A Rocha is a global Christian conservation organization founded in 1983. It operates in over 20 countries across six continents, focusing on scientific research, habitat restoration, and environmental education. The name means “The Rock” in Portuguese, originating from their first field study centre in Portugal. A Rocha UK’s Eco Church programme (https://ecochurch.arocha.org.uk/) equips churches in England and Wales to care for creation. Eco Church is a learning community of churches of all shapes and sizes open to all denominations. It provides a framework to support churches and church leadership to take practical action on caring for God’s earth, through the Eco Church survey.
The survey covers five key areas of church life:
- Worship and teaching
- Buildings and energy
- Land and nature
- Community and global engagement
- Lifestyle
The survey guides churches through an assessment process that progresses towards a Bronze, Silver or Gold Eco Church award. There are over 9,000 churches registered and 4,500+ churches with Eco Church awards. Over 100 churches have a gold award which is an achievement involving some extra steps beyond the Eco Church survey.
The PCC is actively considering signing up to the Eco Church scheme. During Lent, Margot and Martin Hodson ran an environment-based Bible study. And as you are now reading, The Messenger church newsletter is running a series of environmental articles. We have done a buildings and energy audit and created new habitats for biodiversity. Members of our church have taken part in the Big Plastic Count and are actively engaged in our local Flood Group. But there is much more we can (and probably already do) do and signing up to Eco Church will give us a framework and resources to help us go further.
The PCC Environment Group is currently collating church congregation activities which could contribute towards an Eco Church award. If you are interested and would like to share your environmental experiences, please contact Chris Franklin: Chris.Franklin@valebenefice.org.uk
Eco Tip
A Rocha UK has an Eco Tips Calendar which suggests things you can do for each month of the year
(see: https://arocha.org.uk/easy-eco-tips-2026-calendar/). For more practical ways to enjoy, nurture and defend nature, sign up to A Rocha UK’s Wild Christian email
This article originally appeared in the St John’s Messenger. If you would like to discuss contributing a future article please contact news@valebenefice.org.uk.
