St Andrew's URC, Roundhay, Leeds

‘Spiritual: -  worship and teaching: 

  • Worship group and ministers regularly bring environmental concerns into our worship at family worship, parade services and evening services.  
  • In one service, the congregation, through prayer and activity, participated in creating the fourth and final service in the series which led directly to the development of the church garden and other environmental changes in the way the church is operated and managed.
  • Environmental issues form a regular part in the churches spiritual life, the Minister has preached around the subject of creation care at least once a year with other services relating to or referencing creation care issues, eg Harvest Festival 2007 which explored the concept of our Carbon Footprint. 
  •  Environment Week in 2006 started with a service in the local park.  It was enthusiastically received and brought people into events during the week.  
  • Lent House groups using a set of Eco-Congregation Bible Studies especially adapted for use in Lent 
  • Environment Week – June 2006: The week had special ecumenical services at the beginning (in the local Park) and end. Worshippers from each church brought colourful symbols representing the days of creation. The final service had Rev Jennifer Potter, Former Secretary for International Affairs with responsibility for environmental issues, as the preacher.
  • WoRM – workshop rotation model – learning about faith in practical ways for children ages 3-11 using puppets produced by church members, computer programmes, stories, cookery, science and crafts.  Uses Fairtrade products, practical focus on the environment through bible study where appropriate. 
  • Uniformed organisations – making use of the church grounds to explore and learn about the environment.  Making bird boxes to put up on trees round the church grounds.   Explorers have run a series on Climate Change in autumn 2007.

 

Practical – buildings, land, church management:

  • Energy Audit – refurbishment of the sanctuary included installation of three smaller boilers as more cost effective than one larger one.
  • Installation of heat reflectors behind a number of radiators·  Installation of Cavity Wall insulation in 1950s church extension
  • Installed underfloor heating in the sanctuary
  • Programming of boiler to meet daily/weekly needs
  • Installation of thermostats on radiators
  • Changing radiators where appropriate for modern energy efficient models 
  • Changing bulbs from incandescent to low-energy/long life
  • Changing older/poor energy fridges for A rate models 
  • Use of water-based paint for low odour and low VOC – volatile organic compounds
  • Explored use of water harvesting tanks to feed toilets and to water plants in new garden.
  •  St Andrew’s has a dedicated cycle storage area on an outer wall, Fabric Committee are now considering having a cycle storage area in the church entrance, providing more secure parking for bikes. The minister is delighted! 

The Manse Property

  •  Installation of ‘top-up’ loft insulation in August 2004 immediately prior to the new minister moving in to bring depth to the now recommended 12 inches/30cm
  • Installation of cavity wall insulation in 2006
  • Provision of heat reflectors for installation behind radiators
  • Installation of A rated fridge and AAA dishwasher when kitchen refurbished
  • The minister has been encouraged in efforts to green the manse garden, it now has a native beech hedge, native plant bed, log wall with hedgehog box inside, a set of compost bins made from recycled pallets, a veggie patch, and a patio built from waste York stone left from a Council refurbishment of local paths

Caretakers House

  • Installation of cavity wall insulation in 2006 

Mission -  reaching out to the local and/or global community:

 

  • Publicity group – provides local newspapers with regular features on events and developments at St Andrews.   We are also reminded, where needed to print on both sides of A4 paper.   This has had a positive effect on people using the church and its premises.
  • Roundhay Review - St Andrew’s takes a turn in providing editorial copy for a local monthly free publication.  Attached is an article that appeared in the October 2007 edition:
  • Fairtrade – this church is a long-term supporter of the Fairtrade movement.  In 2005 the ‘Sharing God’s Love’ group put on an afternoon of Fairtrade activities with a Fairtrade meal and cookery demonstration, posters, a quiz and games.  Tickets issued on arrival were, according to colour, indicative of whether you would have got a bowl of rice, rice+, or a multi-course meal.
  • Peaceful protest on climate change, unfair trade tariffs.  Groups from church have so far, protested in Köln, Prag, Genova, Edinburgh, London and Birmingham
  • Sylvia Wright Trust.  Sylvia is a nurse-tutor from Leeds who went out to south India 25 years ago to set up a clinic for people who would otherwise be denied access to healthcare.  One of our church members is the chairperson for the Trust.   We receive regular reports with the congregation making annual contributions towards the Trust’s running costs.
  • Eco-teams – several people participated in Roundhay Eco-teams through 2006 – 2007 and hope to continue its theme.  
  • Landscape Project.  Funding  for the project came from the local authority, local environmental waste ‘landfill tax’ called Green Leeds.  Other funding came from the Westhill Endowment Trust whose aims are to provide funding for projects with Christian, educational and multicultural objectives.
  • Now that phase 1 of the project has taken shape passers-by have always made positive remarks to those working there.
  • The space is wholly user friendly for persons in wheelchairs.  Indeed one wheelchair user has been weeding already. 
  • There is good standing space for large numbers at weddings etc.; this area is planted up with box trees. The sensory garden planting is newly installed and should begin to thrive next year.  Further along is a worship area with some seating and a bubble water feature for private reflection or small gatherings
  • Pafras – Positive Action for Asylum Seekers – regular food and clothing donations.  
  • Short stop – congregation members are involved in providing overnight or weekend accommodation to newly arrived asylum seekers and to those denied access to funding support.  Many asylum seekers are displaced through war.  Some conflicts have a basis in climate change.
  • Partnership – St Andrews has partner church in Frankenthal, Germany and another church in Bernburg in former east Germany.  Discussion is a valuable part of our   biennial gatherings and has included environmental issues.
  • Environment Week – 2006.  Run in conjunction with our local partner churches a week of events was put on.  In the evening local councillors were invited to explain their environmental plans for Leeds. There were speakers against the proposal also on the platform.  Two other evening events had guest speakers and were well received.  Daytime events were attended by local primary schools to great acclaim.   All the events were highly interactive with people able to make windmills, use computers or test themselves on quizzes.  We were fortunate to have the active involvement of lecturers from universities of Leeds and Sheffield on the event who attended local churches.