Prayer for Israel and Palestine at this time Click here for more details
Site search

Quicklinks

Last updated 31st March 2025

Eco Church - recognising your church's care for creation

Eco Church introduction

Eco Church is a scheme run by A Rocha UK equipping churches of all denominations to care for God's creation through their worship, buildings, land, community engagement, and individual lifestyles. The scheme is a fantastic resource for encouraging churches, cathedrals, and dioceses to embody the fifth mark of mission.

as of 31st March 2025   103  (37% of churches) have registered of which:  * 20 have bronze awards and                                                                                * 10 have silver awards  

The Eco Church survey - a framework for action

In order to qualify for an award, a church should reach the required standard in each of the five areas covered by the Eco Church survey: 

  • Worship and teaching
  • Buildings and energy
  • Land and nature
  • Community and global engagement
  • Lifestyle

You can see when you have gained sufficient points in each Eco Survey category by looking at the coloured lines that appear on the screen with the Eco Survey questions (You can access a PDF of the questions here: Ecochurch survey questions) 

The lines will change colour as your points accumulate to reflect the level of award you have achieved in that category. Please note, the survey is the same for all three award levels - it is your responses that will indicate which award level you achieve and can therefore apply for! 

For example, if all the categories have turned bronze, you have reached the standard to qualify for a Bronze Award; if they all turn silver you have reached the standard to qualify for a Silver Award, and so on. However, if just some of your categories turn silver while the others turn bronze, for example, you have achieved a Bronze Award (rather than a Silver Award) because that is the level you have achieved in all the relevant areas.

Watch bronze awarded All Saints Church in Kings Heath, Birmingham, explain how they got started

Getting Started

Get inspired by what other churches are doing for the climate and nature. Your heart will be lifted by the creative ideas that are out there. Explore our stories page for your dose of inspiration, or search #ecochurch on social media.

Get equipped. Look through the variety of practical guides on offer in the ARocha Eco Church resources webpages.

Get help.
If you need help navigating the Eco Church platform, see the help guide and sign-up tutorial, which helps you create an account, log in, register your church, or join a church if yours has already been registered.

Please contact Dave Champness (Net Carbon Zero Senior Project Manager) if you would like to find out more and have a 1-2-1 discussion on completing the questions.

Helpful documents 

You can find an example PCC Creation Care/Environmental policy here

You can find some example eco top tips for the worshipping community (helps with the lifestyle category) here

 

 

Resources

You might also be interested in...

Pages

Latest News