St Marys, Haughley

St. Mary’s, (the Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary), Haughley, Suffolk, is the 69th Gold Eco Church in England and Wales, and the 4th Gold Award in Suffolk. The Award was given by the Christian conservation charity A Rocha UK, and reflects Christ Church’s commitment to walk in step with nature and put creation care at the heart of what they do. With over 4,000 Eco Churches awarded Bronze or Silver, the Gold Award is a prestigious and impressive achievement – in the top 2%!

St. Mary’s, Haughley, as part of a rural Suffolk community, has worked over several years to increase the biodiversity of the churchyard and other areas in the village; this has resulted in identification of sixty plant species normally dormant but now visible in uncut areas of the churchyard, enhancing the number of swift and owl boxes in the village, and identification of over ninety bird species locally. St. Mary’s has also produced local nature walk footpath maps (the village has an unusually large number of 52 footpaths), and is very proud that their Land Management Plan and Plan for Nature has been identified as a nationally leading exemplar by A Rocha UK. St. Mary’s has also installed solar panels on the South Aisle roof, is a Fairtrade Place of Worship, is committed to Earth Hour, Plastic Free July, and Fairtrade Fortnight, and runs a monthly children’s active service called ‘Pizza’ which entails an Eco-Church activity at every service. The Church of England Primary School in the village is, with the church’s support. working towards the Christian Aid ‘Global Neighbours’ School Award. St Mary’s works closely with Haughley Nature Watch, the Parish Council, and the Parish Biodiversity Group, and has held a major community exhibition of Haughley wildlife photographs. The church has ambitious plans to continue churchyard development, for example with a wildflower meadow area and a sensory garden.

A Rocha UK aims to equip churches and individuals to create a movement to help restore biodiversity at a local level in this critical decade for the climate. Now, in its ninth year, the ‘Eco Church’ award scheme brings together a national community of churches addressing the environmental crisis, using a common framework and an online toolkit to learn and speak up together. The first Eco Church award was given to Hilfield Friary, Dorchester back in June 2016. There are now over 8,000 churches registered with Eco Church - over 18% of churches in England and Wales. By 2025, A Rocha UK aims to engage at least 25%, or 10,000 churches, in ongoing efforts to protect nature and address climate change through the free program.

Helen Stephens, Church Relations Manager, commented “Our huge congratulations to St. Mary’s Church on their Gold Award. They are part of a movement of churches, from all denominations, who are using Eco Church to take practical steps towards caring for creation. By responding to our survey churches can make connections between the biblical mandate to acknowledge that ‘The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.’ (Psalm 24:1) and our response to the world around us. The rate of climate change and biodiversity loss is staggering, and therefore seeing the response by churches like St Mary’s is so encouraging. We wish them all the best as they celebrate their award.”

Churchwarden Josephine Gibson said: ‘Our Eco Church Group, which includes some key members of the wider community as well as members of our immediate congregation, the church’s own PCC, and members of the village, have worked very hard towards this shared and incredibly important goal. We cannot do enough to protect creation, to adapt our own lifestyles to be as eco-friendly as possible, and to celebrate and conserve biodiversity. We do not see this prestigious Award as an end in itself, but instead as a springboard to further effort and development, as part of our church’s identity and a critical part of Christian worship, and as part of the wider ecology of the parish.’ And Sudbury Archdeacon David Jenkins commented: ‘This is excellent news! Many congratulations to everyone involved!’

St Marys, Haughley

St Mary's Haughley Gold Eco Church Award

St Mary's Haughley - a Fair Trade Place of Worship

Continuing Impact in St Mary's Churchyard and Haughley, 2024

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