Diocese of Manchester wins prestigious Eco Diocese award

St Andrew's Church, Dearnley, has received a bronze eco award

The Diocese of Manchester has been awarded an Eco Diocese bronze award from the national environmental charity A Rocha UK.

The accolade also recognises the many churches across Greater Manchester and Rossendale which have worked hard to make their buildings and worship greener, and those which have received Eco Church awards over the past three years, including St Andrew’s in Dearnley.

The Bishop of Manchester, Dr David Walker, said: “I am delighted that Manchester Diocese has achieved the Eco Diocese bronze award. It is particularly pleasing that churches in both more rural areas and deprived urban locations have achieved high awards.

“Environmental issues are now becoming firmly embedded in our life and thinking, and form a core part of our goal to serve local communities well. There is still a long way to go; onwards to silver.”

Christian charity A Rocha UK, which administers the award, commented on some innovative elements to work on the environment such as encouraging cycling, and supporting Beeways, the radical plan by Chris Boardman and Transport for Greater Manchester to transform Greater Manchester into Britain's first 'cycling city'.

Since 2017, the diocese has made great efforts to integrate care for the environment into its strategy, training, investments and communications.

Manchester Diocese has also established a 12-week Ecology and Creation training pathway for Authorised Lay Ministers (ALMs).

Eco ALMs develop a theological understanding of creation care alongside the climate emergency, and identify how creation and ecology present missional opportunities for engagement in all aspects of church life, including pastoral care and worship.