Saving our planet, one step at a time
As churches – often pressed for both time and money - it can be overwhelming to think about the climate challenge and where to start in caring for creation. A Rocha’s Eco Church initiative is a great place to start!
It breaks church life into five areas, making it easier to assess how well we are caring for God’s earth in each of these areas, and what steps we can take to improve things. By registering with Eco Church and completing their questionnaire you can easily see how sustainable your church is currently. You can then discover how to improve these areas and gain Eco Church accreditation and a bronze, silver or gold award.
You can also find our Eco Church for children section here.
The five areas Eco Church assesses are:- Worship and teaching - this could include prayer, liturgy, children’s groups, bible study materials, outdoor worship, preaching, special services, seasons, youth groups, hymns and songs, meditation, muddy church
- Management of church buildings - this could include sustainable church buildings, insulation, smart heating controls, renewable tariffs, double glazing, draughts, LEDs, water, recycling, cleaning products, travel, solar power, air source heating
- Management of church land - this could include biodiversity in the churchyard, wildlife surveys, bugs, bats, hedgehogs, birds, lichen, trees, wildflowers, mowing, chemicals, graves, composting, growing veg, orchards, allotments, community access, ponds, guerrilla gardening
- Community and global engagement - this could include contacting your MP, inviting speakers, working with local groups on common causes, litter picking, beach clean-ups, green events, campaigning, Fairtrade, amplifying change, divestment, overseas links
- Lifestyle – you can think about carbon footprints, recycling, waste, plastics, ethical investment, travel, shopping, LOAF meals, an ethical diet, switching to renewable energy
Many churches in our diocese are exploring Eco Church and are doing so in very different ways. Download the Eco Church in the Diocese of Bath and Wells sheet below to find out how. You can also download a case study from Holy Trinity Church, Yeovil.
Eco Church for children
Eco Church isn’t just something for the adults at your church, your children’s group can get involved too. Eco Church can teach our children how to care for God’s creation in interactive and engaging ways.
Make a bird feeder:
A bird feeder is a fun and easy way of ensuring birds are fed year round. Find out how you can make a bird feeder here.
Wildlife surveys
Conducting a wildlife survey can help teach kids about all the different species that are living in the churchyard. There are many different surveys for different plant and animal species, you can find one that would be most appropriate for your church here.
Engaging with local MP's
Your children’s/youth group could think an environmental issue that they are passionate about. They could then write a letter to your local MP, asking them to start an initiative or speak at the House of Commons about said environmental issue.
Seed Planting
Planting wildflowers can be an interactive and engaging method of creating life in your churchyard. Find out about how to do seed planting activities in your churchyard here.
Make a terrarium or mini greenhouse
Making your own terrarium is a really fun way of growing your own plants, identifying different species, and learning about how habitats form. Find out how to make your own here.
Make a terrarium or mini greenhouse
You can also find out more about what children and youth can do here!
Who to contact
Sara Emmett, Climate Justice and Environment Advisor