Could your church become an Eco Church?
Eco Church is run by the Christian environmental charity A Rocha UK, to help churches of all denominations to care for creation as an integral part of loving their neighbours and following God faithfully.
It offers a free online survey and supporting resources designed to equip each church to express its care for God’s world in: its worship and teaching, how it looks after its buildings and land, how it engages with the local and global community, and the personal lifestyles of the congregation.
The survey acts as a tool for your church to carry out an initial audit in these areas and then record progress.Registering with the scheme allows you to save your survey answers and then update them as your church undertakes new actions and initiatives.
As you complete the survey your church collects points towards an Eco Church Award.In the Diocese of Chichester there are now 84 churches registered. One church has already achieved a gold award, (Ticehurst) The 13 churches which have already achieved Silver awards include, Trinity Lewes, St Mary’s East Grinstead, St Luke's Prestonville and St Mark’s Holbrook. There are now 36 churches with Bronze awards including: Holy Trinity Forest Row, St John the Evangelist Brighton, St Paul’s Chichester and the Cathedral.
An overview of the Eco Church scheme - watch the video
Get started in 4 easy steps
- Look at the Eco Church website.
- Register as an Eco Church - it’s simple and starts your journey. You don’t have to be doing any activity just sign up at A Rocha UK.
- Complete the Eco Survey. It will help you to identify the environmental work that your church is doing and what else you could do.
- Contact Diocesan Environment Officer, The Revd Buff Stone for help and support. Please also share your award news with communications team communications@chichester.anglican.org
We are developing the Parish Environment Support Network of Parish Eco Church Champions and Deanery Eco Church Champions. Parish Eco Church Champions encourage their local congregations on their Eco Church journey and Deanery Eco Church Champions work across deaneries with more resources to help churches start on this journey. Please contact Buff if you are interested in either of these roles.
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