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Welcome to our latest EcoNews! Read on for news of events and resources and all things creation care across our Diocese. Do please pass on this newsletter and encourage people from your local community to sign-up to receive it at : www.DofN.org/econews
Thank you for all you continue to do in your locality to ensure that we strive to safeguard the integrity of creation and sustain and renew the life of the earth.
| | Eco Forum - survey surgery | |
Eco Church survey surgery
Tue 16 Sep | 7-8pm | online
We're delighted to welcome Polly Eaton, Eco Diocese Officer for A Rocha UK as a host in our next Eco Forum.
Whether you're new to the Eco Church survey, or have been doing it for some time, this is an opportunity to bring your questions and experiences to this "surgery session" with Polly. We're aware that the changes to the survey since the New Year may have thrown up some new challenges, so ask anything! Come ready to share some top tips of what you've found works well so we can help one another too. Cost: FREE
| | Final call for EFT - possible £1K cash prize! | | |
The closing date for entries is 30 June
The form has only 10 questions; all you need is your energy bills for the last year and a couple of other basic bits of information. To find out more about the Energy Footprint Tool, click here. The data collected from the tool will help your church understand its carbon footprint and will mean you may be eligible for a range of grants to help kickstart your net zero projects. It also helps us identify those parishes most in need of assistance.
To ensure your church is entered into the £1,000 draw, simply login to the Online Parish Returns System and complete the Energy Footprint Tool form. If you have any queries or would like assistance with the EFT or any Net Zero work in your church, please do get in contact by email at ed.cotterill@dioceseofnorwich.org.
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NZC funding confirmed
The funding for the Church of England’s ambitious Net Zero Carbon program has been confirmed for the next nine years. £40 million has been allocated to the next three years with a further £60 million secured for the following three years and the three years after that. These funds will help deliver energy and CO2 reduction projects across the diocese in churches, church halls, schools and clergy houses.
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Four more energy audits
Following on from last years free energy audit programme which delivered 12 audits to our highest energy using churches, the National NZC team have identified a further four churches across Norfolk that can now benefit from this programme. The audits take half day and the findings from that visit result in a comprehensive report that identifies all the areas for reducing energy use and offers options on how to significantly reduce the CO2 emissions from lighting and heating. Some of the measures identified are relatively simple such as fixing high level windows, insulating unfilled cavity walls and fitting new heating controls. Others are more complex like switching from fossil fuels to electric heating or installing solar panels.
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Heart of Norfolk Eco Fair first
On a fiercely hot mid-June weekend, the Heart of Norfolk benefice welcomed over 125 people to its very first Eco Fair and Creation Care Sunday service. Rector, the Revd Sally Kimmis reflects on the journey to this point, and some of the lessons learned along the way. Read full story HERE
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Counting on Creation across the Diocese
Many of our churches made the most of Churches Count on Nature week or Great Big Green Week, both in mid-June, to engage their local community in caring for creation. From eco trails at summer fairs and mini beast hunts, to talks from experts and wildlife audits, read on for reports from five of them. Read full story HERE
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First Eco Chaplains commissioned at Cathedral
Four new Eco Chaplains were commissioned by the Bishop of Thetford at Cathedral Evensong on Sunday 22 June. Norman Johnson, Sam Ruddock, Richard Beach, and James Lee have been trained, to help parishes embed creation care in their mission and ministry, through worship, witness, teaching, pastoral care, discipleship, witness, buildings and land across the diocese. The Revd Peter Doll, Vice-Dean and Canon Librarian delivered the sermon on the centrality of creation care in our expression of Christian faith. Bishop Ian charged the Chaplains to be “encouragers and supporters of churches as they seek to respond to the climate and ecological crises.” Read full story HERE
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St Peter Mancroft featured in NZC impact report
The national C of E net zero carbon team have released a report in the impact of projects and endeavours by churches across the country toward reaching net zero carbon by 2030, and St Peter Mancroft, Norwich features inside. The report reveals many churches across the country are saving money on their energy bills after making changes to their buildings to lower their carbon emissions. St Peter Mancroft are featured for their switch to air source heat pumps, LED lighting and solar PV, which is part of an overall strategy to reduce their carbon emissions and demonstrate their care for creation to their community. You can download the report here, and watch a video that summarises the NZC2030 journey so far below, or here.
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All Saints go all out for Great Big Green Week
The Friends of All Saints Church, Hemblington, work hard to support the conservation management of the churchyards, to help maintain a habitat to support the wild flora and fauna in the area. Susan Rowe outlines the variety of activities that made the most of Great Big Green Week and Churches Count on Nature in mid-June in Hemblington. It’s a great example of working in partnership with others to care for Creation. Read all about it here.
| | New short film on young climate advocates | | |
On Wednesday 9 July, thousands of people from across the UK are gathering at Westminster to urge MPs to show leadership that protects our health, our natural world, our communities, our climate, and our future. Closer to home, pupils at Cawston CofE Primary Academy are stepping up as advocates for climate and nature — raising their voices to express what they care about and what they hope for the future of our planet.
A new short film, Voices for Creation: church and school together, highlights the strong partnership between the school, the local church, and the Norwich Diocesan Board of Education (NDBE), which is helping ensure these children's voices are heard — and that their concerns lead to real action.
Chris Allen, RE & Christian Distinctiveness Lead for the Diocese of Norwich, explains: "We’re shifting children into leadership roles. Instead of bringing adult-led initiatives into the children's world, we’re giving children the space to lead us — changing the dynamic of how we work across the Diocese."
Examples of best practice and practical projects, such as fundraising for water butts, will be shared regularly through meetings with the NDBE.
Revd Andrew Whitehead — local vicar, school governor, and NDBE member — adds: "One of our roles as a church community, in partnership with the school, is to empower children to understand they can make a real impact. It’s not just about small actions — it’s also about pushing for the bigger policy changes that need to happen. Many young people feel a growing sense of climate anxiety. To them, the problem is obvious, yet not enough seems to be happening at the highest levels."
As one pupil put it, while describing their work building a bug hotel in the churchyard: "If we don’t have any bugs, we won’t have any birds." Another pupil shared their vision for the future: "I’d like it to be that when we go on walks or bike rides, we can simply enjoy the wildlife — with no rubbish on the ground — just take it all in and enjoy our day."
Revd Whitehead says: "My hope is that the Church can be a place that gives voice to that hope — and offers a safe space where children can express both their dreams and their anxieties." Head of School and Sustainability lead at Cawston Primary, Sharon Brett concludes, “These are my future leaders, politicians and world changers!"
Watch the video above, and share it via the Diocese of Norwich YouTube channel here
(It will be officially "launched" on 9 July, so you're having a sneak peek!)
| | Called to join our Eco Chaplains? | | | |
NEW TRAINING DATES:
Session one - Thursday 9 October - 2-4pm - Norwich
Session two - Thursday 16 October - 2-4pm - Norwich
We are seeking to grow network of Eco Chaplains to support our growing number of Parish Eco Reps across the Diocese. The overall purpose of the role is to encourage and support churches and those who have Eco Reps in your area to respond to the climate and ecological crisis, by advocating for environmental action, resourcing others, and helping churches on their eco church, net zero and biodiversity journey. If God might be calling you, contact Barbara to find out more: 07976 634867 barbara.bryant@dioceseofnorwich.org
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How to worship outdoors
webinar recording available
For those who missed this webinar, you can now view it HERE - using this pass code to view: &#cZj3bE
Outdoor worship is deeply rooted in Scripture. Throughout the history of the church outdoor worship has taken place, often out of necessity— but there are positive reasons for engaging with nature as part of our devotion. In this webinar we will explore these reasons, and a wealth of ideas for worshipping together outdoors in a range of contexts.
Revd Coryn Stanforth is Rector of the Coastal Group Benefice in the Diocese of Norwich.
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Link with your local library for outdoor adventures this summer
Just a heads-up for any of you planning family events for the summer holidays - you may like to bear in mind this year's Summer Reading Challenge theme and link with your local library? It would be an ideal link into Wild Church or a bio blitz or bug safari, or any kind of creation care focused activity!
More details HERE
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Mass rally for climate & nature
"By acting now, together we can shape a future where people and nature thrive together."
A Mass Lobby is when lots of people meet with their MPs on the same day to have powerful conversations on issues they care about.
Sign up to attend - the Climate Coalition may be able to help with your travel costs - view their Travel and Inclusion Policy here.
Email your MP - once you've registered, they'll send you everything you need to let your MP know you're coming.
Spread the word - Everyone who wants to join the day needs to register, so send your friends, family, colleagues and networks this webpage and ask them to join you!
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Interfaith climate & nature event in Norwich
Fri 11 July 5 - 6pm St Peter Mancroft,
In response to the mass lobby of parliament, this Norwich-based event will bring together faith communities behind a shared commitment to action on the climate and nature crises, and engage in dialogue with elected representatives to identify the role that faith groups can play for nature recovery, a just transition and international solidarity. All faith communities are encouraged to join an event at St Peter Mancroft Church at 5pm. Perhaps bring a group from your parish? This will help with the global and local engagement part of your Eco Church survey - not to mention being a prophetic act!
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Get involved in this summer's social media campaign #GreatAndSmall
Whether it’s a snapshot of some local wildlife, pets who have paid your church a visit, or depictions of animals in stained glass windows, paintings and carvings, the Church of England environment team wants to hear from you! Join in from 21 July. Find out more at cofe.io/GreatAndSmall
| | Last Eco Forum - Sacred Spaces: Wild Places | | |
Some 25 people attended the “introduction to wildlife recording in your churchyard” workshop run in partnership between the Diocese, Norwich Cathedral and the Norfolk Wildlife Trust at the Cathedral in May. We looked at why this is an expression of our faith in action, how to get started with wildlife recording, why recording wildlife is so important for the long-term monitoring of our churchyards, and how we can get involved in national and regional citizen science projects. You can see photos and a report from the morning HERE. And some resources that were shared listed below.
You may also be interested in attending some of these other workshops:
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Progress toward new Feast of God the Creator
Plans are progressing to introduce a new special day in the liturgical calendar – the Feast of God the Creator. Most likely to be the first Sunday in September, in line with what is currently the World Day of Prayer for creation on 1 September, and marking the beginning of the Season of Creation.
The Church of England liturgical committee is bringing the idea to General Synod in July. This is the first step in getting it approved for the CofE. In the meantime, we are being asked to do what we can to raise awareness of and embed the idea of this celebration. The following comes from those who met recently in Assisi to take things forward.
1) CELEBRATE “CREATION DAY” LOCALLY
We are all encouraged to celebrate Creation Day in our respective churches this year (either on 1 September, or on the subsequent Sunday, which this year is 7 September). Even if it is not an official liturgical feast yet, the actual celebration of the day – in its current format as “World Day of Prayer” – is the best way to raise awareness about it.
See: “Ideas to celebrate Creation Day” and other resources from the Season of Creation.
2) SPREAD THE WORD
Please continue to spread the word about the new feast in your churches. There is a desire for a joint step in late 2025 as a gesture marking the 1700th anniversary of the Nicene creed centenary. (There are CofE resources for this anniversary here)
Mindful that the implementation of the new feast will require many conversations at multiple levels in each denomination, the more awareness there is in the various ecclesial bodies, the better it will be.
See this recent WCC news article, which highlights the historic nature of the process.
| | | | Ed and Barbara are happy to come out to your deanery or benefice with their "Eco Roadshow" presentation - or answer any questions/offer support - just get in touch! | | You are receiving EcoNews because you either have an active role in the diocese (e.g. are an Eco Rep) or you have subscribed to receive it. You can unsubscribe at any time using the link below and you can read our Privacy Policy here. | | Norwich Diocesan Board of Finance Ltd is a limited company (no. 88175) and charity (no. 249318) registered in England and Wales. Registered office: Diocesan House, 109 Dereham Road, Easton, Norwich NR9 5ES. | | | | |
