Manchester Cathedral has been awarded a Bronze Eco Church award by the environmental charity A Rocha.
We have a long history of engagement with environmental issues - Our heating comes partly from ground source heat pumps and we have recently undertaken a programme of changing our main lighting to LED lights.
Our interfaith work in this area, through the Our Faith Our Planet group, has led to greater and wider discussion on the theme of creation care and has brought leaders of many faiths together with civic leaders, in order to develop meaningful partnerships.
Dean Roger Govender said: "We are delighted to receive the A Rocha UK Bronze Eco Church award. This reflects our commitment to creation care and our ongoing work with faith and civic partners across Greater Manchester."
The Eco Church framework gives churches and cathedrals a pathway to help them live out the missional call to act to safeguard the integrity of creation, and sustain and renew the life of the earth. Participation in the awards scheme is part of the wider Church of England Net Zero strategy and in the Church of England Routemap to Net Zero, Cathedrals are asked to achieve Bronze status by the end of 2023.
To gain the Eco Church award, a survey is completed which indicates the level of progress obtained. Manchester Cathedral's engagement in worship and teaching was particularly strong, with our bee hives and the recent installation of cycle racks also helping us reach to Bronze status.
We are hopeful to achieve Silver by the end of 2024. To help us with this, we have recently set up a Sustainable Cathedral Group which meets quarterly and is chaired by Revd Grace Thomas, our Cathedral Missioner, who is also the Diocesan Environment Officer. This group will look at how we manage our building and land and also how we develop staff, congregation and visitor involvement with this vital cause.
© 2024 Manchester Cathedral. All rights reserved. | Website: Rochdale Online
