Diocesan Environment Forum attend 'The Big One'
Members of the diocesan Environment Forum joined environmental campaigners from across the country, including the former Archbishop of York, to travel down to London for “The Big One” climate protest.
News
Count on Nature at St Mary’s Upton
Count on Nature is an initiative developed by Caring for God’s Acre, which focuses on the brilliant wildlife to be found in churchyards. Jane Hill, Secretary of the St Mary’s Eco Group has been instrumental in counting numerous species of plants and animals since 2021.
Environment Forum Chair urges care for creation
As the daffodils dazzle and spring blooms all around, the Chair of the diocesan Environment Forum, the Revd Mike Loach, has written a reflection for the diocesan Cycle of Prayer in which he urges us all to consider God's creation.
Counting wildlife in ‘undisturbed’ churchyards
Parishes across England and Wales can now register to participate in Churches Count on Nature, an annual scheme where people visit churchyards and record the plant and animal species they encounter.
What is Eco Church and how do we become one?
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. Find out how your church can move to being recognised as an Eco church.
Triple Eco-Church awards for Tarporley parish
The three churches that form the parish of Tarporley have each been awarded a Bronze Eco-Church award by A Rocha. The award scheme recognises how churches express their care for God’s creation through caring for the world and engaging with the local community on environmental issues.
Gaia artwork coming to Chester Cathedral
Gaia, a touring artwork by UK artist Luke Jerram is coming to Chester Cathedral. From the 7th of February the public will be able to view this awe-inspiring installation. The artwork is a representation of our planet and aims to create a sense of the Overview Effect, a term first coined by author Frank White in 1987.
_1674740230.png)
How to reduce your energy bills this winter
The Church of England has published lots of advice to help churches reduce their energy costs this winter. There are practical suggestions from the Cathedral and Church Buildings Division and also a webinar on "housekeeping and quick wins" which discusses a range of ideas for reducing energy usage.
Gold Eco Church award for Christ Church, Higher Bebington
Christ Church, Higher Bebington has been celebrating becoming the first church in the diocese to receive a gold Eco Church award - the highest accolade possible in the award scheme from A Rocha, the Christian environmental organisation.
£15 million to help churches with energy bills
The Church of England is to provide £15 million for dioceses to help churches struggling to pay energy costs. The Diocese of Chester is set to receive £299,000 to support parishes. Further details will be communicated shortly.
Stellar steps forward for Chester Cathedral
Chester Cathedral is undertaking a significant step toward reducing its carbon footprint by installing roof-mounted solar panels on the ancient monastic building. The solar panels are one part of the Cathedral’s activity towards becoming net-zero carbon
Bob Pullan remembered by A Rocha
Christian environmental charity A Rocha has published an obituary for Upton Churchwarden Bob Pullan. Bob was one of the first chairs of the A Rocha trustees in 1983 when the organization was established.
New Eco Church Officer for the North
Lucy Foster has joined Christian conservation charity, A Rocha UK, as their Eco Church officer for the North of England. Her appointment underscores A Rocha UK’s commitment to supporting Eco Churches.
Church House Blog: Do less churchyard maintenance!
Archdeacon of Macclesfield, Ian Bishop, looks at how church yards could be more biodiverse by doing less maintenance and general upkeep to allow wild grasses and flowers to flourish naturally.
Plant a tree for the Jubilee
Parishes in the Diocese of Chester can now benefit from a simplified faculty process that will allow them to plant trees more easily in a churchyard. The decision is in support of The Queen’s Green Canopy initiative.
Transforming a forgotten wasteland
Revd Emma Handley and a dedicated team of parishioners at St Paul's church, Staybridge are transforming a large piece of negelcted church land into a tree and wildflower oasis for the whole community.
42 dioceses pledge to become an “Eco Dioceseâ€
All 42 dioceses in the Church of England have signed up to become an “Eco Diocese†as part of their commitment to reach carbon net-zero by 2030. Parishes can also pledge to become Eco Churches as part of the A Rocha scheme.
Church House Blog: Words and action
Jonny Masters shares some thoughts on the role young people can and are playing in keeping the environment and creation on the agenda and helping the Church and wider society to turn words and promises into action.
11 year old eco-champion secures church award
Holy Trinity Blacon is celebrating after being awarded a Bronze Eco Church award by the Christian environmental charity A’Rocha. The award is largely down to the efforts of what could be our youngest eco-champion and her mother.
_1637071188.png)
What are you doing for the planet?
A new video resource has been sent to all Church schools to help start a conversation about the small things we can do in our everyday lives to help protect the planet from environmental damage.
_1635409872.png)
Church bells to ring ahead of COP26
Churches across the country are planning to ring their bells on the eve of COP26. Churches will join in the Ring Out for Climate initiative at 18:00 for 30 minutes on Saturday 30 October.
Net zero Sunday Service
Parishes are invited to hold a net zero service between now and the 7th November. Resources are available to help parishes measure the carbon footprint of their services, including travel emissions, heating, lighting and electricity.
Woodchurch receives Green Flag Award
Holy Cross Woodchurch Churchyard has achieved the Green Flag Award. The Green Flag Award scheme recognises and rewards well-managed parks and green spaces. Holy Cross Churchyard is one of 2127 award-winning green spaces.
Camino to COP walkers
Camino to COP is a pilgrimage for climate justice, which began in London and will finish in Glasgow on 31 October. We met the walkers in Hartford as they passed through our diocese.
Camino to COP walkers
A multi-faith group walking from London to Glasgow to raise awareness of climate crisis are about to arrive in our diocese where they will be explaining more about their walk and COP26.
Chester registers for Eco-Diocese
The Diocese of Chester has registered its intent to work towards Eco-Diocese status. To achieve bronze, silver, and gold status, the diocese must fulfill certain activities as part of the A Rocha environmental scheme.
_1631545765.png)
What is the biodiversity of your churchyard?
Hundreds of churches have signed up for a week-long ‘nature count’ occurring this summer, which will encourage people to record what they see within the "National Park" of churchyards we enjoy.
Exploring Eco-Church in Higher Bebington
In this short video, Vicar of Higher Bebington and co-chair of the environment forum, Revd Mike Loach, shares some of the small environmental projects they're pursuing as part of the Eco-Church scheme.
Greening Grange
Watch the Bishop of Chester, Mark Tanner, "break the ground" of a new community garden at St. Andrew's, Grange. The garden will be planted on the site of the old church hall and will be designed to help increase biodiversity.
_1614781341.png)
Bishop's Council approves Eco-Diocese target
The Diocese of Chester will aim to become an Eco-Diocese following a unanimous decision by Bishop's Council to agree to work towards that target. Eco Diocese is an initiative from the Christian environment charity, A Rocha.
_1614772520.png)