Christ Church is a member of A Rocha UK’s Eco Church movement launched in 2016 and which now exceeds 3000 local churches learning how to care for creation in all they do.
We are proud to say that we have achieved the Silver Eco Church award in recognition of our efforts to care for God’s earth in each of the following areas:
Worship and teaching
Management of buildings and land
Community and global engagement
Lifestyle
Christchurch is
An Environmental Champion under Blackburn Diocese’s Caring for Creation initiative
A Member of the Treading Lightly Network
Supporter of the Climate Coalition’s Declaration calling for action on Climate Change
Since September 2016 we have been working to make our church more environmentally friendly and to encourage our congregation and local community to reduce their carbon footprint.
We have a theme for each month and an ‘Action for the week’ is published in our Newsletter and on our Facebook page. See all our actions for the current month.
Regular activities include
- Sermons on Caring for Creation and the urgency for action on climate change
- Prayers covering the natural environment and those suffering the disastrous effects of climate change and for governments to take urgent action to achieve net zero targets.
- Monthly posters at the back of church showing results of research on different themes
- Sharing weekly actions on achieving a sustainable lifestyle online and in newsletters
We have had
- A survey in church to identify the take-up of green lifestyles
- A green resolutions fair to share successes and difficulties.
- A presentation on carbon footprint reduction open to other churches which led to achievable actions being identified from The Drawdown report.
- A Creation Sunday service and shared a Greta Thunberg speech
- An Eco group presentation, displayed our Eco banner and distributed a summary of eco activities carried out
Future actions will include
- Climate Sunday services
- Further engagement with the congregation by presentations and activities
MANAGEMENT OF BUILDINGS AND LAND
We have
- Switched to a renewable energy supplier
- Had an energy assessment carried out
- Fitted LED light bulbs in the nave
- Fitted some draft excluders in church
- Installed a bike rack outside church
- Provided a recycling unit in the Church hall.
- Set up a gardening group to help manage the church grounds
- Planted insect and bee friendly plants, installed bug boxes and bird feeders
We will continue
- To improve the church garden for wildlife
- Seek ways to improve insulation within the church building
- Investigate alternative more sustainable sources of heating
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COMMUNITY AND GLOBAL ENGAGEMENT
We have
- Set up a book stall in church raising funds for Water Aid
- Twinned two church toilets with a village in Uganda and worked with local school on toilet twinning and recycling project
- Held a sale of Fairtrade goods in church and supported their campaigns
- Held a clothes swap alongside Friends of Children of Chernobyl (FOCC) craft fair
- Held a ‘bring and buy’ sale to raise money for Christian Aid.
- Attended webinars run by Blackburn Diocese, Lancaster City Council and A Rocha UK.
We will continue
- To attend Treading Lightly Network meetings/ webinars coordinated by St Paul’s Church, Scotforth, Lancaster
- To engage with other organisations on climate change issues
- The collection of crisp packets and bottle tops by uniformed organisations to be recycled for charities
- The annual collection of stamps for the benefit of RNIB
- Knitting squares for blankets for Syria as part of a wider community initiative
Information researched and shared
- Avoidance of single use plastic and alternatives, recycling, availability of local recycling options
- Green gardening, avoidance of pesticides, companion planting, bee loving plants, home composting
- Green cleaning products and toiletries to buy or make.
- Avoiding products containing palm oil, without RSPO label indicating sustainable production
- Sampling fair trade products for church refreshments
- Avoidance of produce associated with deforestation and destruction of natural habitat
- Benefits of eating less meat, and purchase of organic and locally produced food.
- Water saving in the home and water butts for the garden
- Measuring carbon footprint and energy reduction
- Reduction of emissions by driving less, walking, cycling or using public transport more
We will continue
- To pursue recycling opportunities
- To research issues as they arise
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