Didcot Methodist Church wins Eco-congregation award
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.
Didcot began the programme two years ago. Since then, their environmental projects have included:
- turning the church into a cinema for one night for a screening of the climate change film The Age of Stupid.
- a series of ‘green’ services reminding us that care for the environment, new life and other green issues are an integral part of our Christian theology.
The church has also built environmental awareness into many of its day-to-day activities, for example changing to energy efficient lightbulbs, enjoying monthly church walks in the countryside, re-using books via a church library, sharing ‘green’ lifestyle tips through the church notices, and following Bible studies with an environmental theme. This activity was documented in the church’s Green Team blog .
The award was given following a written application from the church and a visit by two Eco-congregation assessors, Martin Hodson and Dr Richard Riggs. The assessors were particularly impressed by church’s green services, the attention to eco-friendly detail in the building redevelopment, and the team work within the church’s ‘Green Team’.
The Eco-congregation award is given for three years, after which the church needs to re-apply. Didcot Methodist Church intends to continue on the programme and hopes to grow eco-awareness among the congregation and the wider community.
The award was presented at a special service on Sunday 25th July, by Steve Hucklesby, Policy Adviser for the Methodist Church advising on (among other things) climate change and environment. Steve preached at the first-ever ‘green service’ at Didcot Methodist Church in 2008 which began the church’s participation in the Eco-congregation programme.
