St Mary Magdalene
In the Team Parish of Hucknall, Nottingham, England
and in the Anglican Diocese of Southwell

 
Eco-Congregation
at
St. Mary Magdalene's Church,

 

   Eco Congregation is a programme for churches to help them take spiritual and practical steps to care for God's creation. It has developed from a partnership between the environmental-awareness charity "Going for Green" and the Environmental Issues Network of Churches Together in Britain and Ireland.

EnCams is the trading name of Environmental Campaigns, the environmental charity which oversees Eco-Congregation. Visit their website for more information at www.encams.org


St Mary Magdalene registered with Eco-Congregation in October 2001

Projects to date include:-
  • Litter collection in Churchyard, local authorities approached for more litter bins around the periphery of the Churchyard.
  • Creation of a wildlife garden in the Churchyard. - click here for more information
  • Recycling "Green box" in Church for paper recycling.
  • Parishioners urged to support local Scouts and Guides with paper collections.
  • Regular articles in the Church Magazine on environment issues.
  • Display on Community Information board in local library explaining the link between St Mary Magdalene and Eco-Congregation
  • Working with local council to prvent dogs from fouling the Churchyard.
  • Collection of used tool for TFSR (Tools For Self Reliance). Completed sets of reconditioned tools are sent to villages in Africa to provide the means by which the villagers can help themselves.
  
   
 

St Mary Magdalene's won a National Eco-Congregation award in May 2002. The assessors were inspired by their visit and judged that the church fully deserved the Award, and they particularly commended :-

  • The process adopted by the church to raise awareness of environmental issues, encouraging different parts of the church to consider creation care in their activities and take appropriate action
  • The focus on environmental work with children and young people
  • The physical and personal welcome that the church offers - gates open leading to an attractive churchyard for the community and doors open with a personal welcome given to visitors, tours of the church available and a refreshment area.
  • The viewing of the churchyard as a resource rather than a millstone, an attitude which led to the development of a variety of attractive features/areas, many through innovative partnerships including the sensual garden with help from Rolls Royce. Particular commendation is made for the new wildlife garden developed with the commitment to involve school children to plan, plant and maintain the feature.
  • The effective range of communication means utilised from web to magazine and notice boards to information sheets, particularly with regard to the heritage aspects of the church which have an international significance.
 

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This page created and maintained by Richard Jackson
on behalf of the District Church Council of St Mary Magdalene.
Contents © 2002 - last change September 11th 2002