ECO CHURCH

A Silver Award Eco Church

St Michael's achieved its Eco Church Bronze Award in August 2023, quickly followed by our Silver Award in November. This is a significant step to our commitment to reduce our impact on the environment by making changes to how we operate, worship and care for God's creation.


The award scheme is an initiative run by leading Christian charity A Rocha and supported by the Diocese of Gloucester, which has committed to become carbon neutral by 2030, and aims to celebrate the ways that church communities have been engaging with caring for the Earth as a key part of our Christian faith.


Read more about our Eco Church journey here: St Michael's achieves Eco Church Bronze Award

Winner of the Excellence in Church Maintenance Award

St Michael's won an award and cash prize for Excellence in Church Maintenance (England) at the 2023 National Church Awards, held by the National Churches Trust. 

 

The Revd Tim Garrett and Churchwarden Ann Jessop received the award at a special presentation on 6 November 2023, at the Mercers Hall, compered by broadcaster the Revd Canon Ann Easter and comedian Hugh Dennis. (Photo credit: Mike Swift)


Read more about it on our blog: stmichaelsbishopscleeve.co.uk/we-won-a-national-churches-trust-award

Eco bug house

This bug house, along with a second one, was made by Ian Drake during lockdown. The insects use them to nest and also overwinter.

They can be made out of any container, and stuffed with items of varying density that will suit different types of insect – pine cones, straw, small sticks, shredded paper etc. You can also make bug houses out of stones and bricks, or an old log, with holes of varying sizes drilled in it.

 

If you take the footpath through the churchyard, from the main entrance towards Station Road, the bug boxes are to the left of the path at the back of the graves area, against the stone wall. We would love people to look at them – but please don’t touch or the insects will be disturbed.

Small changes make a big difference

There are a number of small, simple actions we've taken to care for our church, our environment and our world.


  • We try to separate rubbish that can be recycled.
  • We re-use bottles for handwash and sanitising.
  • Our lighting is mostly very economical LED.
  • We try to choose products which are eco friendly e.g., the loo cleaner.


We all know that more needs to be done to care for our world, its people and animals – but it can seem daunting. Making small changes really can make a big difference.


Why not choose one thing from the list below to commit to do this year...?

Eco tips from our Eco Church team


  1. Buy Fairtrade goods. We would the money we spend to be shared fairly across the chain and result in a fair price to us too. We also want to know that workers have safe working conditions and are being treated well. The Fairtrade scheme offers this.
  2. Look for the Red Tractor label on meat items, which certifies the food was produced in Britain and to quality standards for food safety, hygiene and the environment, and reflects standard industry practice in the UK. 
  3. Meal plan. Planning the food you will eat will help prevent you buying too many perishable items, which might eventually be thrown away unused. 
  4. Buy LED light bulbs, which are energy saving. Dispose of the old bulbs in the recycling banks at the Tesco car park in the village.
  5. Eat meat-free once or twice a week.
  6. Walk where you can. It’s good for your health as well as the environment. 
  7. Drive more slowly. A car driven at 60mph uses 15% less fuel than one driven at 70mph. Keeping tyres inflated and maintaining the car can save 10% of fuel costs.
  8. Buy A+ rated appliances or the best rating you can afford when replacing or buying new electrical appliances.
  9. Recycle ink cartridges. Longfields on Church Road and Currys in Cheltenham will take and use your old cartridges. 
  10. Use the recycling banks at Bishop’s Cleeve Tesco, Church Road.
  11. Recycle small electrical items. Place the item(s) in one standard-sized carrier bag, tie the handles and put it alongside your blue bin by 7am on recycling collection day.
  12. Take part in the Terracycle scheme. Simply collect your plastic recycling waste and give it to us! Things like food wrappers, crisp packets, bottles and more can all be recycled. There is a box in Church Office to drop off your recycling items, it will also be in the church on the first Sunday of the month. Donations raised from this scheme go to Kicks Count, a charity which aims to reduce the UK's high stillbirth and neonatal death rate by raising awareness of baby movements. Visit Recycling! | Kicks Count to find out what items can and cannot be recycled this way.

 

If you would like to keep up to date with national Eco Church news and stories, A Rocha produce three publications which you can sign up to easily here: Sign up - A Rocha UK

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