In many areas throughout the Diocese of St Albans there is a great deal of work being done to look after our environment. 147 of the parishes within our diocese are registered with the Eco Church scheme, with a significant number of those having achieved a Bronze or Silver award, working to reduce their carbon footprint as part of the Church of England’s work to reach Net Zero Carbon by 2030.
What is the role?
This month we are launching a new voluntary Deanery Eco Champion role that anyone who is part of an Eco church can apply to fulfil. The Deanery Eco Champion will be a named person (we recommend up to three per deanery) who will act as a point of contact for parishes within the deanery, helping with the provision of resources and training, and facilitating communication between churches and other groups in the local community. Providing a framework within which churches can work together to bring about positive change is a key strength of the Eco Church programme.
What can looking after our environment look like?
St Luke’s in St Albans is an example of one church working hard both within their own parish to care for creation, and also to connect with others and be involved in shared events. The photos below display the church being part of the following events:
- Joining forces with other churches in a ‘Green Christian’ St Albans event called the ‘Big One’ protest
- Solar panels were installed as part of their work to achieve the Bronze Eco Church award
- Hosting a community Eco Event (a repair fair where items can be brought to be repaired and reused rather than thrown away)
- The front garden of the church has been replanted with bee-friendly plants and a swift box and calling device has been installed.
Why is this new role important?
Caring for creation is an essential part of the Church’s mission and ministry, and this new voluntary role significantly contributes to the diocesan vision of Living God’s Love by enabling parishes to take action for climate and nature as part of their Christian witness in their local communities. However large or small your church, it is possible to join in and be part of this mission.
How to get involved
If you would like to consider becoming a Deanery Eco Champion, please find the job description here. You are also invited to contact Rachel Johnston, Diocesan Environment Officer for further information and an application form. There is no deadline for applications and we welcome interest from anyone at any stage.
If you are interested in getting started with the Eco Church scheme and unsure where to start, please get in touch with us, we would love to discuss with you good starting points and to listen to what the need is in your area. You can also visit the Environment pages on our website.