“Reducing the causes of climate change is essential to the life of faith. It is a way to love our neighbour and to steward the gift of creation.”
“The present challenges of environment and economy, of human development and global poverty, can only be faced with extraordinary Christ-liberated courage.”
Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury
The Church of St Peter and St Pauls believes that responding to climate change is an essential part of our responsibility to safeguard God’s creation and we are delighted to have received our Bronze Eco Church Award from A Rocha UK in February 2022. We are now working towards our Silver and hope to have completed that in 2024!
A Rocha UK, a Christian charity, works to protect and restore the natural world and encourage Christians and churches to care for the environment. Eco Church is A Rocha UK’s award scheme for churches in England and Wales.
In February 2020 Church of England General Synod called for all churches to work towards net zero emissions by 2030.
- The scheme covers all aspects of church life, including
- Worship and teaching – about caring for creation
- Management of church buildings – ensuring our church buildings do not damage the environment
- Management of church land – managing church land to allow our wild neighbours to flourish
- Community & global engagement – engaging with our community and the world on issues such as climate breakdown, pollution and species loss
- Lifestyle – encouraging our church family to care for God’s creation.
Protection of the environment and responding to the climate crisis is a particular passion of our vicar Rev Helen Burnett. Her enthusiasm and those of our Eco Church team has helped drive our progress. Environmental justice and climate change impacts are a key element of our regular worship and children’s activities. On a practical level, we manage reductions in our carbon footprint, our energy is supplied via a green energy supplier and we bank ethically. We love our churchyard and manage it to promote wildlife habitats and protected species. We encourage our congregation and wider community to participate in environmental events and make greener lifestyle choices.
Do keep an eye out for updates and environmental activities in our monthly newsletter. If you have any questions, or would like to help with our work, please contact the Eco Team on (add link here)
