The Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, the Rt Rev Alan McDonald, will this week hand in a petition against Trident renewal together with the leader of the Scottish Episcopal Church, the Most Rev Idris Jones, and Richard McCready of the Scottish Catholic Church.

Almost 20,000 signatures are contained in the petition, which will be handed over by the three churchmen to the Ministry of Defence on Friday. The petition calls for the government not to invest in a replacement for Trident and to begin the process of decommissioning these weapons with the funds spent on nuclear weaponry to be diverted to aid and development projects.

The Kirk Moderator arrives in London on Monday for his annual St Andrewstide visit. His weeklong trip includes lunch with the Queen and Prince Philip at the Caledonian Club, a private members club for Scots in London since 1891, following the opening of the club's new wing by the Queen.

The Moderator will preach at the Crypt Chapel within the Houses of Parliament where a reading will be given by the Secretary of State for Scotland, the Rt Hon Douglas Alexander, in the presence of members of the House of Commons and House of Lords.

On Advent Sunday, 3 December, Rev McDonald will preach at the two Church of Scotland churches in London, St Columba's and Crown Court.

He will attend the installation of the new Dean of Westminster, meet with the Archbishop of Canterbury at Lambeth Palace, discuss issues with the Director of Christian Aid, Daleep Mukarji and attend the 341st St Andrews Festival Dinner of The Royal Scottish Corporation, a charity that helps Scots in London who are suffering hardship.