When it comes to being eco-friendly, churches don’t usually appear at the top of the list due to their age and size.
However, St Mark’s in Harrogate, which is believed to be the first in the town to install solar panels, is helping to buck the trend.
Now, as a result of its efforts, the church on Leeds Road has been awarded a silver eco church award.
Diocesan environment officer and member of St Mark’s, Jemima Parker, said:
“This silver award is recognition of the many leaps forward St Mark’s has taken to demonstrate its ongoing commitment to creation and environmental issues.”
The award also recognised the church’s links with food waste organisation Resurrected Bites, Harrogate Clothes Bank, the Car Free Sundays initiative and its renewable power schemes.
Church of England’s net zero ambitions
The Church of England has pledged to become carbon ‘net zero’ by 2030. It recently announced £30 million to support this ambition.
St Mark’s, Harrogate started its eco journey in 2011 when it installed the solar panels on its roof. Since then, eco improvements have continued.
Ms Parker, whose role includes helping churches across the whole of the Harrogate district to become carbon ‘net zero’, said:
“The 2030 target is quite ambitious considering the state of a lot of the churches. However, the Church of England understands that climate issues are an ethical and moral issue.
“Churches are very different from domestic properties in that they are often enormous spaces. Most of the carbon emissions come from heating.”
Ms Parker said as a result, churches were now looking at how to “heat the people” rather than the space, with some, including Fewston Church, now using ‘under-pew heating’, as well installing air source heating pumps.
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She added:
“The Church of England’s commission for things like solar panels has changed considerably. Obviously many of them are historic and listed buildings and it was quite difficult to get permission.
“Now there is a much greater understanding that they can be a real bonus for the church and the wider community.”
Andrew Jones MP to present award
On Sunday, Harrogate and Knaresborough Conservative MP Andrew Jones will present the award given to St Mark’s by A Rocha UK, a charity which measures how churches look after buildings and land; how they engage with their local community and in global campaigns, and the personal lifestyles of congregations.
Deborah Booth, St Mark’s environment officer said:
“As we become increasingly aware of the threats facing our natural world, St Mark’s has huge potential to raise the profile of creation care and facilitate and inspire action.”
As well as building improvements and community initiatives, the church has looked at ways to improve its surrounding land and provide a place for the whole community to connect with nature.
Developments include a new wildflower area, the planting of 50 native trees, a new prayer bench and a woodland walk.
Vicar of St Mark’s, Mike Resch, said:
“I want our ceiling to be the floor for the next generation, I urge us to leave this earth in a better place than when we inherited it. We know there is much more work to be done as we look ahead towards achieving a gold award.”
