A semi-rural church in Durham Diocese is celebrating after receiving a top eco award.
St Stephen’s, Willington (pictured above), has been awarded the gold standard award by A Rocha UK, a charity that equips Christians, churches and dioceses to protect and restore God’s creation.
The church, which previously achieved A Rocha UK’s silver status, has once again been recognised for its commitment to environmental priorities.
Church representatives said the gold award had been secured as a result of numerous projects within the church and churchyard, as well as successful partnerships with local schools, Greater Willington Town Council and Durham County Council.
The Venerable Shirley Griffiths, Associate Priest at St Stephen’s, said she was proud of the church’s eco committee and its joint chairs – David and Carole Parker.
“We’re absolutely delighted to have achieved gold status,” said Shirley. “David and Carole have been instrumental in all of this and have inspired so many people to get involved and play such a key role. It has been a huge effort and we are so grateful for the tireless contributions of people from our church and the wider community.”
David said: “We have been able to enhance the church in a number of ways with heating and LED lighting. The churchyard has bird boxes, a wildflower garden, hedgehog boxes and many other things that create different environments. Now we can use the churchyard for schools to do eco trails as part of their curriculum.
“In terms of the community we have been greatly blessed with the outreach we have been able to achieve, particularly with the involvement of Greater Willington Town Council. We have mutually helped each other to develop green spaces both within the church and in the wider community.”
Carole said the eco project has enabled the church to fully appreciate the many talents of its people.
She explained: “We have a responsibility to look after God’s earth – this wonderful gift that he has given. People have contributed to help us to identify trees, including a rare black poplar, and identifying all the birds we have around here. This is going to be developed into a trail for all the schools in the area.”
Carole praised the work of local councils in helping the church to plant 1,500 daffodil bulbs at St Stephen’s.
Bethan Still, Environmental Officer for the Diocese of Durham, said: “On behalf of the diocese, I would like to congratulate St Stephen’s on their award, which shows their tremendous effort and commitment to stewarding God’s creation in their parish. To be only the second gold eco church in Durham Diocese is a wonderful achievement, and we are thankful for their offer to support other churches in their respective eco church journeys.”
The Revd Claire Gibbs, Creation Care Officer for the Diocese of Durham, said: “They have grown enormously in their mission to care for God's creation. It is embedded in their worship, has grown the age range who are engaging with the work of the church and broadened the fringes of the church community.
“St Stephen's is now becoming a source of information, support and inspiration to other churches in the diocese - from large to small. I am grateful for the time they've put into this, and look forward to seeing the seeds they're planting elsewhere, bearing fruit.”
St Stephen’s is planning a special service to celebrate the achievement on Sunday 9 March at 10.30am. Churchgoers and clergy will be joined by diocesan representatives and local dignitaries.
Churches in the diocese seeking to find out more about the scheme should email Bethan via Bethan.Still@durham.anglican.org in the first instance.
St Mary Magdalene Church in Hart village became the first in Durham Diocese to scoop the gold award last summer. Other churches have been awarded silver and are working towards gold.
In the video below, Carole and David offer some tips to other churches thinking of getting involved in Eco Church.