Henleaze church receives Gold Eco Church Award
First published 25th September 2023St Peter's, Henleaze becomes the first church building in the Diocese to be awarded the Eco Church Gold Award.
News
Get involved in climate action through your church!
First published 16th May 2023Humanity is facing one of the most serious issues of our time: climate change. There is a threat to all forms of life on our planet and the poorest countries are the most likely to suffer. It is a matter of justice.
Bishop of Bristol supports campaigners attending ‘The Big One’ climate protest
First published 19th April 2023This weekend members of churches from Bristol Diocese are travelling to London to take part in a 4-day climate protest.
Dr Ruth Valerio announced as keynote speaker for upcoming environment conference
First published 12th August 2022We are pleased to announce Dr Ruth Valerio as the keynote speaker for our upcoming conference: Creation Restored: Ministry in a time of Climate Crisis
Get your tickets to Creation Restored: Ministry in a time of Climate Crisis
First published 14th July 2022Join us on Saturday 17 September at Pattern Church Swindon for an inspiring and challenging day for all in church leadership - lay, ordained, youth or environmental!
Marking World Environment Day 2022 with a prayer
First published 5th June 2022Today, Sunday 5th June 2022, is World Environment Day and we wanted to mark this very important occasion with a short prayer.
Breakthrough ruling allows churches and charities to take stronger environmental action
First published 24th May 2022Trustees of charitable trusts, including schools and churches, are now allowed to prioritise the climate change outcomes of their investments
Eco parish February 2022 update: will Bristol be the first Silver-awarded Eco Diocese?
First published 22nd February 2022Bishop Viv's Eco Church Challenge, environment-focused Lent courses, Big Harvest and more
Bristol church youth group plants trees on BBC Songs of Praise
First published 19th January 2022"It was a privilege to be a part of the Queen's Green Canopy†- Head of Youth Ministry at Christ Church Downend
Hazelnut's new project helping Christians respond to climate crisis
First published 19th January 2022The Potting Shed is a 6-month online course involving discussion sessions and classes taught by experts
"There is a long history of protest within the church" - Bishop of Bristol
First published 17th January 2022Bishop Viv comments on the acquittal of climate protester Revd Sue Parfitt
Eco parish December update
First published 19th December 2021This update looks back on some of the environmental achievements of the past year, to inspire us and give us hope for what we can accomplish together in 2022
Eco parish November update: Seed bombs and solar tiles
First published 18th November 2021How our local churches have been answering the call to create a just and sustainable world in the Diocese of Bristol recently
Inside the COP26 “Blue Zoneâ€
First published 18th November 2021Beth John, a longstanding member of Holy Trinity Hotwells, was selected to take part in the Christian Climate Observers Programme at COP26 in Glasgow. Here, she shares her experience with us.
COP 26: A critical moment for protecting God's creation
First published 25th October 2021Diocesan involvement in COP26 and the fight for climate justice
Eco parish October update: Cop26 and Climate Sunday services
First published 20th October 2021There is so much happening as we move into autumn, celebrate harvest and prepare for a busy season of environmental action - here is just a taster of some of the goings-on across the diocese.
Harvest Festival live - Holy Trinity Westbury on Trym
First published 27th September 2021The BBC Radio 4 service included a sermon from Revd Canon Dr Martin Gainsborough and worship led by the church choir
Eco parish summer update
First published 27th July 2021As the temperature's been rising this month, so has environmental action across the Diocese. This round up shares the latest news.
Thousand-mile climate relay to pass through Bristol Diocese
First published 17th June 2021More than 400 people have signed up so far to walk or cycle the Youth Christian Climate Network relay due to travel the UK this summer.
Wild Church established in North Wiltshire Mission Area
First published 17th June 2021Wild Church enables people to worship and engage with God in a fresh way through creation.
Eco parish May update: art around the themes of faith and climate crisis
First published 17th May 2021Hazelnut Community Farm awarded £2,000 grant to create mobile art exhibition which reflects theologically on the climate crisis
Diocese divests from fossil fuel companies
First published 27th April 2021The Bristol Diocesan Board of Finance is divesting from fossil fuel companies, and commits to its investments remaining free of holdings in coal, oil and gas in future.
Eco parish March update: wildflowers and electric cars
First published 24th March 2021Environmental news from parishes in the diocese
Eco parish February update: rain gardens and toilet twinning
First published 22nd February 2021Environmental news from parishes in the diocese
New checklist to help bring your church's carbon emissions to net zero
First published 21st January 2021This 'Practical Path to Net Zero checklist' helps you to create a clear and simple action plan to reduce the carbon footprint of your building.
Eco-stable at Christ Church Swindon
First published 10th December 2020An eco-stable has been built in the church yard at the front of Christ Church Swindon, made with wood from discarded fencing panels and local rubbish sites.
Bristol Diocese wins prestigious Eco Diocese award
First published 19th November 2020The Diocese of Bristol is excited to announce that it has been awarded two awards as an Eco Diocese— Silver for its operations, and Bronze in recognition of its wider engagement— from the national environmental charity A Rocha.
‘Deconstructed' environment conference online this October
First published 17th September 2020The planned Church Action in a Climate Emergency conference fell into the beginning of lockdown. But now it's moving online as a ‘deconstructed' conference throughout late October & early November.
Churches celebrating the Season of Creation
First published 17th September 2020We are now over half way through the Season of Creation, and many churches have planned services focusing on God's creation and our shared environment.
Worms and worship at St Mary's
First published 10th August 2020St Mary's Marshfield is working towards an Eco Church award, as they thoughtfully extend their Christian stewardship activities to care for the planet and for each other.
Bringing wildness to the suburbs
First published 10th August 2020While the church has been closed during the coronavirus lockdown, members of St Peter's Henleaze have taken the opportunity to transform their church grounds into a more welcoming environment for wildlife and neighbours alike.
Season of Creation - September 2020
First published 28th July 2020This September marks the Season of Creation. A wonderful opportunity for us all to pay special attention to the responsibility of humanity for the earth and for all that lives upon it.
Caring for the environment during this time of distancing
First published 28th July 2020The coronavirus outbreak has changed daily life for us all. This article gives 5 top tips to help us consider our environmental impact at this time.
Local Minister's community garden featured on BBC Gardener's World
First published 27th July 2020On Friday 24 July, a film clip of the Rev Hazel Trapnell's garden was featured on BBC Gardeners World.
Radical Pressence: A conversations course from Green Christian
First published 22nd June 2020Green Christian have launched a new discipleship resource to help Christians consider the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the world from a fresh perspective.
‘The Time is Now' virtual lobby on Tuesday 30 June.
First published 16th June 2020Will you join thousands across the UK and speak to your MP on Tuesday 30 June as part of the first ever 'virtual lobby' created by the Climate Coalition.
What is your church's energy footprint?
First published 12th May 2020If you've wondered what the size of your church's energy footprint might be, help is now at hand. The Church of England has launched a new, simple tool to measure the amount of carbon produced annually by heating and lighting your church buildings.
#LiveLent - Six week eco challenge for North Wilts churches
First published 11th May 2020Five congregations in North Wiltshire have taken on a challenge to go green this Lent.
Church Action in a Climate Emergency conference
First published 27th January 2020A day conference to support churches in taking further action to care for our shared environment.
FairGround - living responsibly in God's creation
First published 21st January 2020One of the ways B+A Church in Bristol gathers together is through its Little Churches. These are communities of people that meet throughout the week on different days in the church, homes, pubs and other venues across Bristol.
Are you ready to #LiveLent?
First published 17th January 2020This years focus is on the Environment. Get your copy of the Archbishop of Canterburys Lent book (with accompanying videos and group questions), as well as corresponding booklets with reflections for both adults and children.
A Green Guide to Christmas
First published 12th December 2019Christmas is a time of giving - but it can also be a time of waste. From the plastic packaging to the piles of wrapping paper and wasted food filling our dustbins, festivities can have an unseen impact on our environment.
School raises awareness of Climate Change with protest
First published 11th December 2019Children at St Helen's CE Primary School have been making their voices heard as they raised awareness of the Climate Emergency.
An Eco Christmas tree
First published 2nd December 2019Going green proved the inspiration for members of St Martin's in Knowle when it came time to decorate the church building for Christmas. Clare Hensmen tells us how they came up with the idea - and how other churches could easily do something similar:
How Eco is your Church?
First published 20th November 2019Four churches across the Diocese have received our first Eco Church awards.
31 plastic bottles make a school uniform
First published 20th November 2019As a head teacher, you may expect any number of questions from parents when you launch a new school uniform but does it crinkle? is a rather unusual one! Yet at The Deanery CE Academy in Swindon its a fair question to ask, as the uniforms are partly
We've declared a climate emergency!
First published 20th November 2019When the vote was passed unanimously, the room filled with cheers, applause and even a whistle or two.
Environment Group calls for greater action on Climate Change across the Church
First published 1st November 2019The Church of Englands Environmental Advisory Group has called for all parts of the Church to recognise the Climate Crisis and step up its action to safeguard God's creation.
Caring for Creation in Wroughton
First published 23rd October 2019During September, the parish of Wroughton and Wichelstowe joined churches around the country in celebrating the Season of Creation, with teaching and liturgy designed to help explore the diversity and wonder of God's creation.
Bishop Viv's Lent book: Saying YES to Life
First published 22nd October 2019Bishop Viv has chosen Saying Yes to Life by Ruth Valerio as the Diocesan Lent book for 2020. This forms part of a Church of England Lent campaign. Churches are encouraged to use the resources for their Lent courses and the spiritual and practical act
Bishop hears from Extinction Rebellion protesters in Bristol
First published 19th July 2019The Bishop of Swindon, Rt Revd Lee Rayfield, has been meeting environmental campaigners in Bristol to listen to their views on caring for the planet.
Climate Change and the Church - a young person's response
First published 15th March 2019Climate change is one of the biggest challenges we are currently facing. Strongest among those demanding action is the voice of our young people, calling on leaders from all walks of life to make a decisive response to the issue.
Expert solutions for heating churches
First published 14th January 2013Keeping an historic church warm for community use while conserving its heritage features and minimising the environmental impact is a real challenge, especially at a time of rising energy prices.
