Eco Church

The Eco Church program run by Christian conservation charity A Rocha UK offers support and solidarity to churches responding to the climate and nature crisis.

The Eco Church survey is a self-assessment tool that provides a framework for practical action across five categories – Worship and Teaching; Buildings and Energy; Land and Nature; Community and Global Engagement; and Lifestyle. There are many thousands of church communities on the Eco Church journey, with more joining all the time.  St James’s has been a part of the Eco Church family since the scheme was launched in 2016.

A round wooden plaque with the text 'A Rocha Gold Award 2018' and a leaf illustration, surrounded by green grass and brown dried leaves.

We’re a Gold Award Eco Church!

Milestones along our route to Gold include:

  • Growing a programme of learning, worship, and creative projects,

  • Reducing our annual carbon footprint from energy use from over 100 tonnes of carbon dioxide to around 40 tonnes on our heavily used 7-day-a-week site. We still have a way to go but watch this space!

  • Turning our shady urban garden into a biodiverse space that builds in resilience in the face of a much more uncertain future,

  • Committing to advocacy and campaigning with partners,

  • Raising awareness of individual and organisational change, including carbon literacy training for staff and community.

Squash plants with orange flowers grow up the black railings outside St James Piccadilly. There are 2 colourful information posters about the Food For The Ecozoic project.
breathe swarm railings 1 landscape.jpg
Food for the Ecozoic, Harvest Festival 4, landscape.jpg
Campaigning - the big one 2023 (landscape).jpg

Rippling outward

Working in isolation is not enough to drive the just and rapid transition from a fossil-fuel-driven global economy to the ecological civilisation we so urgently need. This planetary transition, described as The Great Work by Thomas Berry, needs all of us, everywhere. Eco Church is a networked community across England and Wales – you’re never far from someone to talk to.

There’s a lot to do, it can feel overwhelming, but we try to start where we are, with the people who are here or visit, with what we love, what we’re good at, and what we’re drawn to.

Become an Eco Church

Any church can become an Eco Church! A Rocha UK has produced lots of great resources for churches to get started on their Eco church journey, and work towards a Bronze, Silver or Gold award. There’s so many different ways to be an Eco Church and there’s a great and growing network of local churches for support, inspiration and encouragement.

You can find out more on A Rocha UK’s website, get started with an Eco church survey and register for an award.

A Rocha UK's Website
The Grow box which is a large planting container in the Food for the Ecozoic garden at St James Piccadilly. All the vegetables and herbs are growing strongly such as peppers, tomatoes, and basil. There's colourful signs labeling them.

Resources for Eco Church

Come back to this page soon for some ideas and resources from our own Eco Church adventure. And in the meantime, please do get in touch for a conversation, and visit the A Rocha UK Eco Church resources hub .