Gnosall Church attained their Bronze award for eco church through A Rocha's environmental programme. The Eco Church award scheme is to celebrate the ways that church communities have been engaging with caring for the earth as a key part of our Christian faith.
The survey to gain the awards has 5 categories: Worship and Teaching, Buildings, Land, Community and Global Engagement, and Lifestyle. The answers to the questions collect points towards an eco church award.
Worship and Teaching:
Gnosall Church achieved Silver in this category, answering questions such as:
Special Sundays relating to caring for God's earth (e.g. creation time, environment Sunday, rogation Sunday etc.) are celebrated in our church at least annually; The hymns and songs (and liturgies if used) in our church services enable us to celebrate God’s creation at least quarterly; Our church prays for environmental issues occasionally; and Our church’s communications (e.g. newsletters, service sheets, magazines, social media etc.) include items relating to the theme of caring for god’s earth at least quarterly
To improve we can work on doing these things more often in our church.
Buildings
We also achieved Silver in this category with questions such as:
We have measured our energy use and calculated the carbon footprint of our church premises; We have set sufficient targets for reducing the carbon footprint of our church premises and achieving year-on-year improvements in energy efficiency; The lighting in our church premises (Main Church) uses energy-efficient light bulbs; Rainwater collection facilities are installed and used on our church premises; We are reducing our paper usage (e.g. through double-sided copying/printing etc.); Our church administration uses recycled paper:
Things we could do to improve in this category are:
Offset the carbon footprint of our church premises for those things we can't reduce.
Make sure the water supply to our church premises is metered.
Make cycle racks available on our church premises.
Land
We achieved Award Level Bronze in this category. These are some of the questions we answered:
The land at our church is managed for the encouragement of native wildlife (birds, animals and plants); Our church maintains an area of land for native wildflowers; we grow plants on our land that benefit birds, bees, butterflies; Our church has researched and established a mowing regime appropriate to the conservation of the grassland and wildlife present; Our church avoids the use of harmful chemicals (pesticides, herbicides or fertilizers) in the management of our land; Composting facilities are available on our church land; Our church actively encourages members to use church land for recreation/contemplation (e.g. picnics, prayer etc.)
Things we could do to improve in this category are:
Encourage native wildlife on our church land through provision of bug hotels and hedgehog homes.
Stock wildlife feeding stations on our church land.
Grow fruit and vegetables on our land (including in planters, window boxes etc. as well as in a community garden/allotment).
Community and Global Engagement.
We achieved Award Level Bronze in this category. Here are some of the questions:
At least some of our church members (either alone or as part of a local network) have organised and/or participated in a community clean-up project (e.g. local litter-pick); Our church organises events providing an opportunity for local people to get out and enjoy God’s earth in our local area (e.g. walks, cycle rides etc.); Users of our church premises are encouraged to minimise resource use (e.g. people are trained in reducing energy use, notices about turning off lights are displayed etc.); Wherever possible, Fairtrade and/or ethically sourced goods are used at church services and events; Some meals provided by the church use food that is locally grown; Some meals provided by the church use organic ingredients; Some meals provided by the church use Fairtrade ingredients:
To improve we could
Organise litter picks more often in our community
Arranges for local environmentalists to speak in our services:
Provide or support a local car-share scheme (this includes members sharing lifts to church):
Lifestyle
We achieved Award Level Bronze in this category. Here are some of the questions:
Our church has appointed an individual or group to champion the cause of our church community becoming more environmentally sustainable; Walking and cycling to church services and events is occasionally promoted in our church; The members of our church receive encouragement to undertake a personal carbon footprint audit at least annually; Our church regularly encourages members to limit their waste by adhering to the principles of reduce, re-use, recycle; Practical lifestyle tips and advice on caring for God’s earth are included in our church newsletters/on our church website:
To improve we could:
Host activities and/or events that facilitate the recycling and/or reuse of goods (e.g. clothes swap events or ‘give and take’ schemes)
Operate a communal Christmas and/or Easter card scheme among the congregation
As part of our life together, the members of our church undertake an environmental lifestyle audit.
