Our churches are committed to
caring for our world and this is an important part of what we do to spread the good news of Jesus Christ as we seek to transform unjust structures of
society, strive to safeguard the integrity of
creation, and sustain and renew the life of the earth.
Fairtrade Churches
Both All Saints and St Barnabas are proud to be Fairtrade Churches. We serve only Fairtrade tea, coffee and sugar at
Church events, and actively promote the buying of Fairtrade goods throughout
the year.
“Fairtrade is about better prices,
decent working conditions, local sustainability, and fair terms of trade for
farmers and workers in the developing world.”
For more information go to: https://www.fairtrade.org.uk/What-is-Fairtrade
An Eco Church
All Saints is also a member of the A
Rocha Eco Church Scheme and in November 2021 we were awarded the Eco Church Silver
Award.
- We have been recognised as using many opportunities in our worship and teaching to learn more about our
responsibilities in caring for our planet. In September and October we focus on God’s creation and have our very popular animal blessing service.
- We are improving how we light, heat and insulate our buildings, as well as what we buy for the Church and
Hall (including changing our fuel supplier to a more ‘green’ one, and changing
our toilet rolls and washing up liquid to eco-friendly products), and how we re-use
and recycle what we have. The small area of land that we have is
gradually being changed to one that attracts birds and insects, with added
composting facilities, a water butt and a bird feeder.
- We use Fairtrade goods and locally-grown food
when we can (including our communion wine!), and dispose of our food waste in an eco-friendly way. We have
also ‘twinned’ all of our toilets!
- We also financially support a local environmental charity: Surrey Wildlife Trust and regularly pray for the Rainforest Alliance Indonesian Project - an environmental project that works with government and farmers to enable crop-growing and the native wildlife to exist together in harmony.
- We are now working towards a Gold Award.
Reducing our carbon footprint
All Saints Church has measured its carbon footprint and has pledged to
become a Net Zero Carbon Church by 2030.
An action plan is in place to work towards this. This will be challenging with a Victorian
Church and a 1960’s Church Hall, but we are committed to doing this.
For more information go to:
https://ecochurch.arocha.org.uk/
https://www.toilettwinning.org/
https://www.surreywildlifetrust.org/
https://www.rainforest-alliance.org/country/indonesia/