Bradford Cathedral has become the 16th Church of England Cathedral to receive a Silver award and reflects their commitment to walk in step with nature and put creation care at the heart of what they do. To achieve a silver award, one of the things Bradford Cathedral has done is work in partnership with many organisations, including Bradford Council and ‘Forest for Bradford’, on the Woodland Project.

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Got great ideas for carbon cutting lighting or heating projects or just simply insulating your church pipework? Now you need funding advice? As part of the diocese Saving Creation programme, join the webinar on “How to plan and deliver your Net Zero Carbon fundraising appeal” and hear from funding experts Action Planning. 

Read more and book a place on the webinar here

Twelve churches from across the diocese have been successful in their bids to join the Give To Go Green match-funding pilot project from the Church of England. The successful bids range from projects to upgrading guttering, installing under pew heating and trailing infrared heating all of support net zero parish plans. Parishes are now receiving support for fundraising ahead of a six week window to match-fund for their chosen project. 

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Progressive efforts by farmers to produce good food and manage the countryside will be celebrated at Ripon Cathedral’s Plough Sunday Service, supported by the Yorkshire Agricultural Society. All are welcome at the service on Sunday, January 14 at the start of a new year which brings fresh opportunities and challenges for British agriculture. Plough Sunday is an ancient festival which was revived by the Victorians.

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The partnership between the Diocese of Leeds and the Woodland Trust has recently been the subject of an Operation Noah video. The short video follows Operation Noah’s ‘Church Land and the Climate Crisis’ report which recommends three key ways that Church and Christian-owned land could be used to respond to the climate crisis.

Read more and watch the video here

It seems likely that there will be a General election this year and some areas of the diocese will also be having Mayoral and local council elections too. Here are three actions to consider for our church:

1. Find out which constituency your parish is in using the map here. 
2. Can your PCC and other local community groups like to your voice to the Climate Coalition’s open letter to party leaders?  
3. Empower your congregation to act in the run up to the next UK general election by using the Christian Aid Lent Course ‘Act on Poverty'. 

The frequency of flooding around particular churches has prompted their incumbents to reflect after the recent storms on how to live with the uncertainties of climate change. The Bishop of Southwell & Nottingham, the Rt Revd Paul Williams was “Thinking and praying today for all those affected” after Nottinghamshire experienced the worst of Storms Henke and Gerrit: the River Trent surged to its highest levels for 20 years. 

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In the past year the number of Eco Church Awards achieved has risen from 2000 to 3000, since the program’s launch in 2016. Across the Diocese of Leeds we are delighted to have 73 churches who have already archived one or more award (Bronze, Silver, Gold) and a further 98 who have registered with the scheme. By acting collectively, churches across the UK can significantly impact creation and their local communities.

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Christian groups have welcomed the international agreement, the first of its kind, at Dubai in December, on the transition away from fossil fuels. Questions remain about funding and speed of transition, with developing countries represented at the climate summit saying there is a lack of funds to help them decarbonise their economies and deal with the impacts of climate change. 

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The investment body of the Church of England, the Church Commissioners has created a short video to explain how they aim to be at the forefront of responsible investment - “How we invest for a net zero world”. As a faith-based investor they consider their investments in line with Christian values and exclude companies that are active in spaces and sectors which they feel a moral responsibility to avoid. 

Read more and watch the video here

King Charles used his Christmas message to highlight the responsibility of people of all faith and none in caring for creation, linking spirituality to environmentalism. "Honouring the whole of creation" is a "belief shared by all religions", said the King, who gave the key address at the recent COP28 climate change summit in Dubai.

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This webinar is part of the Diocese of Leeds Saving Creation programme. It is designed to support parishes who have started on their journey to net zero carbon, have a net zero plan and are thinking about how to fund the projects needed to decarbonise your buildings. 

Running Twice: 17th Jan, 12pm - 1.30pm and 24th Jan, 7pm - 8.30pm.  

More details and booking

Ripon Cathedral present a series of four film screenings: Brother Sun Sister Moon; A Man of his Word; The Letter; and Demain (Tomorrow). 7pm. Everyone is welcome. Bring your friends. 

Details

7-9pm online. This workshop, run by the diocesan Children, Youth and Families Team, is designed to help parishes think about the different opportunities to engage with their local communities and will cover a number of possible opportunities, highlighting ways to get started.  

More details and booking

6pm. Screening of the film ‘2040’. Join this special film club to watch a short documentary film exploring themes of the environment, followed by discussion. 

More details and booking

Scargill House, Kettlewell. If you enjoy walking and want to practice Christian meditation/contemplation, this weekend is for you! Walking, pilgrimage and meditation are life-giving spiritual practices in the Christian tradition.

More details and booking

7-9pm online. 8 week course. For those wishing to upskill in their own eco journey or be better equipped to fulfil a Parish Environment Officer or similar role. Express your interest now. 



Details

7pm online. Green Christian Joy in Enough event. Cat Jenkins will be talking about the ways in which offshore finance centres (and those who make use of them) compound the climate injustices meted out on the global South, by the global North; and she discusses the reasons why campaigning for international corporate tax justice matters to climate-ravaged countries. 

Details

12pm. The A Rocha UK churches team will lead prayers, with the opportunity to meet in breakout groups to connect and pray with others in the Eco Church community – for the work of caring for creation in our churches and for each other.

Details

7pm online. Green Christian Joy in Enough event. Helen Stanton will draw upon Christian virtue ethics and the apophatic Christian Tradition to encourage the practice of joy and hope in a world that feels on a desperate and destructive trajectory. Her focus will be on how God’s work in us can create a place of joy and freedom, even while our eyes are open to the sin and suffering of the world; a joy that transforms. 

Details

Brighten up your church notice board and let your congregation and community know what you are up to on your Eco church journey with this new ready to print poster. 

Download

This new toolkit for parishes offers a helping hand to make the most of your churchyard. Whatever the size and context of your churchyard, this God given piece of land, has the potential to be cherished and to serve the church and the wider community. It offers guidance on things to consider for each type of churchyard use e.g. when developing a quiet garden, a heritage hub or a energy generation hub.

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Environmental and sustainability projects take many forms. Some funders have particular interests and/or fund in a very restricted area. Others are much more generalists. These two Diocese of Leeds funding lists provide potential funders from both national funds and those that fund with in the diocesan area.

Environmental and Sustainability - Download here

Net Zero Carbon Projects - Download here

The UK Shared Prosperity Fund is a central pillar of the government’s levelling up agenda and provides funding for local investment by March 2025. Alongside businesses, community groups, cultural and voluntary sector organisations are being invited to apply for a share of funds. There is a decarbonisation stream for net zero projects as well as other community project funding. More details for North Yorkshire and West Yorkshire. 

Everything on my plate affects you

With Christian Unity Week just around the corner, Diana Chambers uses this article to explore how the everyday action of what we chose to eat is effecting our sisters and brothers locally and globally.

Read more here

More magazine articles?

All our eco magazine articles are archived on the Diocese of Leeds Environment Magazine Magic webpage.



Click here

Eco Top Tips

Find a weekly top tip here for your parish newsletter:

Year 1

Year 2

Book Reviews

Why not include a review from our Eco Book Club in your parish magazine? Thirteen reviews are waiting for you, just click on Book Reviews half way down the page here. 

We are looking for a new 3 day a week, 24 month fixed term Funding Officer to join the passionate, vibrant and friendly team in the Diocese of Leeds. In line with the Church of England’s Routemap to Net Zero Carbon, the Diocese of Leeds has an ambition to achieve net zero carbon (NZC) by 2030 across our diocesan estate. To support our extensive programme of work we are seeking an experienced Funding Officer to work alongside a growing vibrant and committed diocesan team of NZC officers. 

Find out more about this role here

If we don’t laugh we’ll cry: helping you through the grief of ecocide...

Q: How do you cut a wave in half?

A: Use a sea saw!

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