St Andrew’s Methodist Church Tonge Moor, in Bolton, has been awarded its Bronze Eco status by the charity A Rocha.
“Stop talking about Climate Change and do something!”
These words, spoken by children leading their Sunday School Anniversary service in May 2022, challenged the church. Within a month an Eco Team Group, now renamed (to reflect the changes) Eco Action Group, was formed consisting of children and adults. To enable the younger voices to be heard meetings were held early evening for about 30 minutes, and latterly for no more than an hour. They designed the logo, strap line and promoted a corporate approach.
The ideas from the children, aged 8-15 years, became the driving force of weekly prayers, of recycling talks and of easily accessible disposal points for congregations and hirers to use. Six months on, the Eco Action Group planned a service in the Own Arrangement slot and have continued to do so combining celebration of God’s world with the message of responsibility for it. The opening devotions always focus on an aspect of ecology.
The church have implemented a variety of initiatives, and everyone, of all ages, has the chance to be involved:
- Making their own bird feeders from recycled plastic bottles
- Making flowers for Mothers Day from egg boxes and pipe cleaners
- Creating Christmas cards from revamped old stock
- Rummaging through their cupboard stock to create displays for Bible Month (as opposed to purchasing new materials)
- A clothes swap
- Producing a monthly list of eco tips for the church magazine
- Producing pop up ideas that are given during the notices
- The Zoom Bible Study group have delved into a variety of resources
- Writing letters to the local MP which resulted in a visit, and an opportunity to challenge his approach to eco issues in the town
- Cleaned the local street
- Reduced weeds using organic methods
- Have been approached by Bolton Green Umbrella to talk about having an allotment near the church as part of their community outreach
- Made links with other denominations also committed to eco issues, to ensure their voice is heard by the local council
‘Out of the mouth of babes and infants’ we hear in Psalm 8, shall the glory of God and his world be heard. ‘Where is God at work?’ ask the adults and church leaders…’Here!’, is St Andrew’s reply, ‘among our children, pushing and challenging, acting prophetically for justice and having faith in their God, of whom they learn week by week, and who holds our future.’