Garden Church
In the summer of 2020, I suggested to our vicar, Rev. Jo Pestell, St. Catharine’s church, Gloucester that we consider joining the EcoChurch scheme. This is an award system for churches in England and Wales to become more eco-friendly. She replied that in fact she’d be praying about who to ask to lead it, and would I be interested? I have really enjoyed getting my teeth stuck into this!
beeAfter a research phase involving twenty church members, we made a list of things to focus on. While we had emails flying around about recycled paper, light bulbs and ethical banking, it actually first boiled down to the toilets and the under-sink cupboards. Yes, we are now the proud new owners of exclusively recycled toilet rolls, plus eco-friendly cleaning products!
These upped our eco credentials while protecting the environment. I then made a list of things to focus on. While we had emails flying around about recycled paper, light bulbs and ethical banking, when I say ‘here’, it actually boiled down to the toilets and the under-sink cupboards. Yes, we are now the proud new owners of exclusively recycled toilet rolls, plus eco-friendly cleaning products! These edged us over the threshold while protecting the environment.
Our focus in May and June became our Land. We are a church near the city centre, so do not have a big graveyard or much space. Most of our land is actually occupied by the church building, hall and small car park. However, we do have a garden area around two sides of the church building plus a small but precious remembrance garden. One or two of us have dreams to improve our church garden for wildlife, plant life and people’s social lives, and to invite church and community to be involved in that.
On Sunday June 6 2021 we held our first outdoor eco event in our church garden. We called it Garden Church. There were three slots’ people could come for – either 10.30-11.30, 1-2pm, or 2-3pm. There was a short church service followed by four nature activities: a nature Treasure Hunt, Growing Flowers, making a Prayer Tree and building Bug Hotels. This was all designed to worship God, bring people together, and help us appreciate, sustain and grow our local garden ecosystem.
heart – hand written held by baby saying thank you for my garden, I love pulling up grass!
‘I have been coming to this church for 25 years but have never walked in the garden behind the church’, said one elderly gentleman. We also had passer-by and those who hadn’t booked dropping in, as they saw something was going on. This service was also Zoomed out so those at home could benefit.
Until now our garden has not been used by many people apart from the gardener, and those coming to place flowers by the ashes of loved ones. In future we’d like to change that and this event was the start of this. Perhaps we could invite children in to make bird feeders and plant flowers.
Perhaps we can involve those who would appreciate the social connection and improved mental health that being in a more natural environment offers.
Henrietta Cozens, Gloucester
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