SALISBURY Cathedral has become the first cathedral in the country to receive an Eco-Church Gold award

The award from A Rocha UK, a Christian nature conservation charity, recognises good environmental practice for churches addressing the climate crisis.

Helen Stephens, the head of A Rocha UK’s Eco-Church initiative, presented the award to Canon Robert Titley, the Cathedral’s Canon Treasurer, last week and was also able to see and hear what the Cathedral and its community have been doing towards achieving the award.

Canon Titley said: “The Eco Church Award scheme channels concern for our planet into positive action rooted in joy at God’s creation. Going for gold has mobilised the Cathedral’s worshippers, volunteers, staff, and local residents, and it has drawn in the energies of many partners, like Salisbury Cathedral School, our Friends organisation, and the Harnham Water Meadows Trust. They all have a stake in this award.”

Helen Stephens added: “With five months to go until COP26, this is an exciting milestone for one of the most important cathedrals in the UK. Without the team’s determination during the last three challenging years this wouldn’t have been possible.

"This shows that even large cathedrals can help restore the environment but also how caring for the environment has enhanced Cathedral life in so many ways.

"In other words, everything from how the Cathedral worships and what food it serves, to the energy it uses, the wildlife that lives in and around the Close, and even the water that flushes from the loos.”

The initiatives that earned the Cathedral its award included its pledge to become carbon neutral by 2030, the installation of solar panels on the South Cloister roof, the provision of a habitat to support endangered peregrine falcons on the Cathedral Tower and an ecological survey mapping the Close and Cathedral School grounds which are havens for birds and wildlife. 

The Bishop of Salisbury, Right Reverend Nicholas Holtam said: "I am thrilled that the Cathedral has got this Gold Eco Church award particularly because it comes just before I leave and because I hope it will be an encouragement to other churches, cathedrals and dioceses.

"It is really clear as we prepare for the climate talks at COP26 in Glasgow later this year, that the environment needs to play a central part in all of our lives and that it matters hugely from a faith perspective."

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