Eco Church

Eco Open Afternoon

Click Here if you would like to download our Eco Trail.

St James Eco Team have produced some children’s activities that you can download and use as you follow the Eco Trail.

Adults: We recommend you pre-read the activities before you leave home to make sure that you have the crayons, pencils that you might need on your trail.


St James Eco Church

“The Lord God placed man in the Garden of Eden to tend and watch over it.”

(Genesis 2:15 New Living Translation)

Eco Church is A Rocha UK’s award scheme for churches in England and Wales.

In 2018 St James’ Church started on its Eco Journey. We joined up with A Rocha and undertook an online survey of how we scored against five areas of Church life:

  • Worship and teaching
  • Management of Church buildings
  • Management of Church Land
  • Community and global engagement
  • Lifestyle

We started with a small group with an interest in generating ideas on how we could improve our care for God’s world here in Woodley. Through declarations of a “Climate Emergency” by our Local council and lots of talk in the media we have been working for global and local changes to protect the environment and encouraging all church users to alter their lifestyles to better care for the world around them.  

We were very proud to announce that on 25th February 2020 St James Church was awarded a Bronze Eco Church Award.

We were excited for St James’ to receive the Silver Eco Church Award on 20th February 2024.

Our work caring for God’s world here in Woodley has only just begun. We will be continuing with our work and hoping to achieve a Gold award taking both individuals and the church and church users on a journey. New members are welcome to join us, as we continue to our eco works. Please email us here.

For more information see our Eco Church Facebook page.


Litter Picks

We have been regularly holding litter picks around St James and into the Parish/Community of Southlake. We started small, and gradually our numbers have grown. Why not join with us on our next litter pick? Dates are advertised on our noticeboard in the church lounge, and on our Facebook page.


What’s Happening with Eco Church ……

Now we have achieved our Silver Eco Church we will be going for Gold…….…….


…and finally

At home & away from St James’ there are numerous ways we can help our Planet and be more ‘Eco’ in our everyday lives. Probably the major one is in how we deal with our rubbish, and ensuring we recycle all we can, & so minimise what goes into landfill. You’ll find lots of information & ideas under Recycling here in our Archives.


Links:

Here are some links you might like to look up:

The Church of England “The Environment and Climate Change” 

Plastic-less Living 

Earley Environmental Group 

Fairtrade 

Green Christian  

Climate Stewards 

Energy Saving Trust

ARocha


Reading:

“Creation Care; A Biblical Theology of the Natural World” by Duncan Moo and Jonathan Moo

“Planetwise; Dare to care for God’s World” by Dave Bookless

“Just Living: Faith and Community in an Age of Consumerism” by Ruth Valerio

“Christ the Heart of Creation” by Rowan Williams

“Christianity, Climate Change and Sustainable Living” by Nick Spencer and Robert White

Some reading for Children:

“Science Geek Christy and her Eco Log Book” by Petra Crofton


Previous Eco ideas & news:

You can find an archive of previously published Eco ideas & news here.