Kirkham Methodist Church is committed to going green

Active within the community, Kirkham Methodist Church is also dedicated to being as sustainable as possible. The congregation's efforts are led by Gillian, who serves as the Eco Officer for the church, the circuit and the Lancashire District.

The church's journey towards Net Zero began with a focus on sustainable practices in their kitchen refurbishment for which they bought second-hand cutlery. The church encourages people to recycle with specific bins at the entrance, sustainable toilet paper and avoid food waste.

Gillian explains, "We didn't go out and buy anything. We make sure that we use all Fairtrade items wherever possible. A milkman delivers the milk so we don't use plastic bottles."

Kirkham Methodist Church’s efforts extend beyond the building itself. They have created a small outdoor space with wildflowers, a bug hotel and planted trees. The church has a silver award from the A Rocha's Eco Church scheme, a significant accomplishment that reflects their dedication to environmental stewardship.

In terms of energy, the church has made conscious choices.

They have also installed hand dryers to reduce paper towel usage and use eco-friendly cleaning materials whenever possible.

Fairtrade is another important aspect of their sustainability efforts. "We are committed: all our tea, coffee and sugar is Fairtrade. We even give Fairtrade Easter eggs to children," Gillian states.

The church has also taken steps to reduce its carbon footprint. They surveyed church members' travel habits and found that many walk to church, with some now using electric cars. The church also offsets its remaining carbon emissions through schemes such as Climate Stewards.

As the district eco officer, Gillian is working to encourage other churches to join A Rocha's Eco Church scheme. She says, "I think about eight churches in the district have registered already. We hope they will soon achieve bronze awards.”

Despite the challenges, Gillian remains committed to the cause. While acknowledging that they are not perfect, she emphasises, "As a church, we should be leading the way on climate change and we are doing our best."

The church's sustainability efforts extend to community engagement as well. They run a project called Take & Make, which aims to help the community while reducing food waste. This initiative, along with their other eco-friendly practices, demonstrates Kirkham Methodist Church's holistic approach to sustainability, encompassing environmental, social and economic aspects.