More than 3,500 churches in the UK have either switched their electricty source from fossil fuels to renewables or have registered to do so, according to UK charities behind the Big Church Switch campaign.
Almost 2,000 of the churches are spread among 16 Catholic dioceses which are now entirely running on renewable energy sources as are some 920, the majority, of the Salvation Army’s UK sites and a third of Quaker meeting houses. In addition, another 700 churches from various denominations have signed up to make the change through the Big Church Switch website, promoted by Christian Aid and Tearfund.
Bishop John Arnold, chairman of Catholic aid agency CAFOD and bishop of Salford – one of the 16 Catholic dioceses taking part, says that “adopting renewable energy for our church buildings must be a priority”. “Pope Francis challenges us all to ‘care for our common home’, and by adopting renewable energy we will directly help people threatened, and already most severely affected, by climate change.”
Paul Cook, advocacy director for Tearfund in the UK, said the campaign illustrated the coming together of the Christian community “to help lead the shift to clean energy”. “[W]e’re showing that we care for our neighbours, we care for creation, and we care that the government takes urgent action too,” he said. “The longer we postpone, the worse it will be for our future and the future of people living in poverty around the world.”
Along with those churches who have signed up to switch their electricity sources, some 340 congregations in the UK have also signed up to a broader scheme ‘Eco-Church’, committing to a range of environmental improvements.
In Australia, while there is no similar large scale shift among churches, congregations have taken action in other ways, including taking up rooftop solar and passing resolutions to divest holdings in fossil fuel extraction.
Professor Stephen Pickard, Anglican bishop and director of the Australian Centre for Christianity and Culture in Canberra, said the take-up of clean, renewable energy by UK churches “is a great sign of hope”. “It would be inspiring if Australian churches could do the same. We have an abundance of sun and wind and we are well aware of the damage done by the burning of fossil fuels. What are we waiting for?”
News of the success of the UK campaign was announced on 1st September, the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation and the beginning of the five week Christian initiative known as the Season of Creation.
