Eco Church is a scheme run by A Rocha, UK equipping churches to care for God's creation through their worship, buildings, land, community engagement, and individual lifestyles.
The ethos behind Eco Church is underpinned by the National Church’s goal to become Net Zero by 2030. In simple terms, Net Zero means, making no contribution to global warming. This is achieved by ensuring that the amount of fossil fuels (carbon) we put into the atmosphere is matched by the amount of carbon we take out of the atmosphere. Hence the term ‘Carbon Neutral’.
The Diocese of Chester is committed to working towards the 2030 target and many of our churches have already taken steps to improve their carbon footprint by implementing improvements to their heating systems, recycling waste and planting trees etc.
Big old churches, that were built hundreds of years ago, aren’t the most heat efficient of buildings, which does present a challenge when it comes to reducing energy consumption. But the key to Eco Church scheme is all about balancing your carbon output. A church might not be able to make many improvements to its heating consumption, but there might by ways to offset your carbon consumption to ‘balance your carbon books’.
How A Rocha can help
A Rocha has an award scheme called Eco Church, for churches who want to demonstrate that they are committed to becoming more Eco friendly. They have three awards, Bronze, Silver and Gold and offer help and guidance on achieving those awards. It’s possible that your church might already qualify for a Bronze award, without you even knowing it, so it’s worth getting in touch with them and signing up for the scheme.
One of our churches that has been awarded a Gold award from A Rocha is Christ Church Higher Bebington. You can read more about them in our story, Gold Eco Church award for Christ Church, Higher Bebington
Eco Award Map: View a map of Diocese of Chester Churches that have been awarded Bronze, Silver or Gold awards from A Rocha
Useful Links
10 Tips to Make Your Church More Eco-Friendly: Compiled by ‘Stewardship’, they, describe their list as; “easy wins to get started on the journey of making your church more eco-friendly and to celebrate God’s creation”.
Green churches: 'Ecclesiastical’ provide useful insights into how greener churches can protect the earth, reduce outgoings and encourage a more sustainable future for their communities.
Green Christian: A group of ordinary Christians from all backgrounds and traditions. Inspired by faith, to care for Creation
The following churches within the Diocese of Chester have all received an ECO Church award.
ChurchName - AwardStatus
Christ Church Higher Bebington - Gold
St Mary's Church, Upton Silver
St James Parish Church, Audlem - Silver
St Bridget's Church, West Kirby - Silver
St Michael & All Angels Macclesfield - Silver
St Peter's Heswall - Silver
St Michael & All Angels Church, Bramhall - Silver
Norbury Parish Church Silver
St Thomas' Church, Stockton Heath - Silver
St Saviours Church Oxton - Bronze
Church of the Resurrection & All Saints, Caldy (Caldy Church) - Bronze
St. Mary's Church, Partington - Bronze
St Peter's, Prestbury - Bronze
St Michael's Church, Chester - Bronze
Holy Trinity and Christchurch, Stalybridge - Bronze
St Mark's Church, Lache Saltney - Bronze
St Mary’s Church, Nantwich - Bronze
St Thomas of Canterbury Church, Chester - Bronze
St Catherine’s Church - Bronze
Holy Trinity Church, Blacon - Bronze
St John The Evangelist, Sandiway - Bronze
Church of St. Mary The Virgin, Bowdon - Bronze
Christ Church, Timperley - Bronze
Holy Cross Church, Timperley - Bronze
Holy Trinity Church, Hurdsfield - Bronze
St Thomas' Church, High Lane Village - Bronze
St Chad's Church, Tushingham - Bronze
St James, Sutton - Bronze
Chester Cathedral - Bronze
St Wilfrid's Church, Grappenhall - Bronze
St Michael's Church, Marbury - Bronze
All Hallows Church, Cheadle - Bronze
St John’s, High Legh - Bronze
Emmanuel Church, Wallasey - Bronze