- Eco News
- Eco Trail and Dinton Pastures Prayer Walk
- Information about Eco Church @ St James
- Declaration of a Climate Emergency
- Links
- Reading
- Previous Eco Ideas & News
Eco News
On Sunday 5th July we launched the title of our Summer 26 Photo Competition:-
“Phew! What a scorcher”
Already record-breaking, we wanted your photos to help us remember this year.
St. James are hosting a People’s Emergency Briefing on Monday 10th August from 7pm-9pm. Please see the details below by clicking on the link. The event is free, but we need to know numbers so please reserve your seat on https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/peoples-emergency-briefing-in-woodley-tickets-1993325891400?aff=oddtdtcreator
Next Litter Pick: Thursday 13th August 2026 – Join us at 9.30am in the Church Carpark why not end your tidying with refreshment or even a spot of lunch at St James Cafe.
Photos you enter to the photo competition will be on display at the 5th Eco Open Afternoon on Saturday 17th October 2pm – 4.30pm.
If you are interested in hosting a table – eco information or eco sales please contact us here.
This is our environmental calendar:
Eco Trail
Click Here to view/download our Eco Trail leaflet which explains all. Or you can collect a copy from these locations:
- South Lake Parade Convenience Store (next to St James Church Centre)
- Woodley Library
- The Oakwood Centre
- Parkside Family Practice
- Woodley Centre Surgery
- St James Church Centre
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.
Eco Prayer Walk
As part of our “Great Big Green Week” the Eco Team launched a prayer walk through Dinton Pastures.
The prayer walk leaflet is available from Dinton Pastures or St James Church, or download a copy (4 pages) below:-
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
- Buildings and Energy
- Land and Nature
- 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.
Declaration of a Climate Emergency
In June 2025, St James PCC made this Declaration of a Climate Emergency.
…and finally
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.
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 Environment Programme
Diocese of Oxford Environmental Action
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
“Christianity, Climate Change and Sustainable Living” by Nick Spencer and Robert White
“The Sustainable(ish) Living Guide. Everything you need to make small changes that make a big difference” by Jen Gale
“Dreaming of a Green Christmas: Sustainability and creation care for busy people” by Olivia Warburton
“A Climate of Truth: Why we need it and How to get there” by Mike Berners-Lee
Some reading for Children:
“Science Geek Christy and her Eco Log Book” by Petra Crofton
“Climate change for Teens: Understand the science, find hope, take action” by Dr Promise Bernard
“Greta’s Story: the schoolgirl who went on strike to save the Planet” by Valentina Camerini
Previous Eco ideas & News:
You can find an archive of previously published Eco Ideas & News here.