Creation Challenge

Bethesda Methodist Church in Cheltenham has been granted its third national Eco-award and become only the 3rd church in England to receive this honour. Since collecting its first award in 2003, followed by a 2nd in 2008 the church has continued to develop its environmental programme and is widely known as an “eco-church”. The independent assessment was carried out by Climate Change & Transition Town campaigner Jerry Barr and Rev Dr Simon Topping – founder and director of the Green Cross Coop. Simon will present the award plaque at a special service on October 10th. (more…)

Didcot Methodist Church has received an Eco-congregation award in recognition of the work it has done to become more environmentally friendly. It is the first church in Didcot, and the first Methodist church in the Wantage & Abingdon Methodist Circuit, to receive the award.

The independently-assessed Eco-congregation Award is designed to affirm good practice in environmental stewardship and help churches witness to the importance of caring for God’s creation. To receive the award, churches need to demonstrate environmental activity in three areas: spiritual, practical and community. (more…)

Baildon Methodist Eco-congregation Bradford held a public meeting for 100 citizens on November 16: ‘What are Baildon and Bradford doing about climate change? What more could Baildon and Bradford do about climate change?’ One Roman Catholic present called it ‘inspirational’. Five local speakers explained what Bradford Council and Baildon Parish Council were doing. ‘Eco-congregation’ was explained and advocated. Two new near-zero-carbon buildings were described. A Christian Aid speaker outlined how climate change was killing now. The second half of the meeting looked at what more could be done. In particular there was much support for distributed electricity generation from wind turbines, domestic roofs etc. 7 displays were visited by those attending. One aim was to spawn many other such meetings all across Bradford and indeed the country.

Contact: John D Anderson. Eco-officer of Baildon Methodist Church.

Christians Together in Lanner organised a concert on Saturday, 7th November called “Our Wonderful World” and held in Lanner Methodist Church Hall. The aim was to highlight God’s wonderful creation and also mankind’s failings in caring for it regarding Climate Change and Injustice. Members of Christchurch, Lanner Methodist Church, including the Friday Night Youth Group, and Searchlight, the Redruth Benefice Youth group took part.

Scroll down to LEARNING AND CARING and read about Seascale Methodist Church which is Cumbria’s first eco-congregation.

Work commenced in September on the installation of a major photovoltaic array on the south facing roof of Bethesda Methodist Church in Cheltenham. Though scarcely visible from the street, the 32 solar PV (Photovoltaic) panels are expected to generate upwards of 7,000 kW hrs of electricity annually for most of their 25-yr life span. The project is the result of almost two years of intensive planning and fund-raising by a church which has already received two national eco-awards for its environmental stewardship programme. (more…)

The centenary of a church is a significant anniversary. Tracey Lewis, Minister of Trinity-Henleaze URC tells the story of their celebrations and where it has led them:

2007 was the year we turned 100 and we wanted to celebrate. The church was planted amongst fields and park land, before neighbouring houses were built to form what is now the community of Henleaze. So, 100 year later, we thought we should celebrate with our long-standing neighbours.

We arranged four ‘Community Conversation Evenings’ and issued an open invitation, well advertised, to the first evening asking “Is God Green?”

(more…)