CAPTION: One Devon church has been making a difference by taking steps to become more environmentally friendly.
Devon Church celebrates Gold Eco Church Award
One church in Devon has been awarded a Gold Eco Church, being the first church in the Diocese of Exeter to achieve this and joining an exclusive group of only 36 Church of England churches nationally to be recognised at the Gold level.
St Margaret and St Andrew’s Church has shown how small actions can make a big difference.
St Margaret and St Andrew’s Church in Littleham were given their award for weaving creation care throughout their church life, including regularly praying for the environment, partnering with local organisations to champion sustainable living in the town, and teaching on the environment in their services.
The Eco Church scheme is run by the conservation charity A Rocha UK, which encourages and equips churches in their journey to becoming more environmentally friendly. Churches can complete a free online survey, and earn points based on ways that they are caring for God’s earth. When enough points are earned, churches are awarded either a bronze, silver or gold Eco Church Award.
St Margaret and St Andrew’s Church has formed an Eco team that has been making steady changes in the building to reduce their carbon footprint, and have made use of the funding opportunities that are available to help reach their target of getting to net zero.
The church registered for the Eco Church scheme in October 2022, they achieved their Bronze award in March 2023, followed by Silver in August 2023.
They were one of the Give to Go Green pilot churches and received matched funding; the £10,000 they raised was then matched by £10,000 from the Church of England.
Sarah Charker, Creation Care and Engagement Officer for the Diocese of Exeter, said, “The churchyard in Littleham is inspiring and many people have worked hard creating nature friendly spaces and creating an environment that is welcoming for all of the community.”
St Margaret and St Andrew’s Church has also showcased how equally important the small actions are, and how they can make a difference.
The church hosts a pill pack recycling station, which is well used by the local community. Once the collection is full, a volunteer takes it to a local store who accepts these for recycling.
Roger and Sue Mosely have played a key part in helping the church win its Eco Church Gold award
Sue and Roger Mosely, who both attend St Margaret and St Andrew’s Church have played key parts in helping the church to become more environmentally friendly. Sarah Charker said, “They have instigated a real awakening in their church on how faith should compel us to care for the environment and how important it is for churches to be a beacon of creation care.”
Sarah said, “this is an incredible example and should inspire us all. Change is possible, and it can happen a lot quicker than we think!”
The church has an Eco team who have been working hard to make the church more environmentally friendly.
Team Rector, Rev’d Steve Jones said, “Our Littleham Eco Church Team has really seen pursuing our Bronze, Silver, and Gold Eco Church awards, not just as a way of changing our thinking about our relationship with God’s amazing natural world, but also as a way of Gospel mission.
“Through the many Eco events, talks, and community gatherings that our team have hosted, many conversations have been stirred about why the Church cares so much about our world and the people living in it.”
“That has, of course, led to conversations about God’s incredible love for the world, expressed in the coming of Jesus. We have been amazed at how open people are to talk about real and active faith in the world, and to encounter a Church which is active and on the move.”
To find out more about becoming an Eco Church, click here.
