In Wallingford, St Mary-Le-More and St Leonard’s churches have been working hard to take action on climate change and reduce their impact on the environment. The churches are part of the A Rocha Eco Church Scheme and achieved the Silver Award in autumn 2020.
Emma Cross, who is a Churchwarden at St Mary’s and St Leonard’s and involved in the environment work at the two churches tells us about the journey so far:
“In 2019, in memory of a much-loved parishioner who was an environmental enthusiast and with keen support from our Team Rector, the Revd David Rice, the PCC made a commitment to a new area of mission which we named, Cherishing God’s Earth. It aimed to use environmental action as an opportunity to connect with the local community in a new and different way. We sought to integrate the mission into all parts of our worship and spirituality.”
The church began working towards the Bronze Eco Church award, making changes to their everyday practices, lifestyle habits of the congregation and the energy efficiency of the church buildings. With support from generous parishioners, St Mary’s were able to upgrade their indoor lighting and install new LED lighting, and more recently fund a specialist survey to find a more energy efficient and clean way of heating St Mary’s Church building to replace the gas boiler.
“It is really important to us that we cut the carbon footprint of our church buildings and do our bit to restore, remake and renew God’s creation and help reach the diocesan and national church’s commitment to reaching net zero by 2030. Through our care for creation and worship, we’re continuing to encourage the congregation to think about environmental issues, how they can alter their own carbon footprints, and what more they can do to cherish God’s earth.”
Building on the success of their churchyard nature event, last year, the churches are working with local environmental group Wild About Wallingford, to host another free nature event for local children and their families as part of the Churches Count on Nature week at the beginning of June.
“Working with local people in the community has been a great way to build new connections and make the churches known in the town but also demonstrate that as Christians we too care about our world and take responsibility for helping form a better future.”
Eco Church
The A Rocha Eco Church scheme recognises the commitment of churches to good environmental and ethical stewardship in five key areas of parish life: worship and teaching, buildings, land, lifestyle, and community and global engagement.
Find out about the changes your church can make towards becoming an Eco Church on the environment section of our website. It can be as simple as completing an energy audit, switching to low-energy lighting, or hosting churchyard wildlife projects.