The Haven Eco-Church
The Haven Benefice is working as part of the Eco Church scheme run by A Rocha UK to equip churches to care for God's creation through their worship, buildings, land, community engagement, and individual lifestyles.
Our Church of St Helen has an extremely active Eco Church Group.
Please click here to visit St Helen's Eco-Church website.
St Helen's has received a Gold Eco-Church Award.
Please click on the above to learn more.
St Helen's Church is supporting all its environmental efforts with a regular monthly gathering for families called Eco-Church.
This is from 3.30pm on the 4th Sunday of the Month
and includes an act of worship, an Eco activity and a bring-and-share meal.
Why not come and spend an informal couple of hours with us at Eco Church. A social time of sharing together as we chatter, discover and create ‘eco’ friendly activities around our church and churchyard, from bird and butterfly counts or pond dipping, or just relaxing whilst enjoying the wild flowers in summer, to practical tasks like clearing leaves and strimming the labyrinth, planting bulbs and tending to the pond. Or discover your inner artist as we create lanterns, decorations, cards – a bit like messy church for adults!!!
Every month is different, something for everyone, but one thing is constant – a cuppa and a short time of reflection to start with and an amazing bring and share meal of soup, cheese, bread, salad, cakes etc. to finish.
You will all be made most welcome, and I’m sure you’ll have fun.
Please contact Helen (Tel: 01983 874273) or Mary (Tel: 01983 872326) for more information, or just come along on the day.
Please click here to learn about our recent activities in the latest edition of What's On.
Revolution in a sunny garden with tea and cake!!!!
Together we have achieved so much since receiving our Bronze Award in February 2019, including working towards achieving the targets we set out in Going for Gold and receiving that award in December 2019.
St Helen's was the first church on the Isle of Wight to be registered as an Eco-Church. The details below show what an Eco-Church is trying to achieve in collaboration with A Rocha and the Eco-Church Network.
Churches complete the unique online Eco Survey about how they are caring for God’s earth in different areas of their life and work. The answers a church provides will collect points towards an Eco-Church Award – the more your church does, the more points you get!
If your score doesn’t gain you an Eco-Church Award straight away don’t worry – the idea is to complete further actions in order to gain the points necessary for an Award. For example, you can switch to a green energy company or start using Fairtrade tea and coffee supplies to gain Eco-Church Award points.
The survey takes you through five key areas of church life:
- Worship and teaching
- Management of church buildings
- Management of church land
- Community and global engagement
- Lifestyle
There are three levels of Eco-Church Award – Bronze, Silver and Gold. In order to qualify for an Award you must attain the required standard in each of the areas covered by the Eco Survey that apply to your church (some churches do not have buildings or land). Once your Award is confirmed, you will receive a certificate and plaque from A Rocha UK to mark your achievement.
A Rocha UK is a Christian charity working for the protection and restoration of the natural world, both as a response to the biblical mandate to care for the earth, and as a demonstration of the Christian hope for God’s world. Part of the worldwide family of A Rocha organizations committed to conservation action as an expression of Christian mission, we work collaboratively with others who share our passion for the planet and its people, and our desire for their mutual flourishing.
