8 April 2024
The Diocese of Chelmsford has been awarded a bronze Eco Diocese award in recognition of the Diocese's for creation.
The award was given by the Christian conservation charity A Rocha UK, and reflects Chelmsford Diocese’s commitment to walk in step with nature and put creation care at the heart of what they do. Chelmsford Diocese’s achievement of the award demonstrates the Diocese working toward the goals as detailed in the Church of England’s Routemap to Net Zero Carbon by 2030.
To achieve a bronze Eco Diocese award, there needs to be engagement in environmental issues across the Diocese as well as the promotion of local church participation in the Eco Church scheme.
In achieving the award, Chelmsford Diocese demonstrated important steps that have been taken including:
- A third of churches in the Diocese registered with Eco Church, with 15% with at least a bronze award and 4% with a silver or gold award, including Chelmsford Cathedral which has a gold award.
- An Environment Policy and Net Zero Carbon plan in place
- The Diocesean Offices achieving a bronze award
- Revamped web pages on the Diocesan website and regular communication about the environment through the View, the Greening the Church Facebook Group and the Climate Action Now newsletter
- Diocesan led training, including curate training, carbon literacy courses starting this June, and the Climate Justice is Racial Justice workshops during the Season of Creation and Black History Month last year.
- The involvement of some of our diocesan schools in Christian Aid’s Creative for Climate Justice Campaign, including in an exhibition for MPs at the Houses of Parliament in late 2023
- Work with interfaith and ecumenical groups, promoting awareness of environmental issues, for example through the North East London Eco Faith Group.
The Bishop of Chelmsford, the Rt Rev Dr Guli Francis-Dehqani said.
“For many people in churches and schools across our Diocese, caring for God’s creation is an integral part of their faith and discipleship. This award recognises their considerable effort and I congratulate everyone who has contributed. In particular I want to thank our Diocesan Environmental Officer, the Rev Sandra Eldridge who along with our network of volunteer deanery environment advocates, is doing a great deal to support people in our parishes and worshipping communities with this important work.”
The Chelmsford Diocese Environment Lead and Bishop of Colchester, the Rt Rev Roger Morris said:
“This award shows that we are making responding to the climate crisis a priority at every level in the church. This is an integral part of our mission as a church. The award says that we have made a good start, but there is much that is still to be done as we all work together to safeguard the integrity of creation and sustain and renew the life of the earth.”
A Rocha UK aims to equip churches and individuals to create a movement to help restore biodiversity at a local level in this critical decade for the climate. The Eco Church project brings together a national community of churches addressing the environmental crisis, using a common framework, an online toolkit, learning and speaking up together. All 42 of the Church of England dioceses are registered for Eco Diocese and A Rocha supporting them as they progress through the awards.
