How we can care for and use our churchyards and green spaces effectively is the topic of an upcoming one day conference hosted by the Diocese of Leeds and Ecclesiastical. The conference will be on Wednesday, October 4, the feast day of St Francis of Assisi and the end of the Season of Creation. This event, hosted at St Stephen’s West Bowling in the Bradford area, coincides with the launch of a new churchyard toolkit. 

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All Hallows Church, Bardsey’s Fair on 9th September will feature an expert talk on sustainable living, composting advice, a children’s craft session based around St Francis of Assisi, stalls, crafts, refreshments and an ice cream van! “It’s an event for everyone,” said Revd Angela Hannafin, Incumbent, Bardsey with East Keswick Parish, “Our first Green Fair is an opportunity to encourage one another to live more sustainably.”  

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The United Benefice of Leyburn and Bellerby welcomed the Rt Revd Nick Baines, Bishop of Leeds, to Bellerby for a service and tour of their Community Garden earlier this summer. The service started off in the garden, with a hymn and prayers, before the congregation heard from members of the community about the transformation of rocky wasteland to a beautiful community garden with a greenhouse, space to relax and the opportunity to garden. 

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The Diocesan Eco Book Group is welcoming new members as the group starts the autumn term. Meeting once a month online, the group provides a space and opportunity to talk together about the environmental crisis, from a faith perspective, through the themes and topics of the books they read and discuss. 

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Brave folk in Blubberhouses who worship outdoors throughout August were blessed with beautiful weather on Sunday. St Andrew’s near Fewston Reservoir, which together with the community hosts the Nidd Art Trail, promotes Fresh Air Worship in summertime which rejoices in the artistry of nature. They have been celebrating the theme of all humans being made in the image of creator God and given creative gifts to use.

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Looking for a new church green energy provider? Make sure that you are obtaining a no obligation quote before signing any contracts. The diocese are currently supporting a church who thought they were receiving quotes, but actually signed a very expensive contract. So be alert particularly if working with companies you don’t know well. Read our 10 Top Tips for Purchasing Church Energy. Consider approaching Green Journey for a quote, who work in partnership with the Diocese of Leeds. 

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Thank you to all parishes who submitted their 2022 energy and travel data on the online parish return EFT, helping to achieve the diocese’s highest ever submission rate - 68%. This data is used to provide a carbon footprint for participating churches that can be used in annual church reports. It also gives important information to help our diocese and the Church of England plan financial and other support for our net zero carbon journey. 

Keeping a congregation warm has always been a problem; but one church has successfully conducted trials of a system that cut the cost of heating by up to 90 per cent. Over the past two winters, a series of radiant heaters have been suspended in circular chandeliers from the ceiling of St Matthew’s, Kingsdown. “The chandeliers are clearly different, but people have felt warm even throughout the coldest period, back in January,” the treasurer, Andrew Wood, said. “For us, the costs can be as low as £10 per Sunday service to run”.  

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A Grade I listed church in the City of London reopened recently, after a refit to make it carbon-neutral. Since St Andrew-by-the-Wardrobe closed at the end of 2021, its refurbishment has involved the installation of energy-saving technology, such as air-source heat pumps, new roof insulation, and LED lighting. The church is believed to be the first Grade I listed church in London to become carbon-neutral. 

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Crisis induced by climate change are increasing the risk of all forms of violence against children, a new study co-produced by the World Council of Churches (WCC) suggests. It concludes that there is a direct link between the two. Climate change increases the risk of armed conflict, forced displacement, poverty, income inequality, disruptions in critical health and social services, and mental-health problems, it says, which all heighten the risk of violence against children.

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Two churches in Blackburn diocese — one urban, one rural — drew from each other’s experience of Eco Church, in an exchange of ministries recently. St John the Evangelist, Hurst Green, in the Ribble Valley, (formally in the Diocese of Leeds) is regarded as an environmental pioneer. Its three consecutive Eco Congregation awards before the present A Rocha UK scheme were the result of ten years of practical projects, Creation-themed worship, and community involvement. 

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10am Family Service for Creationtide, York Minster. 11am Pilgrimage through York for climate justice. All are welcome. 

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Leeds Church Institute and Leeds Citizens 6pm. Come and hear stories of how churches and communities have come together to bring about change for justice and better lives for all. 

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7.30pm Victoria Hall, Settle. Film, with the film maker in attendance and followed by discussion. Drawing the links between the cost of living crisis and the climate crisis – and how we can change everything. 

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10am Online workshop. Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust. This online workshop will give an overview of how to create your own mini wildflower meadow in your garden, yard or allotment, how to improve your chances of success and how to look after your meadow. 

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7.30pm. Where is God in all this? Meeting monthly across the Diocese to share opinions and views. Through reading together, we can provide that space and opportunity to talk together about the environmental crisis through the themes and topics of the books we read and discuss. Next Book: Places of Enchantment: Meeting God in Landscapes – Graham B. Usher (SPCK) Bishop Graham is the lead Bishop for the Environment in the Church of England. 

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Leeds Church Institute. The Creative Carousel is founded in the belief that everyone can put their faith into practice through creativity. ‘Learning for a Faithful City’ is at the core of this day retreat. 

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Do you want to explore how you can serve God in caring for creation or developing a calling to minister in environmental mission in your community or beyond? Register your interest for the next Eco Mission Enabler course starting in September. Watch three short videos on what last year's course graduates gained from the course here.



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7-9pm online. 8 week course - Wednesdays. For those wishing to be better equipped to fulfil a Parish Environment Officer or similar role.

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St Stephen’s Church Bowling, Bradford. A one day conference for all those interested in caring for churchyards and making best use of your green spaces. This event coincides with the launch of a new churchyard toolkit, designed for anyone who has responsibility for or uses their local churchyard and wishes to explore its potential as a haven of biodiversity; an educational/ heritage resource and family friendly space; and as a space for quiet reflection and prayer. 

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7.30pm. How can my church get to net zero? A webinar introducing the Saving Creation church toolkit to enable your church to start the journey to carbon neutrality.

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A handy list of the special days that you could celebrate in your church or get active in your local community. Everything from Global Recycling Day and No Mow May to Big Green Week and Creationtide.  

View the list here

12pm. Come along if you’ve heard of Eco Church but haven’t started yet, and want to know a little more before you take the plunge. The webinar will answer questions like: “What is Eco Church? Why take part? How does the award scheme work? What does it cost? Where should we start?” it will be filled with practical examples of churches around the country who have made changes, using Eco Church as a framework. 

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12pm. This webinar is aimed at people in churches who have registered for Eco Church and taken their first steps, but need a little help to get things going and work towards their Bronze or Silver award. The webinar will cover typical barriers, and give you tips on how to get around them and maintain your momentum. The webinar will contain practical examples of churches who have achieved an award and how they got there. 

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Online. 7pm-9pm. Green Christian will be screening the film, The Letter, for those who have not seen it. 

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12-1pm 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.

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Make Polluters Pay Action Day is an international call for action on loss and damage, and people from all across the world will be taking part! View the actions taking place locally or add your event. 

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4pm. This webinar looks at the links between Eco Church and Net Zero Carbon; how they are different and how they inter-connect. It will focus mainly on the ‘Buildings’ section of the Eco Church survey, since it is heating and lighting a church building which creates most of a church’s carbon footprint. The webinar will explain about free carbon footprinting tools available to churches. 

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This one day C of E online training course will cover the practicalities of installing ground source and air source heat pumps (including air-to-air and air-to-water). 

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Support these vital international climate change talks with your prayers. More details on receiving daily prayer bulletins by email to follow.

Read more about COP28 here

A suite of resources have been created for this year’s Creationtide or Season of Creation as it is sometimes known. The theme for the Season of Creation 2023 is Let Justice and Peace Flow. In a biodiversity crisis we must make visible peace with Earth and on Earth, at the same time that justice calls us to repentance and a change of attitude and actions. 

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Need inspiration for your next sermon? Does your vicar need a helping hand with integrating creation care into the weekly sermon slot? Peaching for God’s World provides a reflection on the weekly lectionary readings to assist in your sermon preparation. 

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Not sure how to pray about climate change? Want some help for the weekly intercessions? Pray and Fast for the Climate provide a monthly summary of climate news and prayer points. Make sure your church intercessors have access to this excellent resource. 

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The environmental discipleship, enabling and mission pathway is open to all. This pioneering training programme offer three levels of training: Eco Discipleship for All (Saving Creation Bronze); Parish Environment Officer (Saving Creation Silver); and the pilot role of Eco Missioner (Saving Creation Gold). Undertake the Bronze course online at any time. Watch three short videos on what last year's Gold course graduates gained from the course here. Register your interest for the next Silver or Gold courses now. 

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The Diocesan Environment Group are a team of volunteer and staff advisors who can offer assistance on matters such as community engagement, funding, biodiversity and buildings. The group are keen to lend their expertise to signpost and support parishes as they get started in this area of mission. 

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Join in the carbon net zero church journey using this new toolkit for churches and read about churches who are already working to be carbon net zero. 

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A toddler group curriculum exploring God’s beautiful world and creation care. In this curriculum, there are 10 sessions and each session has a theme with a bible verse/passage, a story time script, a craft activity, a sensory activity plus song ideas and faith at home ideas for parents and carers to do with little ones at home. 

Download here

Need funding for an environmental/renewables project? Visit the Diocese of Leeds Environment Funding webpage to find a list of potential grant funders, hear about the Diocese Church Buildings Fund and link to the C of E webinars on environmental fundraising. 

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Sun and Rain: Friends or Foes?

With this July being the hottest ever recorded on earth, is the Harvest song lyric ‘The breezes and the sunshine and soft refreshing rain...’ still appropriate to sing? Diana Chambers explores why our climate has changed and offers some hope filled loving actions we can take in response.

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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

Or watch the 10 Pledges carbon reduction video here. 

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. 

Parish Environment Officers

Are you the environmental enthusiast in your church or do you know the person who is? We are seeking a Rep in each parish to receive information and take up training opportunities.

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Area Environment Champions

Seeking enthusiastic volunteers for Bradford, Leeds and Wakefield Areas to support local churches in their care for creation.

More details here

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

This one from Dave Walker’s Guide to the Planet made us smile. Read Dave's comments about this cartoon here.

Please join our discussion group on Facebook by following the below link!