.
In a world full of noise, Pilgrim is steady, principled, and powerful — proving that real change doesn’t come from rhetoric, but from rooted, persistent, community action.
This is Pilgrim Church.
A catalyst for justice. A partner in progress. A movement built to last.