St John's Church is currently a Silver Award Eco Church which was awarded in 2020 by A Rocha. This an international Christian environmental charity working closely with the Church of England to attain Net Zero by 2030.
Since this award, we have made great strides in its Eco Status not least by changing the church heating in 2025 from gas to electric which has meant it has achieved Net Zero.
Its next aim which should take place in Summer 2026 is the installation of solar panels on the church roof allowing the church to also be Carbon Neutral. As well as this, we are currently in the process of applying for a Gold Award.
An Eco Church needs to ensure that God’s Ecology and Creation is at the very heart of what it does and this is broken down into 5 key areas.
Worship and Teaching
Creation care is embedded within the spiritual life of our church. We commit to:
• Integrating environmental responsibility into worship, preaching, prayer and teaching
• Marking key seasons and events such as Harvest, Season of Creation and Environment Sunday
• Offering space for lament, reflection and hope in response to ecological loss
• Using sustainable worship resources wherever possible (local/seasonal flowers, foam-free arrangements, ethical products)
• Including creation care within children’s and youth activities
• Hosting courses, guest speakers and small group studies on faith and the environment through the Manchester Diocese Environmental Group. We also recognise the emotional and mental health impacts of climate anxiety and ecological grief. Our pastoral leaders seek to be equipped to support individuals experiencing distress related to environmental concerns. We affirm environmental action as a valued Christian vocation alongside other forms of service.
Building and Energy
The Church built in 1842 and is Grade II Listed is constructed of solid stone with a slate roof. Inside the ceiling in the nave reaches to the apex.
This means it is challenging to maintain and also heat the building. The Parochial Church Council (PCC) decided in early 2024 to replace the aging and very expensive to run wall fired gas heating. It was after various options were looked at, decided to install a mixture of electric radiators for the fabric and high level infrared heaters. This has cut our carbon emissions by 85% and has cut down our costs. The next phase as stated above is to fit solar panels and storage batteries which will virtually run 75% of the electricity required when the heating system is fully on.
Land and Nature
The Church building sits in approximately 4000 square metres of land of which 90% is graveyard.
The ground boundaries have been left uncut and form wildlife highways. We have also set out a large wildlife haven constructed of 12 straw archery targets covered in branches and leaves.
The path way edges have been planted with wild flowers along with other species.
The grounds are home to over 50 trees and shrubs and attract various birds and 3 nest boxes are in place.
Our local church school will be carrying out a wild life survey in the next few months.
Community and Global Engagement
The Church recognises that environmental issues are inseparable from social justice. We therefore:
• Engage with local environmental challenges such as housing quality, pollution and access to green spaces
• Support national and global climate justice initiatives
• Partner with charities, schools, councils and community groups
• Advocate responsibly on issues affecting vulnerable communities • Participate in campaigns, awareness events and community clean-ups
We also recognise the impact of financial stewardship and aim to:
• Use ethical banking and investment where possible
• Support environmentally responsible organisations
• Consider complete divestment from fossil fuels where appropriate We seek to ensure that nature, environmental education and outdoor activities are accessible and inclusive for all, particularly children and young people.
Lifestyle
We aim to support sustainable, realistic lifestyle changes across our congregation.
Food We promote:
• Local, seasonal and fairly traded produce
• Reducing food waste
• More plant-based options at church events
• Ethical sourcing where possible
Transport
We encourage:
• Walking, cycling, public transport and car-sharing
• Remote participation where appropriate to reduce travel Waste
We actively promote:
• Refusing unnecessary items
• Reusing and repairing
• Recycling correctly
• Reducing single-use plastics Ethical Consumption
We provide information and encouragement around:
• Energy efficiency at home
• Sustainable purchasing
• Responsible finance and investment • Reducing over-consumption