In May 2024, a small group of committed members at St Hilda’s Church, Warley Woods came together to form an Eco Group. At our very first meeting, we were encouraged to discover that we had already met the criteria for the Bronze Eco Church Award from A Rocha UK. The award framework offered us practical ideas and inspiration to build on our strengths and grow in areas where there was room for development. Just over a year later, we were delighted to be awarded the Silver Eco Church Award.
This recognition reflects our commitment to environmental stewardship as part of our worship, mission, and everyday life as a church community. At St Hilda’s, creation care is not just a practical concern—it is woven into the fabric of our worship and teaching. We regularly reflect on the biblical call to stewardship and justice, and our prayers often include themes of environmental concern, reminding us that caring for creation is a spiritual responsibility as well as a practical one.
A real highlight this year was an outdoor gathering in the church grounds for Earth Hour, where we gathered around a campfire and shared our concerns and hopes for the future. The event was also attended by people who don’t usually come to church, and it was a joy to welcome them.
We have made significant progress in reducing our carbon footprint. Our old gas boilers were replaced with an electric heating system, and we now use a green energy supplier to power our buildings—making us effectively Net Zero. We are currently exploring the possibility of installing solar panels, thanks to a generous legacy gift that has made this vision more attainable.
We are working to make the church grounds a space that better supports wildlife and biodiversity. We’ve installed bug hotels, bird boxes, and bat boxes, and leave parts of the lawn un-mown. An edible herb garden has been planted in our toddler garden, and we’ve introduced compost bins to reduce waste and a water butt to collect rainwater. We’ve also taken part in national conservation efforts such as Churches Count on Nature, the Big Butterfly Count, and the RSPB Big Garden Bird Watch—activities that members of the congregation have thoroughly enjoyed.
We actively promote sustainable living within our congregation. Each month, we share eco lifestyle tips to inspire practical changes. We serve Fairtrade tea and coffee at church events. Our recycling initiatives include collecting stamps, foreign currency, jewellery, and old tech—all of which raise funds for the church. We also reuse candle wax to make new candles for use in church. We recycle all paper, plastic, and card, and use recycled paper for all our church printing. We’ve hosted gift, book, and toy swap events to reduce waste and encourage reuse. During Advent, we provide a communal Christmas card board to help cut down on paper use. We’ve organised several community litter picks and are working our way along the parish boundary, picking up litter as we go.
Receiving the Silver Award is a testament to the passion and dedication of our church community. As we look ahead to the Gold Award, we invite everyone at St Hilda’s to join us in this journey—through prayer, practical action, and shared commitment. Together, we strive to “safeguard the integrity of creation and sustain and renew the life of the earth.”
James Atkinson
Parish Environmental Contact, St Hilda’s Warley Woods