The Christian charity, A Rocha UK, works to protect and restore the natural world and encourage Christians and churches to care for the environment. Eco Church is A Rocha UK’s award scheme for churches in England and Wales.
In February 2020 Church of England General Synod called for all churches to work towards net zero emissions by 2030.
St Mary’s registered as an Eco Church in January 2022 with the unanimous support of the Church Committee. We try to demonstrate our response to the climate and ecological emergencies through all aspects of church life, including
- Worship and teaching – about caring for creation
- Management of church buildings – ensuring our church buildings do not damage the environment
- Management of church land – managing church land to allow our wild neighbours to flourish
- Community & global engagement – engaging with our community and the world on issues such as climate breakdown, pollution and species loss
- Lifestyle – encouraging our church family to care for God’s creation.
The Eco Church award scheme encourages churches to record what they are already doing to care for God’s earth in these five key areas using an online questionnaire, and to reflect on further steps towards a Bronze, Silver or Gold Creation Care Certificate.
At St Mary’s we are working towards qualifying for our Bronze Certificate, and hope we will achieve this in 2023.
St Mary’s is a member of Horsham Eco Churches, along with 13 others from Horsham Churches Together. We meet regularly to share ideas, support each other and work together. There is a regular Horsham Eco Churches stand and information / discussion point at the Sussex Green Hub, on the last Saturday of every month at the United Reformed Church in Springfield Road.
Eco Talks
Please click on the links below to view the presentations.
February 2023
Recycling our use of finite resources and why it matters – Richard Herrington
Net Zero by 2030 and Horsham Parish – Nick O’Riordan
Biodiversity in Horsham – action and future – Tim Thomas