Bradford Cathedral’s achievement makes it the fifth English Cathedral to achieve Gold Eco Church in England and Wales.
Following an award submission in late 2024 and a recent site visit, Bradford Cathedral have achieved the status of Gold Eco Church award, reflecting their commitment to good environmental practice.
Bradford Cathedral has become the 81st Gold Eco Church in England and Wales and the 4th in the Diocese of Leeds, alongside being the 5th English Cathedral to achieve it.
The award was given by the Christian conservation charity A Rocha UK, and reflects Bradford Cathedral’s commitment to walk in step with nature and put creation care at the heart of what they do.
Having achieved Silver status back in November 2023, A Rocha UK highlighted some of the subsequent achievements that have meant the Cathedral has received this upgraded status, including:
- Adapting the cathedral’s liturgy to incorporate creation care and developed intercessions to include environmental aspects, and encouraging preachers to become more aware of creation care
- Focussing on creation care during the season of Creationtide, through an intercultural harvest, Fairtrade fortnight and an emphasis on trade justice, both for those attending in-person and via the livestreams
- The creation of a net zero action plan with early steps including the recycling of candles; use of more environmentally-friendly cleaning products
- Promotion of Cathedral eco activities through the website, social media and on-site digital screens
- Supporting events such as this year’s Earth Hour
- Work in the Cathedral grounds including re-planting and plans for a pond and an environmental education area for schools and visiting children, surrounded by a live willow screen
- Continuing tree planting projects in the District
- Plans to look at carbon sequestration through the planting of living walls and roofs was being investigated and biodiverse planting
- Engagement with the community and further afield, including many interfaith and multicultural activities taking place around creation care, including on food waste
- Influencing other organisations about environmental initiatives, such as working towards a partnership between sheep farmers and a Nottingham firm regarding providing wool insulation for vicarages across the diocese, as an alternative to burning fleeces.
- A variety of activities related to Bradford being the 2025 City of Culture were planned, which included partnerships with climate action organisations and others, such as Bradford Ark and the University of Bradford; ‘Knit the Stripes’ with Craft For Climate and becoming the starting point for this year’s national Cathedrals Cycle Relay
- Holding successful events such as the Orchestra for the Environment, the Coat of Hopes and Eco film nights
Further work will also be taking place to continue building on these successes, including with a new publicity leaflet and noticeboard; changes to the Cathedral land; further solar panel expansion; and more events, starting with this summer’s Churches Count on Nature event. Free tickets are available for this now via the Bradford Cathedral website.
Rose Gosling, A Rocha UK Ltd, said of the submission:
“Overall, I was impressed in particular with the amount of work undertaken since my last visit, the passion of the group members and the ambition of their future plans. They are to be congratulated in particular for their work in engaging at a high level with organisations across Bradford around the environmental agenda, and in particular for their innovative multi faith working.
“They deserve to be rewarded for all their hard work with a Gold Award, which I have no doubt will provide a springboard for them to continue their journey.
“Reaching gold is a huge achievement and we would like to congratulate you and the entire team on your Gold Award.”
The Revd Canon Ned Lunn, Canon for Intercultural Mission and the Arts and chair of the Cathedral’s EcoGroup, says:
“This award has been given to us for our exemplary work in promoting good stewardship of God’s Creation and particularly our active influence in the wider public conversation on the subject of the environment and climate change.
“It was particularly noted how integrated this priority is in the life of the Cathedral and how much we use our profile to speak about the environmental impact of all that we do.
“I would like to thank my predecessor, the Revd Canon Mandy Coutts, and the faithful and passionate members of the Eco Group for their help in achieving this award. Particular thanks must go to the Revd Colin Penfold whose administration of the application and detailed tracking of all activity of the group has been exceptional.
“We have been given some areas to focus on ‘Beyond Gold’. This, therefore, does not mark a conclusion but a major milestone on our ongoing work. The Eco Group, however, remains a small group and my hope is that this award will be an encouragement for others to join the team and contribute to the ongoing success of our work.”
The Rt Revd Graham Usher, Bishop of Norwich and Lead Bishop for the Environment in The Church of England, says:
“With Bradford Cathedral being so prominent in the community as a place of worship your commitment to placing creation care at the heart of what you do is truly impressive and will surely inspire many more people to follow you.
“I am glad to see you are already sharing your journey with your local community and other organisations across Bradford, including your activities relating to the City of Culture [and] I can see that Eco Church and Carbon Zero is front and centre of your work and mission, and creation care is embedded in all aspects of cathedral life, which is fantastic.”
You can find out more about the environmental work of Bradford Cathedral at https://bradfordcathedral.org.uk/eco-cathedral