Eco Church

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Christ Church is a member of A Rocha UK’s Eco Church movement launched in 2016 and which now exceeds 4,500 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

Eco Church banner

Christchurch is

An Environmental Champion under Blackburn Diocese’s Caring for Creation initiative

A Fairtrade Place of Worship

A supporter of the Climate Coalition’s  Declaration calling for action on Climate Change

A member of LancsCAN (Climate Action Network) https://sites.edgehill.ac.uk/lancscan/ 

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’ published in our Newsletter and on our Facebook page. See all our actions for the current month. The themes and actions are also displayed on the Eco Poster in church.

WORSHIP AND TEACHING

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 at which copies of a Greta Thunberg speech were distributed.
  • Presentations by the Eco Group, our climate change banner displayed and a summary of eco activities distributed.
  • A talk about the work of our chosen charity Money for Madagascar.
  • An interactive presentation entitled ‘Step into the future with Electric’ which covered options for using Electric cars and virtual travel.
  • A presentation entitled ‘What happens to our plastic recycling and why’.
  • An exchange visit with parishes at Hurst Green and Great Mitton.

Future actions will include

We will continue to

  • Participate in Climate Sunday services
  • Arrange presentations on relevant topics of interest
  • Keep the congregation informed of any environmental initiatives and campaigns
  • Highlight climate crisis concerns and actions that can be taken.

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MANAGEMENT OF BUILDINGS AND LAND

We have

  • 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, Church Hall and Vestry
  • Set up a gardening group to help manage the church grounds
  • Planted insect and bee friendly plants and installed bird feeders
  • Sown wildflower seeds on a sunny slope in the church grounds
  • Created a habitat log pile and installed a hedgehog house.

We will continue to

  • Manage the church garden and improve it for wildlife
  • Compost church flowers and other suitable cuttings
  • Chip pruned woody material for garden mulch
  • Seek ways to improve insulation within the church building and methods and funding for 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 Money for Madagascar (previously Water Aid)
  • Donated £125 to the National Trust which, along with personal donations to other charities and direct action, contributed to the planting of over 70 trees for Queen Elizabeth’s Platinum Jubilee
  • Twinned two church toilets with a village in Uganda and worked with local school on toilet twinning and recycling project
  • Held regular sales 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 including those hosted by Blackburn Diocese, Lancaster City Council and A Rocha UK.
  • Knitted squares for blankets for Syria as part of a wider community initiative
  • Established a monthly recycling collection which currently includes plastic bottle tops and dental care items in partnership with Bay Area Recycling and medical blister packs in conjunction with Superdrug.
  • Participated in surveys including Greenpeace’s Big Plastic Count, RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch and Butterfly Conservation’s Big Butterfly Count.
  • Become a Fairtrade Place of Worship serving Fairtrade refreshments.

We will continue

  • To engage with other churches and on Eco Church issues.
  • To network with other organisations on climate change issues.
  • To sell Fairtrade goods and support their campaigns.
  • To recycle items from the monthly collection in church and keep up to date with recycling opportunities.
  • To collect stamps for the benefit of RNIB.

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LIFESTYLE

Information researched and shared

  • Avoidance of single use plastic and alternatives, recycling, availability of local recycling options
  • Water saving in the home and water butts for the garden
  • Green gardening, avoidance of pesticides, companion planting, bee loving plants, home composting
  • Information on Food Futures Community Composting scheme at Scotch Quarry.
  • Green cleaning products and toiletries to buy or make.
  • Avoiding products containing palm oil, without RSPO label indicating sustainable production
  • The benefit of fair trade products.
  • Avoidance of produce associated with deforestation and destruction of natural habitat
  • Benefits of eating less meat, and purchase of organic and locally produced food.
  • Examples of Vegan recipes produced in a booklet
  • 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 and research issues as they arise.
  • To invite organisations such as Food Futures, Claver Hill Community Farm, Friends of Miss Whalley’s Field to participate in Church events,

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