Footsteps Chair and President 2016 – 2026.
Ruth Tetlow died on 13 January 2026, aged 79, after a life devoted to the service of others; as a teacher in the United Kingdom and Kenya, a tutor at the College of the Ascension in Birmingham, an international development worker, and an activist and campaigner whose life bore witness to her commitment to social justice and human dignity.
In her own quiet way, she played a seminal role in three important movements of faith action through her lifetime: Birmingham Council of Faiths, the pioneering Faith Guiding Course that runs to this day, with trained guides presenting their places of worship, beliefs and activities to visitors from other communities and, finally, our Footsteps – Faiths for a Low Carbon Future.
In the lead-up to the 2015 UN Paris Climate Conference, Ruth helped bring faith communities together to enact Professor John Hull’s aspiration that all faiths work with each other to tackle climate change. Out of this grew Footsteps: Faiths for a Low Carbon Future, launched in 2016 and bringing six major faiths (Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Jewish, Muslim and Sikh) in Birmingham into partnership with the Council and community groups—the first organisation of its kind in the UK. Ruth served as its first Chair and, later, its President, stepping back very reluctantly when illness intervened.
Annie Ahmad, Muhammadi Nursery, Clifton Mosque, Balsall Heath said
“It is with great sadness that we remember Ruth a truly kind and passionate lady dedicated to making the world a better place. I had the privilege of knowing her and her warmth and compassion always stood out. She visited our nursery and inspired the children through a wonderful session about flowers and nature, and she even kindly offered her back garden for the children to grow vegetables.
She had a special ability to bring people of all faiths together with kindness, respect and understanding. Her legacy will continue to inspire our community”
