THIS week, the Church Times announces the sponsors of the seven award categories in the 2024 Green Church Awards.
The awards recognise the urgent environmental crisis that we are in, and seek to celebrate the efforts being made by Christian organisations and communities, churches, and church schools to care for creation.
The seven award categories are open to church groups and church schools, of all denominations, from the UK and Ireland, to enter.
The category sponsors can now be announced as follows:
- Green Building award, sponsored by Inspired Efficiency. Prize: £1000.
- Land and Nature award, sponsored by A Rocha (Eco Church). Prize: £1000.
- Congregation and Community Action award, sponsored by Green Journey. Prize: £1000.
- Action on a Shoestring award, sponsored by Green Journey. Prize: £1000.
- Green Champion award, sponsored by Stewardship. Prize: £1000.
- Training and Education award, sponsored by BRF Ministries (Messy Church). Prize: £1000.
- Green Health award, sponsored by the Conservation Foundation. Prize £1000
The founder of Inspired Efficiency, Matt Fulford, sponsor of the Green Building award, said: “We are proud to be supporting the Church Times Green Church Awards, and look forward to learning more from the entrants and their inspiring efforts.”
As sponsors of the Land and Nature category, the CEO of A Rocha UK (Eco Church), Andy Atkins, said: “Church land has enormous potential for serving God by helping to restore nature, cutting carbon, and ministering to the local community; so we are delighted to support these awards to inspire and encourage churches to fully include their land as part of their mission.”
The Congregation and Community Action award and the Action on a Shoestring award are both being sponsored by Green Journey.
The head of Green Journey, Craig Hogg, said: “Our mission to guide churches towards sustainability perfectly aligns with these awards, showcasing innovative and efficient environmental practices within church communities.”
The Green Champion award’s sponsor is the charity Stewardship. “We recognise these causes are made up of passionately committed individuals who are making a significant contribution to caring for our planet; so we very much look forward to honouring those nominated for this award and showcasing the winner,” the CEO of Stewardship, Janie Oliver, said.
BRF Ministries (Messy Church) is the sponsor of the Education and Training award. The ministry lead for Messy Church, Aike Kennett-Brown, said: “Education and training are at the heart of understanding the problems of climate emergency. Messy Church Goes Wild, our initiative to help church address our environmental responsibilities, offers people of all ages the chance to take their part in changing behaviours and attitudes, providing the opportunity to encounter God through nature.”
The Conservation Foundation is our sponsor for the Green Health award. The director, David Shreeve, said: “We are delighted that the Green Health awards are continuing to encourage Churches and faith organisations to use their space to bring the benefits of nature to help mind, body and spirit. ‘Faith space’ is often the only green lung in a community, and it can help to improve lives in many ways. I very much hope that we can encourage both existing and new projects through these awards.”
The Church Times Green Church Awards 2024 are organised jointly with the Church of England’s environment programme, the Methodist Church, the Salvation Army, and Eco Congregation Scotland. The headline sponsor is Ecclesiastical Insurance.
The church-operations director at Ecclesiastical Insurance, Helen Richards, said: “There are amazing projects and initiatives taking place in churches in communities all around the country helping to tackle climate change, and these awards are a fantastic opportunity to celebrate them. We’d encourage churches to submit their entries and share the work they are doing for a chance to receive £1000 to support their work.”
The deadline for entries is 30 June 2024.
For more details, visit: churchtimes.co.uk/green-church
Nominate a project for the 2024 awards here