The Eco-Congregation Story

Eco-Congregation developed from a partnership between the Government funded environmental charity ENCAMS (which runs the Keep Britain Tidy Campaign and the Going for Green brand) and the Environmental Issues Network of Churches Together in Britain and Ireland. It aims to encourage churches to consider environmental issues within a Christian context and enable local churches to make positive contributions in their life and mission.
Eco-Congregation was developed from a Pilot Study involving churches from across Britain and Ireland and dedicated in a service at St Paul's Cathedral in September 2000. A tree was planted in the churchyard to mark the occasion. The ecumenical service was led by senior church leaders and included a sermon preached by the Bishop of London. Eco-Congregation Scotland was dedicated in a service at Dunblane Cathedral in March 2001.
Eco-Congregation has received endorsements from many denominations and church leaders. Within the first 2 years around 200 churches completed an Eco-Congregation churches environmental check-up and in March 2002 the first Eco-Congregation Award was given to Evesham Methodist Church. Two years later in March 2004 the number of Award winning churches had grown to 36. By the end of 2006 there were over 100 Award winning churches in Britain & Ireland.
Participating churches are drawn from a variety of denominations including: Church of England, Scottish Episcopal Church, Church in Wales, Church of Ireland, Catholic Church of England and Wales, Catholic Church in Scotland, Catholic Church in Ireland, Methodist Church, Baptist Union of Great Britain, United Reformed Church, Church of Scotland, Presbyterian Church of Ireland and the Religious Society of Friends.
Eco-Congregation Scotland, together with support for churches in Ireland, is managed by a partnership between Keep Scotland Beautiful (ENCAMS Scotland) and the Church of Scotland. The management of Eco-Congregation in England with support for churches in Wales transferred from ENCAMS to the Arthur Rank Centre in April 2004, and in March 2007 came under the management of A Rocha UK. The Eco-Congregation office for England & Wales is now housed with the Sheffield Groundworks Trust:
Eco-Congregation (England & Wales)
c/o Groundwork Sheffield
The Innovation Centre
217 Portobello
Sheffield
S1 4DP
0114 263 6421
ecocongregation@arocha.org