.jpg)
In a first for the Leeds Episcopal Area, St Chad’s Far Headingley has gained a Silver Eco Church Award. It was presented by Bishop Paul Slater during a confirmation service on Sunday (22 January).
St Chad’s had previously gained three awards under the Eco Congregation scheme.
The Eco Church Award, launched last year, replaces the Eco Congregation scheme, and is run by A Rocha UK, a Christian charity working for the protection and restoration of the natural world.
Churches complete a free on-line Eco Survey about how they are caring for God’s earth in five different key areas:
- Worship and teaching
- Management of church buildings
- Management of church land
- Community and global engagement
- Lifestyle.
The answers a church provides collect points towards an Eco Church Award.
So far, St Chad’s award is the second Silver award in the Diocese after St James’, Baildon, and the second award in the Leeds Episcopal Area after the Bronze gained by St Edmund’s, Roundhay.
Bishop Paul, who chairs the Diocesan Environment Group, said, “I’m really pleased to be able to present St Chad’s with the first Silver Eco Church Award in the Leeds Episcopal Area as their contribution to caring for God’s creation. I would really encourage both parishes and individuals to make use of the free on-line resources provided by Eco Church.”
Mike Willison, one of the founder members of the Green Team at St Chad’s some 15 years ago said, “It's a great honour for St Chad’s environmental work to be recognised in this way, and a testament to the tremendously hard work put in by Suzanne Dalton leading our Green Team over the years. It is sad Suzanne could not be with us today as she has recently moved to Oxford to be near family.”
PHOTO: Bishop Paul with Revd Tom Lusty and some members of the St Chad’s Green Team – (left to right) Alan Griggs, Mary Henderson, Katie Fabri, Helen Cruickshank, and Mike Willison.
Registering with the Eco Church Award is free and there are free on-line resources. Churches can save their survey responses at any point and return to update them as they complete additional actions.
Further information is available via the Eco Church website