Environment E-news - January 2026

Issue 63 | January 2026

God's Green Fingers Environment E-news

Welcome to the New Year edition of God’s Green Fingers! The Sunday before last, on a cold and misty afternoon, a hardy crowd of farmers and others gathered at Ripon Cathedral for the annual Plough Sunday service. In his sermon, the Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell, observed the headlines over recent years that an alarming number of children ‘don’t know their onions, or carrots…or that chips are made out of potatoes and bacon comes from pigs’. As newspapers have cited, this could be due to too much junk food, or schools not doing their job properly; but Archbishop Stephen went on to wonder if it was as much a ‘spiritual issue’.

An understanding of the Christ who came to earth in human form, invites us into a grounded spirituality that connects us with the earth. Without recognising the earth is our neighbour too, we are lost. To find out more and all sorts of related environmental matters you green-hearted souls will love which the Archbishop explored, click here for the full sermon.

The blessing of the plough at the start of the year is increasingly questioned by those regenerative farming fans who are clear we do more damage than good if we break up the soil with steel blades. However, for me blessing the plough is a helpful reminder to us of our interconnectedness with the earth, our reliance on God and a reminder that it is the hard soil of our hearts that sometimes needs to be turned over and around as we offer our labour and lives afresh in care of neighbour near and far. As a New Year starts, may God bless us and prosper the work of our hands and hearts in the field of creation as we labour in love, with God’s help, for the renewal of His earth.

Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation:

for in your abundant care you have given us fertile land,

rich soil, the seasons in their courses.

You provide seed for sowing, water, light and warmth

to bring forth the miracle of growth.

You give us skill to work the land,

to prepare and nourish it,

that it may be fruitful.

By your blessing, let this plough be a sign

of all that you promise to us.

Prosper the work of our hands,

and provide abundant crops for your people to share.

Blessed be God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

All Blessed be God for ever

God speed the plough.

God speed the plough!

From the Liturgy for Plough Sunday

God bless,

+Anna

Bishop Anna Eltringham
Bishop of Ripon and Diocesan Lead Bishop for the Environment

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Updates

Introducing Alasdair Hicks – Net Zero Carbon Church Buildings Officer

Alasdair has worked for many years in project management, developing and implementing construction projects on the railway. He’s been concerned about sustainability for many years and sits on the Board of a Community Land Trust that facilitates construction of permanently affordable housing built to One Planet Principles where he lives in York. He was also the community representative on the Environment and Sustainability Group at York Minster. He’s married to Rachel and has two adult children. All three of them can regularly be heard in church choirs around the country. He himself plays guitar in a community big band - with more enthusiasm than skill – and enjoys getting outdoors.

Alasdair is pleased to have started working with churches across the diocese to help them improve their energy efficiency and lower their carbon footprint. Alasdair can be contacted at alasdair.hicks@leeds.anglican.org.

Energy Footprint Tool

The Energy Footprint Tool is now open for 2026! Completing the EFT is part of our shared journey to net zero carbon as each year’s data builds a clearer picture of carbon use and helps us act more strategically together. The EFT can also help highlight where energy is used and may help reduce your energy costs. It takes less than an hour and anyone with access to your energy bills can complete it. This helpful video walks you through the Energy Footprint Tool.

A reminder that Churches submit their EFT through Online Parish Returns, and Cathedrals and Retreat Houses through the Energy Toolkit. If you’re unsure where to submit your EFT, you can find out here. The EFT will close on Tuesday, June 30. If you require any support once you’ve watched the walk-through video, please contact Rosalind at rosalind.cooper@leeds.anglican.org.

Quick Wins Fund

Applications are once again open for the Net Zero Carbon Quick Wins fund, which supports churches to launch decarbonisation projects. Over £50,000 has already been awarded by the Diocese. Click here for some Quick Wins inspiration from the National Church. When applying for a Net Zero Carbon Quick Wins Grant, churches can also apply for Diocesan Church Buildings and Buildings For Mission Grants, maximising the chances of obtaining project funding. If your church was eligible for the £3,000 decarbonisation grant, you can still apply for Quick Wins funding.

Grant applications are due by Saturday, February 28 for consideration in the March grants panel round. Further information can be found here. Please email

resourcingparishes@leeds.anglican.org or telephone Beth Vickers-Smith (Stewardship Officer) on 07512 712292 with any queries about the Grants.

Saving Creation Courses

There are new links for the Saving Creation Courses, which are now embedded in the diocesan website. On this new ‘Pathways’ webpage you can enrol on the Saving Creation Bronze course and register your interest for the Saving Creation Silver course. There is also a brand new page for the Saving Creation Gold course. Completing all three levels of Saving Creation equips you to become an Eco Mission Enabler, helping to serve communities across the Diocese of Leeds in growing their ministry and mission in caring for God’s creation.

Resources

What Actually Causes Damp in our Churches?

An interesting research project run by the Diocese of St Albans aimed to answer this question by analysing the wording of c.800 Quinquennial Inspections, and found that problems with rainwater goods were most frequently associated with damp. Read their findings here. A prescient reminder that it’s important to maintain your church’s gutters, however unglamorous that may be – contact the Church Buildings Team for more advice.

Carbon Footprint Calculator

Part of many churches’ Eco Church journey involves measuring carbon footprints using the free Climate Stewards 360° carbon footprint tool. Climate Stewards are running drop-in sessions in February and March for anyone looking to find out more about the tool. The sessions will run on:

Thursday, February 19, 12pm-1pm

Tuesday, February 24, 8pm-9pm

Thursday, March 19, 12pm-1pm

Tuesday, March 24, 8pm-9pm

A Message from Green Journey

Green Journey is a scheme which provides religious organisations with support in reducing their environmental impact through renewable energy procurement, energy audits, and through sustainability advice and support. Following the initial pilot scheme within the Diocese of Leeds, Green Journey – which is operated by Green Energy Consulting - now works with numerous Dioceses across the United Kingdom. Green Journey has the knowledge and expertise of working with thousands of churches to help them reduce their carbon footprint and plan their pathway to net zero. For more information, contact Craig Hogg, Ecclesiastical Account Manager, at

craig@greenjourney.org.

Funding

The National Churches Trust have released the ‘House of Good: Local calculator’, a tool churches can use that demonstrate their vital importance in the community, and which might support fundraising campaigns. The tool should take around 30 minutes to complete, and instructions on how to complete it can be found here. Find updated IMD statistics for 2025 here.

Cornerstone

There are currently over 250 net-zero grants on the Cornerstone grants (but net-zero and environmental projects can also support wider projects seeking other funding). The Stewardship team are holding webinars through February and March 2026 to introduce parishes to Cornerstone. Find out more and register here.

Opportunities

Fancy a new role for the new year? The Benefice of Pontefract are recruiting a Net Zero Carbon Freelance Fundraiser, to support parishes in the Pontefract area on their decarbonisation journeys. Please do circulate with your networks. The closing date is Monday, February 16.

The ‘Village Green Project’ has recently launched to support climate action in communities in North Yorkshire. If you’re in a church in North Yorkshire that is doing green things, please do get in touch with their friendly team – they’re keen to work with us at the Diocese of Leeds.

A message from Climate Action Leeds: Are people at your church in Leeds interested in preserving nature, building community, and enjoying their local area? The Climate Action Leeds (CAL) Network aims to help groups across our city connect, share, and learn so we can act collectively for the benefit of everyone. Facilitated by Voluntary Action Leeds, and building on work done through the Climate Action Leeds Partnership, the CAL Network will celebrate and share the good work already happening in local communities, as well as offering advice, networking, and support with accessing new opportunities, all with the goal of empowering communities.

No prior knowledge of climate action is required. The CAL Network is keen to connect with any groups interested in being part of this city-wide effort. You can read more here, or contact Martin Flynn, Project Worker at VAL, on martin.flynn@val.org.uk. Some readers may already know about the Imagine Leeds climate action hub, which was also founded during the CAL Partnership and is still open to all!

The Yorkshire Energy Doctor is holding free Community Energy Ambassador sessions, which equip individuals to offer support to others to reduce and manage energy costs. This is a 3-week course, with 1.5 hours per week, on Mondays in February.

Watch, listen, read

A reminder of the excellent variety of webinars the Church of England has produced on environmental matters.

The UK held the first-ever National Emergency Briefing on climate and nature in November 2025. The Briefing highlighted the diversity of issues within the dual climate and nature crisis, and doesn’t shy away from the sobering reality of the science, but also offers solutions, and a particularly good talk on climate adaptation. A full documentary from the briefing is expected for release in March 2026 and will be available for community screenings across the UK. If your church or hall is interested in hosting a showing, please register your interest by filling in the form on the Take Action page.

The temperature and humidity records held in organ tuning books are a “‘goldmine’ to study changes in environmental conditions”, The Guardian reported in December 2025.

A Rocha UK have updated their Eco Tips Calendar for 2026, keeping you and your church inspired throughout the year.

News

St Mark’s Harrogate Puts Faith into Action through Creation Care

St Mark’s Harrogate recently put into action their commitment to caring for God’s creation, with nearly all 24 members of the Parochial Church Council completing the Diocese’s Saving Creation Bronze Course. Creation care is considered a vital part of the gospel message at St Mark’s, and the course has helped PCC members deepen their understanding of both the challenges and the Christian response. Participants explored the effects of the climate crisis on people in the UK and around the world, why the Church is seeking to respond, and how individual Christians can act as part of their discipleship.

Alongside the bigger picture, participants discovered practical ways forward. The course introduced EcoChurch, one of the Church of England’s key environmental strategies, and pointed towards a wide range of resources to help churches and individuals take meaningful steps in caring for creation. Engaging discussions and practical ideas were highlights for many. “I really enjoyed the course and found it very interesting,” said one PCC member. Another added, “It was good to be able to take part in the online discussions, for example about the fashion industry.” A third commented, “I particularly liked the 10 pledges and the number of websites that were linked to that.” St Mark’s hopes that the learning from the Saving Creation course will continue to shape its worship, decision making and everyday life - helping the church to live out its faith with hope, responsibility and care for the world God loves.

Littertivity at St Mary the Less Allerton Bywater

Rosalind visited St Mary the Less in Allerton Bywater at Christmastime to attend Nine Lessons and Carols led by The Revd Jo Medhurst, and see the church’s ‘Littertivity’ – a Nativity scene created entirely out of litter that others had thrown into the green spaces around the village.

Send us your sustainability success stories for the next edition of God’s Green Fingers. The deadline is Wednesday, March 11.

Events

Big Garden Birdwatch - Friday, January 23 to Sunday, January 25

Wrap up warm this weekend and take part in the RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch. Birds landing in gardens, parks, and your balcony all count! Over 400,000 are signed up thus far. Details here.

The Meaning of Pilgrimage - Wednesday, February 4

Hosted by Green Christian. Phil Craine will lead the session exploring ‘the meaning of pilgrimage and its place in the world today’. Details here.

Love Your Yew Week - Monday, February 9 to Sunday, February 15

Yew trees can live for thousands of years and are often found in church yards. Love Your Yew Week aims to simplify the task of caring for yews of all ages, and in 2026 the theme is clearing around the root plate. Details here.

Show the Love - Saturday, February 14

Green Christian are encouraging us to ‘Show the Love’ by making and sharing green hearts “to show what’s at the heart of the future we want to protect”. Details here.

Crafty Swap Shop - Saturday, March 7

St Lucius Church in Farnley Tyas from 10am to midday. Bring and swap all of your unused craft supplies, accompanied by some fabulous refreshments! Details here.

Litter Free Leeds - Various

There are litter picks coming up across the city in the spring. With over 50 groups operating across Leeds, there’s a pick for everyone! Remember to bring your own gloves and contact the event organiser if you need to borrow a litter grabber and bags. Details here.

Eco Church

Congratulations to those churches who have achieved Eco Church awards since the last issue of God’s Green Fingers. You can find out more about the Eco Church scheme here or by speaking with our Eco Mission Enablers.