Simon Topping
Minister
Simon Topping is a prominent faith leader in
England, known for his campaign work in favour of ending world poverty.
Reverend Topping came to prominence during his time in
Birmingham and his work on the British chapter of the Jubilee 2000
Drop the Debt campaign.
In 1998, He helped to initiate a
human chain around central Birmingham during the
G8 meeting of world leaders in the city. The campaigning resulted in the relocation of the G8 conference meeting on the outskirts of the
Midlands.
In 2003, he co-founded the
Saltley Gate Peace Group, an inter-faith initiative launched in response to the build-up to
war in
Iraq.
In 2001, Topping caused controversy when he designed a
black poppy to 'highlight the problems of world poverty'. Members of the
Royal British Legion were allegedly angered by the use of the poppy due to its connotations with
Remembrance Day.
The Minister continued to campaign for the cause right through to
Make Poverty History.
In 2005, when the World G8 Summit returned to the
United Kingdom, the international Make Poverty History campaign was climaxing with marches in
Scotland and
Live 8 in
London.
In support of the campaign, Rev. Topping organised and took part in a 400-mile trek from Birmingham to Edinburgh.
Methodist minister Reverend Dr Simon Topping is currently based in Hucclecote in Gloucester.
*
G8 Summit walk Gallery - BBC Online, July 2005
*
Gloucester minister helping to Make Poverty History - BBC Online, June 2005
*
Interview by Richard Adkins - BBC Radio, June 2005
*
Black poppy marks poverty - BBC News, November 2001
