Salisbury Cathedral Spire will be lit in green on Saturday night to celebrate the award, which has been given by the Christian environmental group A Rocha UK.
To award the status of an eco diocese, a diocese or parish’s green credentials are looked at in five areas: worship, teaching, buildings, land, community engagement and lifestyle.
Andy Atkins, CEO of A Rocha UK said: “When we launched Eco Church in 2016 we had high hopes and expectations. To have reached this far so quickly is humbling, exciting and such a huge encouragement that so many churches in a diocese are working together to care for God’s earth should be an encouragement to us all”.
The Eco Diocese award is part of the wider Eco Church scheme. To achieve an Eco Diocese Bronze Award, 10% of Salisbury diocese’s 500 local worshipping communities, which are spread across Dorset and Wiltshire, engaged with Eco Church and 5% obtained an Eco Church Award.
In addition, the whole diocese met Eco Church Bronze Award standards for its management of buildings and land. There was also a requirement for ethical investment of diocesan funds and for the inclusion of care for creation in training for ministry.
The Bishop of Salisbury, Rt Revd Nicholas Holtam said: “I am delighted and very encouraged that the Diocese of Salisbury is the first to win this award. As the lead bishop on the environment for the Church of…
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