On Saturday 6th September, the streets of London bore witness to the largest March for Life UK in its history, with over ten thousand pro-life advocates gathering in a peaceful and joy-filled demonstration of support for the unborn and their parents. Marked by a striking presence of young people, families, and children, the event showcased a growing generational momentum within the UK’s pro-life movement despite the very different backgrounds of many there.
This year’s March was not only significant in scale but also in the profound message of unity it sent across Christian denominations. Seven Roman Catholic bishops, two CofE bishops, Orthodox clergy and laity, Evangelical pastors, and Christian leaders from across the UK stood shoulder to shoulder in a powerful show of solidarity. A special message of support from Pope Leo XIV was read to the crowd, offering encouragement and blessings.
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The march had been preceded by a Pro-life Human Rights Summit featuring a legal panel and live interviews with women impacted by abortion, sessions for children of all ages and stalls from many pro-life organisations, showcasing their work.
Keynote speeches were delivered by pro-life MP Carla Lockhart, Scottish midwife Sara Spencer (censored for her pro-life stance), March for Life UK co-director Isabel Vaughan-Spruce (currently under police investigation for silently praying near an abortion facility) and abortion survivor Josiah Presley. Each speech highlighted the personal and political cost of defending life, but also the hope and conviction that fuels this movement.
Josiah Presley shared his deeply moving testimony of surviving an attempted surgical abortion and being raised by loving adoptive parents. Presley, once filled with bitterness, shared how an encounter with Jesus Christ at 16 changed his life, urging the crowd not to stop at speaking the truth, but to act upon it.
Despite a background of tension with counter-protests, including vocal abortion-rights demonstrators and a large, disruptive pro-Palestinian protest leading to hundreds of arrests, the March for Life crowd remained peaceful, joyful, and resolute, a stark contrast noted by many onlookers.
Notable Quotes from the Day
- Josiah Presley (Abortion Survivor) speech:
“Don’t just speak the truth – find a way to act on that truth.” - MP Carla Lockhart speech:
“If human rights mean anything they must be consistent, they must apply to all. If we are to see change, we must each play our part.” - Isabel Vaughan-Spruce speech:
“Priceless human beings or worthless bits of tissue – What do you believe and more importantly, how will you respond? Parents, politicians, pastors, police, medics, lawyers, journalists and every single person here must make that choice. These two worldviews cannot co-exist. They can’t both be right. Pick your side but remember what they say – the fence belongs to Satan.” - Co-director Isabel Vaughan-Spruce (Co-director, March for Life UK) reflection on the day:
“While it was impressive to see such a strong crowd gathered, what pleased me more was the individual stories I heard from attendees who told me their pro-life plans because of what they’d experienced at the march – students pledging to start pro-life societies at their universities or churchgoers planning to hold pro-life coffee mornings at their churches to raise awareness in their own communities – these are the people who will help change the culture by passing on the truths they have heard today to others.”
- Ben Thatcher (Co-director, March for Life UK) refection on the day:
“More and more people are recognising the reasonableness and consistency behind the pro-life movement. For us to care about human rights in any capacity we must start by valuing life itself and that means the right to life of all – no one is too small, too young or too dependent that their life is not valuable, and that right needs to be protected in law.”
