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 an 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 have improved how we light, heat and insulate our buildings, what we buy for the Church and Hall (including changing our fuel supplier to a more ‘green’ one, and changing our loo roll and washing up liquid to eco-friendly products), and how we re-use and recycle what we have. And the small area of land that we have is gradually being changed to one that attracts birds and insects, with added composting facilities and the recent addition of a water butt.
- 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 loos!
- We are also financially supporting a local environmental charity: Surrey Wildlife Trust and regularly praying for the Rainforest Alliance Indonesian Project - an environmental project to protect endangered species by working with government and farmers to plant trees etc..
- 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 achieve 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/
October 2023