Our diocese integrates care for the environment into its strategy, training, investments, and communications.
We have an Eco Diocese award from the national environmental charity A Rocha UK in recognition of all that has been achieved so far, and we are now working towards Silver and Gold awards. This is especially important as we work towards achieving net zero carbon by 2030.
Steps we are taking:
- Encouraging parishes, chaplaincies and other ministries to integrate Creation care into their liturgy, worship and teaching
- Planning to achieve year-on-year reductions in emissions and achieve net zero by 2030
- Encouraging every church to achieve Eco Church accreditation, and every church school to establish an environmental policy and achieve eco-school accreditation
- Prioritising the use of and investment in renewable energy
- Encouraging all Christians to consider their individual responsibilities and how they can take actions that safeguard creation and sustain the life of the earth
How churches can join the Eco Diocese journey
To help us on this journey, the priorities for our churches are:
- Complete the Energy Footprint Tool every year to help to identify your carbon footprint and your energy efficiency.
- Register for Eco Church and complete the Eco Church survey.
- Check out the Diocesan Environment Policy
- Install Electric Vehicle charging points in church car parks. You can learn more about this here.
- Check out the Boiler Replacement Hardship Fund, which offers grants of up to 45k to cover the difference in cost between a low-carbon heating system and an oil or gas heating system.
Join the Eco Diocese community
The Manchester Eco Diocese Facebook page is a great place for sharing ideas, asking questions and signposting to resources. You can share your progress and let us know if your church receives an Eco Church award or has a good news story to share! You can also follow diocesan eco news on X (Twitter) @ManDioEco, and share your eco projects on social media using the hashtag #EcoDiocese.
How else can we get involved?
There are even more ways for you to get involved in our eco mission through learning and development opportunities. Ecology and Creation is an elective on the Authorised Lay Ministry course, and it can be taken as a standalone module via the General Lay pathway for those with a passion and interest in eco. Find out more.
Eco Stepping Stones is another great way for you to enhance your eco journey, as a church, a mission, and a community. The resource is a three-part course that shares stories and ideas for enhancing your eco mission.
Further Help
For help or advice on environmental issues, please contact the Diocesan Environment Officer, The Revd Canon Grace Thomas, who you can contact at Canon.Missioner@manchestercathedral.org.
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