This year saw a tragic milestone reached, as the 500th known person lost their lives attempting to cross the border to the UK from Calais and Northern France.
A memorial to those who have lost their lives is being hosted in Canterbury Cathedral from Monday 16-Sunday 22 June during International Refugee week. Called Victims of the Border: a memorial for those who journeyed in hope, it lists all known names of those who died on the journey to the UK from Northern France.
© Chapter of Canterbury Cathedral
The Rt Revd Rose Hudson-Wilkin, Bishop of Dover and the Bishop in Canterbury said: “The theme for Refugee Week this year is focussed on community. As a woman of faith, I am reminded that God loved the world that he created. I believe in the goodness of all God created and in the humanity which I am part of.” She continued:
This memorial gives us the opportunity to reflect on the humanity of each person who has lost their lives attempting to reach the UK and think of the individual stories behind the tragic and growing numbers that we hear reported in the news.
As part of a project between The Diocese in Europe, The Diocese of Canterbury and USPG, Bradon Muilenburg acts as the Anglican Refugee Support Lead based in Calais. He will speak in the Crypt throughout the week about the memorial and some of the tragic stories of those listed on it. He said:
This is an opportunity for us as Christians to come alongside those who mourn.
“We ask visitors to choose a name from the memorial, think about that person and their hopes and dreams for sanctuary. Pray for them, and their families. Help support safe routes to avoid these tragedies”
© Chapter of Canterbury Cathedral
This number is only those whose deaths have been recorded since they began to be kept in 1999. Many more people have gone missing, and the true number of victims is much larger.
Plaques without names are included in the memorial to hold space of remembrance for some of those unidentified dead whose bodies were recovered. Also included are victims whose identities have been held back to respect the wishes expressed by their families.
Listen to BBC Radio 4’s Sunday programme to learn more about the Calais Refugee Projects: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m002fjfy (from approx 36 minutes) or visit: https://uspg.org.uk/france/.
In February 2025, USPG was privileged to be hosted by The Rt Revd Carlos López-Lozano, Bishop of the Spanish Reformed Episcopal Church (SREC) on a recent visit to Madrid. The Anglican Church in Spain includes a Pilgrim House in Santiago de Compostella and the Cathedral in Madrid, which collectively share God’s love and serve the local international communities.
As part of the visit, we witnessed the ministry of the Church of the Good Shepherd, a parish in the suburbs led by The Revd Jessica Coello Jiménez. Originally from Ecuador, The Revd Jessica was the first female priest ordained in the SREC. For over eight years, she has supported survivors of domestic abuse, offering counsel, comfort, and a path to healing. Every week, with the help of volunteers, she distributes food bags to women and families, ensuring no one who needs support is overlooked.
The Good Shepherd is one of four new parishes and serves as a sanctuary for women fleeing domestic abuse, offers food for people in need, and creates a space for young people in the community to come together, build friendships, and find support.
The Revd Jessica’s quiet yet impactful ministry serves as a reminder that faith is not just spoken—it’s lived.