St Peter’s Church, Lodsworth

St Mary’s Church, Easebourne

St James’ Church, Selham

‘in FAITH we FOLLOW + in HOPE we LIVE + in LOVE we SERVE’

Eco Church - Net Zero Carbon 2030

For the Church of England, being ‘Net Zero Carbon 2030’ means that the carbon emissions of our buildings and travel will be reduced to less than 10% of our baseline levels. The remaining emissions will be offset in verified schemes that reduce carbon. That means overall, our buildings and travel will not contribute to rising carbon emissions: their contribution will be ‘net zero’. Responding to the climate crisis is an essential part of our responsibility to safeguard God’s creation and achieve a just world. The short animated video on the right highlights many of the steps that churches can take to achieve ‘Net Zero Carbon 2030’.

The Priory Churches journey towards Net Zero Carbon

    Actions completed so far (updated July 2025):

• Energy Footprint Tool completed for all Priory Churches; St Mary’s 8.4 tonnes gross of CO2 produced, 87% of emissions from gas
• Creation of Priory Churches Net Zero Carbon forum with first meeting in Oct 24
• Reduce boiler burn at St Mary’s by 20% a week and maximum temperature reduced to 18⁰c
• Attend Portsmouth Cathedral Net Zero Carbon conference (18 January 2025)
• Replace lightbulbs with LEDs: completed at St James’ Selham and St Mary’s Easebourne
• Energy champion to monitor bills and ensure switch off of equipment when not in use.
• At St Mary’s, reduce use of east door, encourage use of main north door to reduce heat loss and draughts
• Net Zero information on the weekly church bulletin
• Arrange Energy Audit for St Mary’s - completed 25 Feb 25 and report issued May 25

A Rocha UK’s Eco Church scheme has made significant progress in encouraging local churches to care for creation as a core tenet of faith and to integrate this across every aspect of church life. It has played a significant role in enabling congregations across all denominations to embrace the responsibility of creation care and to see it as an expression of love for God and others, including the natural world.

A Rocha UK’s approach to Eco Church is one of facilitating the movement, encouraging a learning community, and ensuring that the programme behind it is dynamic, continuously developing to keep up with the science and options for action.

You can find out more from their website: https://arocha.org.uk

Climate Change - the facts - Sir David Attenborough

BBC documentary

ECO CHURCH TIPS FOR JANUARY 2026

04-01-26

ECO TIPS: Save your pennies and protect the planet

From the water and energy used in production, to the fuel used in delivery, every new item we buy comes with an environmental price tag. That's why this January, Keep Britain Tidy are inviting you to make a New Year’s resolution that will truly stick by taking part in Buy Nothing New Month. The challenge is simple: for the month of January, make a commitment to buy nothing new, other than essentials like food and medicines. More information here: www.keepbritaintidy.org/our-work/ending-waste/buy-nothing-new-month  

11-01-26

ECO TIPS: ‘Hope for a cherished and thriving earth’ Net Zero Carbon Conference, Guildford

On Saturday 17th January from 10.00am to 4:30pm at St John’s Stoke Church, Guildford the annual Net Zero Carbon Conference takes place hosted by the Church of England dioceses of Portsmouth, Guildford, Chichester and Winchester, £5 per person. An inspirational, interactive and practical day conference to help you on your Net Zero Carbon journey. Please speak to Phil Stringer if you would like to attend.

18-01-26

ECO TIPS: RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch

The Big Garden Birdwatch (Friday 23-Sunday 25 January) is the world’s largest garden wildlife survey. To take part, spend one hour counting the birds you see in one location – your garden, balcony or a local park, then submit your findings to the RSPB. You can download a free guide and ID chart to help you identify the birds you spot on the RSPB website: www.rspb.org.uk/whats-happening/big-garden-birdwatch

25-01-26

ECO TIPS: Reduce – Reuse - Recycle

Decluttering can be a cathartic way to start the New Year, but when it comes to making more sustainable choices, reduction should always come before recycling. Instead of discarding items, consider how they could be repurposed or given a second life. A wooden chest, for example, can be transformed into a planter or storage box with a little creativity, while old furniture often just needs a coat of paint or minor repairs to regain its charm.