This Season of Creation the Diocese of Guildford is celebrating a new eco network across 35 churches, energy audits in over 40 churches that are leading to plans to reduce energy use, and far more. All of this is part of the Diocese’s journey to Net Zero.
Rt Revd Paul Davies, Bishop of Dorking and Net Zero champion, said: “September, and the beginning of October, are the Season of Creation for many Christians. During this season, churches across the diocese are holding special services and events to give thanks for God's gift of creation, and to renew their commitment to caring for our one planet home.
“But it’s not just a Season for Guildford, Christians throughout the world, every denomination, are praying and taking climate action at the same time. From Korea to India to Russia to South America. All of us lifting voices in prayer and collectively hearing God's call to come together in hopeful action. Even for the most battle-weary climate activists, this whole-planet season of praise and action is a truly moving experience.”
Last year we put together a plan for how we would move towards Net Zero by 2030, in line with the National Church of England's Net Zero Carbon plan. Our local plan is built on a local history of environmental work in the diocese. The number of Eco Churches continues to grow as congregations from all of our deaneries have worked to make their church life sustainable and share the need for action with their communities. This year we are celebrating the first full year of our Net Zero team bringing that plan to life.
Local churches have been working on their own response to the climate crisis by reducing energy consumption. From planting flowers and improving biodiversity to installing LED bulbs, and switching to infrared heaters, sustainability plans are slowly coming to fruition. By the end of this year we expect over 40 churches will have completed an energy audit to work out the best ways to electrify their heating.
Churches across the diocese have been joining the Arocha Eco Church initiative. Eco Church awards parishes a rating based on how they care for God’s earth. Across the diocese, 60 churches have been awarded bronze, 31 silver, and 1 gold, an increase in total number of awards of 16 over the last 12 months (in addition to 7 churches stepping up from bronze to silver awards). Eco Church helps guide churches on many aspects of becoming more sustainable – from raising collective voices in campaigns such as Zero Hour to green purchasing power of renewable electricity tariffs or cleaning products. Eco Church helps parishes cover all the other environmental bases.
The Net Zero team at the diocese has supported Holy Trinity Knaphill and Christ Church Epsom Common access a support package valued at up to £25,000 per church from the nationwide Church of England ‘Demonstrator Churches’ project. Both grants are for working through possible solutions to reaching Net Zero Carbon, taking into account the specific design of the buildings and their usage patterns. Once they have developed their proposals, they will be eligible to apply for Stage 2 grants (a support package valued at up to £50,000 per church) from the same grant fund towards the cost of the work needed.
Christ Church Epsom’s vicar, Revd Rosemary Donovan says, "I am extremely proud of all Christ Church's efforts to raise consciousness about climate change and our initiatives to be more eco-friendly, through personal and communal commitments. Being a national Demonstrator Church, we can not only progress our own church commitments but support others in Guildford Diocese by trailblazing."
The Diocese set up a new Eco Network this summer. It’s a community for people with a heart for the environment and net zero. Brought together with a purpose to create a positive change in our churches to be kinder to the planet.
There’s a lot of work that can be done. Sometimes knowing where and how to start or go next is the biggest blocker. But people across the diocese are all on the same journey. The network is a place for each of these people to share what they are doing and learning, what has worked for them and what hasn’t, and to encourage one another.
Bishop Paul said of the last year: “This is a big journey we’re on. We cannot do it alone. And the Church is just one piece of the jigsaw. During this Season of Creation, I hope you find time to reflect on the amazing gift this planet is, and how we can tread more lightly.”