Environmental Engagement Officer Cate Williams shares an update on where we are at with achieving our Silver Eco Diocese Award – and, crucially, how you can help us get there.
Tag: Environment
Being ‘listed’ is no barrier to Eco Church awards…
If you thought your listed church building would stop you from getting a Gold Eco Church award, think again! Lots of us have been concerned about the limitations of our
Message from Bishop Robert, 27 June 2023
It’s one of my jobs at home to put out the recycling – paper and cardboard, glass, tins and, of course, plastic. Like so many, I can say I am doing my bit, but of course, I know that, as the climate crisis deepens and we need to care for creation, for the world that God has made and all that is in it, there is more to do. Wouldn’t it be even better if there was less in my general waste and less in my recycling too? Plastic Free July® is an invitation to take this challenge, to be part of the solution and reduce or even eliminate our use of plastic.
Message from Bishop Rachel, 6 June 2023
We do a lot of counting in the Church, often related to numbers of people or leaders or amounts of money – and much of that can help us identify the places where we are healthy as Church and where we are not. In the shaping of our current strategies and plans, not least within each deanery, there is a need for some counting and measuring, yet always being aware that noticing and nurturing growth and health involves so much more than counting.
Pray your way in and out at the Minchinhampton labyrinth
The churchyard at Holy Trinity Minchinhampton is a beautiful open space next to Minchinhampton Common. The church’s Eco team have created a labyrinth in the churchyard, cutting paths to walk
Bird boxes grant takes off
Earlier this year, worshipping communities were invited to register interest in receiving bird boxes to install in their churchyards or wider community space as part of a block funding application.
Birds and bugs benefit from wildlife grant at St James the Great, Dursley
A diocesan wildlife grant has enabled St James the Great, Dursley, to establish multiple projects in its urban gardens and grounds.
Children’s book explains issues around bats in churches
Bats in Churches has published its first ever children’s book to explain the benefits and challenges of bats roosting in churches. The Bats in Churches project was formed in 2018,
Bats in Churches: Pew cleaning and waxing workshop at St Mary’s, Edgeworth
St Mary’s Church, Edgeworth, is one of a small group of churches working with the Bats in Churches Project to survey its bat populations and come up with solutions to
Blog from Christian Climate Action’s ‘The Big One’
The Revd Dr Cate Williams blogs about attending Christian Climate Action’s London demonstration, a peaceful and lawful climate protest which took place on Friday 21 April 2023. “The Big One
Pupils sowing seeds of hope at Oak Hill CoE Primary
As part of the Big Seed Sow, pupils from a Church of England school in Tewkesbury have been planting sunflowers to show support for the people of Ukraine. The Big
Registration opens for Churches Count on Nature
Parishes in and around the Diocese of Gloucester can now register to participate in Churches Count on Nature, an annual scheme where people visit churchyards and record the plant and
The Big One, Climate event in London
Blog by the Revd Dr Cate Williams Diocesan Environmental Engagement Officer ‘The Big One’, Climate event in London, 21 to 24 April Bishops Rachel and Robert said ‘This will
Energy Footprint Tool – your questions answered
The Energy Footprint Tool needs to be completed as part of the annual returns routine. Our diocesan Environmental Engagement Officer, the Revd Dr Cate Williams, has put together the answers
Divestment in fossil fuels – questions asked at General Synod
While General Synod has mostly been in the news for the LLF discussions, it was not the only item of business. Questions about divestment in fossil fuels, arising from our
Message from Bishop Robert, 7 February 2023
I have just returned from a fabulous mission weekend with the Thameshead Benefice, a group of six parishes and nine churches located between Cirencester and Tetbury – a mix of larger villages such as Kemble and smaller communities that together create a lively church community reaching out to all who live in the area.
Using nature to reduce flood risk at Cam Hopton School
Expert engineers have created an innovative water management system to tackle a flooding problem at Cam Hopton Church of England Primary School. The hillside position of the school, situated above
Shortcuts for completing your annual Energy Footprint Tool return
Tom Wood, from the national Church’s Research and Statistics Team, has created a practical video to demonstrate how to fill in the Energy Footprint Tool (below). Every church is asked
Church of England appoints Julian Atkins as Net Zero Programme Director
Julian Atkins, currently the Countywide Climate Change Coordinator for the public sector partnership, Climate Leadership Gloucestershire, has been appointed Net Zero Programme Director for the Church of England. Having worked
Funding for birdboxes – deadline end of February 2023
Keen birder Bill Richardson would like to put in a block funding application to provide birdboxes for churches and church partnerships in the Diocese of Gloucester. Worshipping communities can install
“Being an Eco Church has become a part of life” at Pip and Jim’s Leckhampton
In August 2022, St Philp and St James Church Leckhampton was awarded a Bronze Eco Church Award by A Rocha and is now working towards Silver. Helen Wolfson, a member
Journey to net zero – what impact is your church having?
Across the Diocese of Gloucester, we have committed to being net zero carbon by 2030. This is an ambitious target and one that we will need to work together to
Message from Bishop Robert, 6 December 2022
A week ago, Cate Williams wrote on the deep reality of the nature crisis that is wounding the biodiversity of our world and how, as disciples of Christ, we might begin to respond. As we begin our Christmas celebrations, we are given, should we need it, another reminder of why it is so important that we respond.
COP15 – how can we respond to the nature crisis?
Ahead of the COP15 conference on biodiversity, Cate Williams, Environmental Engagement Officer shares how worshipping communities can help to protect wildlife and habitats where they are. COP15 is the fifteenth
