Glossop parish church of All Saints has become the first church in the Diocese of Derby to achieve a gold Eco Church award.

The award is the highest accolade given by A Rocha UK, a Christian conservation charity, and reflects the church’s commitment to put creation care at the heart of their activities, and highlights how Eco Churches benefit biodiversity and reduce their carbon footprint.

To achieve the award, Glossop parish church developed its churchyard to be a living sanctuary at the heart of the community. 

The planting scheme encourages bees, butterflies and birds, there are bird boxes, bug and hedgehog hotels, and the hedges aren’t cut when birds might be nesting. 

The land is used for outdoor services and learning about creation, and events such as The Great British Birdwatch, the Bellringers BBQ and the end-of-season party for Dark Peak Children’s orchestra. 

Joining with churches and community groups across Glossopdale, they took part in the ‘Great British Spring Clean’ in April and October and collected a total of over 40 bags of litter from a local ‘grot spot’.

The church also had a green Christmas, renting a Christmas tree which the Reverend David said is returned after Christmas so it can continue growing.

They also sent candle stubs and used tea lights to a company in the southwest of England who recycle them into candles.

During January month they are being part of ‘Buy Nothing New Month’, trying out alternatives like renting, repairing and buying pre-loved items to save both money as well as the planet.

The Vicar at All Saints, the Reverend David Mundy, said All Saints had put the concept of caring for creation at the heart of all their thinking: "The Eco Church award scheme has been instrumental in helping us understand practical ways to engage with the Anglican Communion’s ‘Fifth Mark of Mission’: 'To strive to safeguard the integrity of creation and sustain and renew the life of the earth'.

"Working to achieve the different levels of award has challenged us about our faith.

"We have increasingly come to recognise that the lifestyle choices we make – what we eat, what we wear, how we travel, how we dispose of our waste, and so on – have implications not only for the planet but also for our sisters and brothers in the global South.

"The gold award is not the end of our journey; it is a staging post. I am very proud of the Eco Church team at All Saints.

"Our next steps include investigating how we might work towards the net zero targets and supporting other parishes on their Eco Church journeys."

On hearing of the award, the Rt Revd Libby Lane, Bishop of Derby, said: "My congratulations go to everyone at All Saints, Glossop, and especially Barbara Fearnley and Eric Igo for the amazing work they have done as they have travelled towards and been awarded with Gold Eco Church status.

"Projects undertaken have included tending the churchyard and developing it as a sanctuary for humans, plants and animals, litter picking, toilet twinning, recycling candle stubs, partnering with USPG Green Schools programme in South India and 'renting' a Christmas tree which will be replanted so it can continue growing.

"I look forward to more of our churches following this example and being more environmentally sustainable and ecologically friendly.

"This is great news for the parish, for the diocese and, above all, for the environkment and the wildlife that will benefit from this remarkable effort in caring for God's creation."

And the Reverend Lucy Foster, A Rocha UK’s Eco Church Officer for Northern England said, “All Saints’ creation care is deeply rooted in their worship and prayer life and flows through all they do - from the beautiful accessible sacred space of their churchyard, and Toilet Twinning to initiatives with community partners to combat air pollution in areas of deprivation.

"They are an inspiring example of how church environmental action benefits both global and local neighbours."

Learn more about the Eco Church award scheme

The Diocese of Derby is currently working to become an Eco Diocese.

 In 2018, a motion, proposed by Archdeacon Carol and seconded by Dr Richard Henderson-Smith, was:
"This Synod agrees to implement the process of becoming an Eco Diocese through the efforts of parishes, deaneries and diocesan officers and offices as it moves towards applying the gospel mission of caring for God’s Earth for the sake of God’s creatures. This is agreed to be reported, shared and celebrated at deanery and diocesan level."

Contact Stella Collishaw on 01332 388685 or email Stella.Collishaw@derby.anglican.org   

A Rocha Eco Church Award Winners within the Diocese of Derby- we have our first Gold!

There are 3871 churches registered in England, over 1000 have made bronze award, over 350 have silver awards and 22 gold awarded.

Awards in this Diocese:- 

Gold Awards

Glossop Parish Church, read the story here

Silver Awards

St Johns Mickleover

St Barnabas Derby

All Saints Sawley who describe their approach on the church website

St Marks Winshill

St Margarets Carsington

St Peters Belper

Derby Cathedral who describe thier approach in this article

Bronze Awards

All Saints Wingerworth

St Lawrence Church Eyam

Christchurch Hulland

Christchurch Belper 

St John the Baptist Bamford

St Peters Littleover

St Peters Fairfield

St Michael Hathersage

St John Bamford

St Thomas Biggin

St Matthew Darley Abbey

To contact these churches go to find a church or ask Stella Collishaw or your Deanery Administrator for a best contact.

A Rocha UK

From meditation to insulation, from location to invocation; loving God and his creation should impact everything in our church lives.
That's why A Rocha UK has developed Eco Church.

Eco Church – is an award scheme for churches in England and Wales who want to demonstrate that the gospel is good news for God’s earth.

Eco Church is the exciting initiative, which will challenge and equip you to care for God’s world in all areas of your life together.

Join in with neighbours and the wider Diocese as we work together to achieve a Diocesan bronze award.

To participate in the Eco Church scheme, register your church at Eco Church - An A Rocha UK Project

There is also a tutorial and user guide.

You can then begin completing the online survey by indicating how your church is caring for God’s earth in your worship and teaching, around your buildings and grounds (if applicable), in your community engagement at local and global level and in your personal lifestyles as church members.

As you complete the survey, your church collects points towards an Eco Church Award. You can save your survey responses and update them as you find out more by consulting church leaders. The survey serves as both a record of actions achieved and as a ready-made plan for future action that can be updated as and when new initiatives are undertaken. Accompanying the survey there is a new suite of resources to help churches undertake the actions recommended in the survey.

Once your church has amassed sufficient points, you will qualify for an Eco Church Award at Bronze, Silver or Gold level. Bronze and Silver Awards will be granted on receipt of written confirmation from your church leader that the survey responses are a true reflection of the current work and witness of your church. Gold Awards will only be granted following a visit to the church by Eco Church Assessors who need to be satisfied that your survey responses are an accurate reflection of your work and witness.

Award-winning churches will receive a certificate to mark their achievement and will have the option of purchasing (at cost) an Award plaque fashioned from recycled church pews to display on their premises.