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What’s happening in the diocese

Caring for creation and responding to current environmental crises including the climate emergency is important to the diocese.

Chelmsford Diocese has a long history of environmental activity and has had an environmental policy for almost twenty years. 

On this page

Caring for God’s creation and responding to the negative effects of human behaviour on the environment, including responding to the climate emergency is becoming increasingly important to many within the diocese. 

This page describes people in the Chelmsford diocese involved environmental activity and responses to the climate emergency; policies, strategies and plans; our progress; and success stories.

Diocesan Environmental Policy

The Diocesan Environment Policy can be viewed on the link below. As we progress with our Carbon Net Zero 2030 project, we aim to review other diocesan policies to ensure they meet the aim of reducing carbon to net zero within the next decade.

Key contacts

The Diocesan lead for the environment is the Bishop of Colchester, the Rt Revd Roger Morris.  

The Diocesan Environmental Officer is Rev. Sandra Eldridge. You can contact Sandra on seldridge@chelmsford.anglican.org

The Diocesan Net Zero Carbon Officer is Paul Thomson. You can contact Paul on pthomson@chelmsford.anglican.org

You can find out more about what Bishop Roger, Sandra and Paul do here, or from our Diocesan leaflet here.

We now have an Eco Church Advocate for the Diocese, Linda Percival. Linda's role is to support and encourage Eco Church throughout the Diocese.  

If you would like to publicise an upcoming environmental event, or share a good news story, please contact the Diocesan Communications Team. 

Other Diocesan Documents

People and groups

Deanery Environmental Advocates

We now have environmental advocates in nearly all of the deaneries in the Diocese. Deanery Advocates encourage churches in their deaneries with Eco church and on their paths to carbon net zero. They also encourage networking in the deanery. 

Some quotes from our advocates:

Michael Forbes (Waltham Forest): "Just having the title "Environmental Advocate" is a great inspiration to undertake the mission."  

Jacqui Hogger (Braintree):  "What I have gained from being an advocate is the awareness that caring for our Earth and Climate which is in great peril, need not be all doom and gloom. The privilege of being an Environmental Advocate enables the interaction between a diverse range of people, groups and organisations to realise that working together we can make a positive impact on the World around us for the good. Many small steps will lead to bigger strides." 

If your deanery does not have an advocate and you are interested in finding out more about the role, please contact Rev. Sandra Eldridge, Diocesan Environmental Officer.  

Click on the deanery name below for the name and email of the deanery environmental advocate: 

Diocesan Environment Steering Group

The group meets several times a year to plan next steps, and review plans, strategies, and documents. The group is chaired by the Diocesan Environmental Lead, and works closely with the Diocesan Environmental Officer.

  • More about the Diocesan Environmental Steering Group

    The remit of the group members:

    To be architects of greater awareness and culture change across the Diocese, removing barriers to and encouraging facilitators of behaviour change on the scale needed to address our environmental challenges. This includes facilitating the role of the church’s prophetic voice in this time of environmental crisis. In particular, the group should:

    • facilitate Diocesan response to our environmental crises – climate change, crisis in nature, and pollution,
    • be a catalyst for things individuals and communities can do,
    • champion great ideas and ways forward,
    • contribute to making campaigning accessible for all,
    • enable collaboration to enhance actions described in 1-4.

     

 Net Zero Carbon Management Board 

The Board meets at least five times a year to implement and monitor the Net Zero Carbon Action Plan. The group is chaired by the Diocesan Environmental Lead, and works closely with the Diocesan Environmental Officer.

  • More about the Net Zero Carbon Management Board

    The principal aim of the Board is to encourage and enable an ever-increasing level of both awareness and positive action towards the decarbonisation of the Diocese, and the embedding of this within the spiritual life of all our communities, including churches and schools. 

    Members of the board:

    Bishop Roger Morris (chair)

    Michaela Southworth (Diocesan Secretary)

    Nathan Whitehead (Head of Service Delivery)

    Tom Geldard (Communication Manager)

    Alex Reeves (Property Manager)

    Simon Garnier (Senior Diocesan Surveyor)

    Peter Palmer (Schools Buildings and Organisation Officer)

    Elizabeth Marshall (Cathedral representative)

    Elizabeth Lowson (Clergy representative)

    Jason Frost (Lay representative)

    Katherine Ball (Lay representative)

    Sandra Eldridge (Diocesan Environmental Officer) 

    Paul Thomson (Net Zero Carbon Officer) 

     

Climate Action Now - monthly newsletters 

 

Good News Stories

To hear about good news stories as they happen sign up for our monthly environment newsletter 

Here are some of the good news stories that you can find in the newsletters above:

  • August 2023: A guided nature walk from St Mary's, Bocking

  • October 2023: St Anne's, Chingford, on a litter pick

  • July 2024: Solar panels on St Gabriel's Church hall, Aldersbrook

  • August 2024: Clement's story of being involved in the inspirational "Restore Nature Now" march

  • September 2024: All Saint's Springfield on their "Days of Creation" walk

  • March 2025: Two stories of travelling more sustainably 

  • May 2025: The Repair Cafe at St Mary's, Woodford

  • June 2025: Protecting swifts in our Diocese

  • October 2025: St Andrew's, Colne Engaine get funding for a new electric boiler  

Some of these and some other good news stories are included in our annual Advent Calendars:   

Environment Advent Calendar 2024

Environment Advent Calendar 2025 

Eco Church Awards

Congratulations to those churches listed below that have registered for Eco Church or received Eco Church awards. To find out about Eco Church, how to register your church and how to work towards an award see here.

  • Barking Deanery

    Barking, St Patrick, silver

    Becontree, St Alban, bronze

    Becontree, St John the Divine, registered

    Becontree, St Mary, bronze

    Becontree, St Martin, bronze

     

     

  • Havering Deanery

    Collier Row, St James, registered

    Noak Hill, St Thomas, registered

    Hornchurch, St Andrew, silver

    Hornchurch, St George, registered

    Hornchurch, St Matthew, registered

    Collier Row, The Good Shepherd, bronze

    Romford, St Andrew, registered

    Romford, St Edward the Confessor, bronze

    Upminster, St Lawrence, registered

     

     

     

  • Brentwood Deanery

    Bentley Common, St Paul, bronze

    Doddinghurst, All Saints, bronze

    East and West Horndon, St Francis, silver

    Warley, Christ Church, bronze

    Great Warley, St Mary the Virgin, bronze

    Hutton, All Saints, registered

    Hutton, St Peter, registered

    Ingatestone, St Edmund & St Mary, registered

    Buttsbury, St Mary, registered

    Kelvedon Hatch, St Nicholas, registered

    Margaretting, St Margaret, registered

    Mountnessing, St Giles, registered

    Shenfield, St Mary the Virgin, bronze

    South Weald, St Peter, silver  

  • Chelmsford Deanery

    Chelmsford Cathedral, gold

    Boreham, St Andrew, silver

    Broomfield, St Mary w St Leonard, bronze

    Chelmsford, The Ascension, registered

    Chelmsford, St Andrew, silver

    Chignal Smealey, St Nicholas, registered

    Danbury, St John the Baptist, silver  

    Galleywood, St Michael & All Angels, silver

    Great Baddow, St Mary the Virgin, silver

    Great Baddow, St Paul, silver

    Highwood, St Paul, registered

    Little Baddow, St Mary the Virgin, bronze

    Moulsham, St John the Evangelist, gold

    Moulsham, St Luke, bronze

    Roxwell, St Michael & All Angels, registered

    Sandon, St Andrew, silver

    Springfield, All Saints, gold

    Springfield, Holy Trinity, bronze

    West Hanningford, St Mary & St Edward, registered 

    Widford, St Mary, silver

    Widford, All Saints, silver

    Woodham Ferrers, St Mary, registered 

    Writtle, All Saints, registered

    Great Baddow, Meadgate Church Centre, bronze

    North Springfield, St Augustine of Canterbury, silver

     

  • Epping Forest & Ongar Deanery

    Chigwell, St Mary, registered

    Chigwell, St Winifred, bronze

    Chigwell Row, All Saints, bronze

    Coopersale, St Alban, bronze

    Epping, St John the Baptist, bronze

    Epping Upland, All Saints, silver

    High Beach, Holy Innocents, silver

    Upshire, St Thomas, bronze

    Lambourne, St Mary & All Saints, silver

    Loughton, St John the Baptist, registered

    Loughton, St Mary the Virgin, bronze

    Loughton, St Michael & All Angels, bronze

    Stapleford Abbots, St Mary the Virgin, bronze

    Theydon Bois, St Mary the Virgin, bronze

    Waltham Abbey, Holy Cross & St Lawrence, registered

    Blackmore, St Lawrence, registered

    Bobbingworth, St Germain, registered

    Shelley, St Peter, Bronze

    Willingale, St Christopher, registered 

     

       

     

     

  • Maldon & Dengie Deanery

    Bradwell on Sea, St Thomas, registered

    Dengie, St James, registered

    Latchingdon, Christ Church, bronze

    Mayland, St Barnabas, bronze

    Newland, St Lawrence, registered

    Southminster, St Leonard, registered 

    Tillingham, St Nicholas, silver

    Bradwell on Sea, St Peters Chapel, registered

  • Colchester Deanery

    Berechurch, St Margaret of Antioch, registered

    Colchester, St Botolph w Holy Trinity, registered

    Colchester, St John the Evangelist, silver

    Colchester, Christ Church, gold 

    Colchester, St Stephen, silver

    Greenstead, St. Andrew, Bronze

    Lexden St, Leonard, bronze

    Shrub End, All Saints, registered

    Shrub End, St Cedd, registered

    Wivenhoe, St Mary the Virgin, registered

    Boxted, St Peter, bronze

    Great Horkesley, All Saints, bronze

    Marks Tey, St Andrew, registered

    West Bergholt, St Mary the Virgin, silver

    Colchester, St Luke, bronze

     

  • Harwich Deanery

    Ardleigh, St Mary the Virgin, bronze

    Dedham, St Mary the Virgin, silver

    Bradfield, St Lawrence, registered

    Great Bromley, Saint George the Martyr, registered

    Dovercourt, All Saints, registered

    Harwich, St. Nicholas, registered

    Wix, St. Mary the Virgin, bronze

  • St Osyth Deanery

    Alresford, St Andrew, bronze

    Great Bentley, St. Mary the Virgin, registered

    Brightlingsea, All Saints, bronze

    Brightlingsea, St James, registered

    Clacton-on-Sea, St Paul, registered

    Frinton, St Mary Magdalen, registered

    Walton le Soken, All Saints, registered

For more information or to report anything wrong with this page please contact Revd Sandra Eldridge

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