ECO churches in the diocese of Guildford have been celebrated at a special event to mark World Earth Day, on Tuesday.

The diocese has five Gold Eco Churches, awarded by the Christian environmental charity A Rocha UK — the highest among all Church of England dioceses. Two-thirds of all churches in Guildford diocese have signed up to the Eco Church scheme, 105 of which have received an award for their environmental work, either bronze, silver, or gold.

A celebration was held in the orchard of All Saints’, Guildford, over the Easter weekend, at which awards were presented for various community projects. The orchard contains approximately 150 hedge saplings and ten fruit trees, restored to develop natural habitats for local plant- and wildlife.

Representatives of the Gold Eco Churches — across urban, suburban, village, and rural areas — spoke at the event about various projects designed to reduce waste, encourage biodiversity, switch to green electricity. In some cases, congregations have chosen not to serve meat at church events.

Lucy, aged ten, who attends All Saints’, Ockham, said that she had “taken a stand” by encouraging her church to stop using disposable cups when offering hospitality. She is encouraging the community to make other small changes in their daily lives, such as not running the tap while brushing their teeth, to save on water.

The Bishop of Guildford, the Rt Revd Andrew Watson, said that speaking to fellow bishops from the Global South was a reminder of the urgency of the climate crisis.