Blossoming relationship with creation at Barrowby Church earns prestigious award

With our diocese recognising the climate and nature crisis, we are seeking to live within Gods’ creation in love and care and striving towards Carbon Net Zero by 2030. This eco church movement has seen over 100 churches taking action in Greater Lincolnshire – with All Saints Barrowby claiming the very first A-RochaUK gold eco-award in our diocese.

This action is deeply rooted in our response to our faith. When we align our hearts and minds with Christ, we can mindfully recognise God’s created order in the universe. As a part of that creation, we’re called to live alongside plants and animals with compassion, and to make decisions which are life giving for all the planet. 

Barrowby All Saints Church has become a heartening example of how a Christian community can put their care for God’s creation into daily acts, as embodied by its status as a Gold eco church. They are building relationships between being human, connecting with nature and wider expressions of mission. 

Small and simple beginnings

The eco-journey for Barrowby began with a reflection on the churchyard by a single individual. Like faith as small as a mustard seed, the thought was planted to make the space more conducive to the needs of both people and nature.

As more care and attention was put into its management, it attracted the attention of other people. They recognised it as a developing wildlife haven. The space became a thriving area for flora and fauna, bees, butterflies, and birds.

A growing combination of small, visible changes became the spark for conversation. It also became a source of encouragement within the church and wider eco-community.

“It’s about finding relevance and meaning in creation care by connecting it to our identity as a Christian community, rather than treating it as an abstract issue like biodiversity loss.” (Dave Parker, All Saints Church)

What started as an initial focus on basic groundskeeping evolved into an inspiring pursuit of mission, values and community engagement.

Pursuing a prayerful passion

The church went on to install LED lighting. It has installed electric heating and is actively tracking the biodiversity of the church grounds. They’re serious about looking at all ways to make a positive sustainable impact.

“Eco Church has made All Saints stronger. It’s opened doors to conversations and partnerships we wouldn’t have had otherwise. I truly believe there are people in our congregation today who wouldn’t be here — or wouldn’t be as active as Christians — if we hadn’t started this journey seven years ago.” (Dave Parker, All Saints Church)

To top it all off, the church hosted a popular eco-fair for Great Big Green Week 2025. There were butterfly conservation and hedgehog rescue stalls, a bike repair workshop, and hands-on activities in keeping with its eco church commitment, such as crafting nesting boxes and clay boggart moulding!

The fair highlighted All Saints Barrowby Church as a hub of sustainability and community purpose.

Aware of the pitfalls

It’s not been without its challenges. There have been plenty of practical issues – such as how to keep the heating on without costing the earth, how the land can be used wisely and in line with legal requirements. Additionally, they have to keep an eye on the financial costs of going greener in their quest to be a model eco church.

There’s also the thorny issue of getting faculty permissions. The diocese church buildings team and Net Zero Carbon team are always on hand to support with this process! 

But through it all, the outcomes have been hugely rewarding. They include a coveted gold award from A-Rocha UK and an engaged congregation and community that is choosing to express their love of God through their love for God’s world. This can be in their reduced waste, personal carbon audits and even seeking greener modes of travel! 

A golden opportunity

The diocese is delighted that All Saints Church Barrowby is the very first church in the diocese to achieve a gold eco-award courtesy of A-RochaUK. This individual award highlights the local activities and eco church projects. These actions are having positive environmental effects thanks to the church’s community engagement and leadership. 

It proves that the church has excelled in all five key areas: Worship and teaching, Buildings, Land use, Community engagement, and Individual lifestyle.

While the outcome is truly wonderful, the feedback also included further ways the church can continue to make its mark. This includes reducing carbon even further and getting more involved in political and social activism.

Discover your nearest Lincs Eco-church

All Saints Church Barrowby welcome you to visit. There are plenty more churches hoping to get to gold in Greater Lincolnshire. Many more are well on their way to becoming an eco church.

Discover just how many there are here: 

Fancy signing up as an eco church? Register here.

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