Eco Church


St Michael’s has become an Eco Church and already gained the Bronze Award. The national Eco Church scheme has been run by the international environmental charity A Rocha since 2016, though Lichfield Diocese had its own scheme as early as the late 1990s. The scheme encourages churches to adopt environmentally sensitive policies in all of their activities. To join, churches fill in a questionnaire survey where each question contributes a number of points. Depending on the answers, the church may be given a Bronze, Silver or Gold Award.
  
The questions cover five aspects of church life:
  • Worship and teaching
  • Management of church buildings
  • Management of church land
  • Community and global engagement
  • Lifestyle
 
Our results gave one Gold level, one Silver levels and three Bronze levels – but the award is given on the lowest of the five aspects. However, of the 100 churches in the diocese that have joined the scheme only a quarter have achieved Bronze level or higher, so to get Bronze when we start shows that St Michael’s is already concerned about environmental issues.
 
What is even more pleasing, is that in the aspects for which we have achieved Bronze level, it will take only a few improvements to raise the score to Silver level and the PCC will be planning how to take these steps.  If we succeed we will be only the fifth church in the diocese to achieve this level !
  
St Michael's currently does these things
  • We use eco friendly cleaning products and refill larger bottles from a local bulk supplier.
  • The office uses 100% recycled paper for printing on and all wasted paper is taken to the local recycling station.
  • Any disposable products used are either compostable or recyclable.
  • We have three composting bays in the churchyard. Our Churchyard Working Party works closely with the Caring for God's Acre organisation.
  • Regular worship with a focus on the environment.