Eco Church: an introduction
Eco Church is an interdenominational Christian environmental awards scheme for churches. It is run by A Rocha UK. St Sampson's was registered and began working towards the bronze Eco Chruch award in March 2023. (The award has three levels: bronze, silver, gold.)
Eco Church provides tools to help churches respond to environmental issues through their worship, buildings, land, community engagement and individual lifestyles. Our website includes resources published by A Rocha UK. Additional information is available at www.ecochurch.arocha.org.uk.
In a time of unprecedented environmental stresses, Eco Church enables churches, including ours, to respond to God's mandate to human beings to care for His creation, by integrating environmental care throughout our church's life and mission.
With support and encouragement from A Rocha UK and the Diocese, Revd Canon Debbie Dewes, Revd Shirley Danby, the PCC, church wardens and other key individuals will work with church members and visitors to raise awareness and develop more eco-friendly practice within our church community.
Eco Church update: January 2025
St Sampson’s has done well to achieve both the Eco Church bronze and silver awards. It is not yet possible to achieve the gold award as we are currently unable to meet the requirements. However, that should not prevent us from continuing to make choices which are environmentally friendly. The Church of England encourages us to be pro-active in safeguarding God’s creation.
Each month, I will try to highlight a key event or some relevant information to keep Eco Church at the forefront of our minds.
Looking ahead, 18th March is Global Recycling Day. Before throwing items away, we should consider whether they can be recycled. If so, perhaps they can be placed in our recycling bins whether at home, in church or elsewhere. There are large recycling containers locally for clothes and fabrics, glass and cans. Look out for battery collection points in some large shops. Many of us have Garden Waste bins for green waste. Many organic materials - such as fruit and vegetable peels and scraps, houseplant trimmings, coffee grounds and paper filters, loose tea leaves and tea bags, eggshells, paper/cardboard, and shredded newspaper - can be put in compost bins to produce compost.
St Sampson’s has recycling bins, a collection point for remnants of candles and a compost bin.
Staying on the theme of ‘waste’, I noticed a diary date in ‘The Chronicle’. The annual town litter pick is scheduled for Saturday 22nd March 2025. Apparently, the community will come together to give the town a spring clean. I shall look out for further details. Maybe some of us will take part this year.
Laura Brierley
St Sampson's Fairtrade certificate
Eco Church Fairtrade Easter Eggs
Easter is approaching and some of you will be planning to purchase Easter eggs. 'The Real Easter Egg' company sells eggs made with Fairtrade chocolate and which include a copy of the Easter story. The company supports food banks by encouraging people to donate 'Real Easter Eggs' to Trussell Trust. They sell Easter cards too. You'll find more information on the flyer or at www.realeasteregg.co.uk .