The Church Times Green Church Awards have two objectives: to celebrate the remarkable efforts made in recent years by individuals and congregations to offset the damage being done to the earth, and to set good examples before others who might be inspired to follow suit.
The 2024 Church Times Green Church Awards are organised jointly with the Church of England’s environment programme, the Methodist Church, the Salvation Army, and Eco Congregation Scotland. They are open to church groups and church schools of any denomination, in the UK and Ireland.
There are seven award categories:
- Training and Education award, sponsored by BRF Ministries (Messy Church): projects promoting understanding about some aspect of environmental action, or destruction, and its impact, either at home or on the international community. Prize: £1000.
- Green Building award, sponsored by Inspired Efficiency: projects that have significantly reduced the carbon footprint of an existing building or strengthened its climate resilience, or a new building built to high environmental standards which can be shown to have been the better option than refurbishment. Prize: £1000.
- Land and Nature award, sponsored by A Rocha (Eco Church): projects creating space for wildlife and encourage biodiversity. Prize: £1000.
- Congregation and Community Action, sponsored by Green Journey: projects where a church, school, or other group has taken a leading part in environmental action, benefiting the wider community as well as its own. Prize: £1000.
- Action on a Shoestring award, sponsored by Green Journey: projects where a church, school, or other group has achieved a great deal with little. Prize: £1000.
- Green champion award, sponsored by Stewardship: nominations are invited for an individual who has made a significant difference through their environmental efforts. Prize: £1000.
- Green Health award, sponsored by the Conservation Foundation: Projects making an active connection between faith, nature, and health. Projects may be run by a faith organisation in association with a local health practice or charity. Prize: £1000.
The panel of judges will be looking for projects that have made a positive change in the past two years in buildings, outdoors, and in the community. A building project can be nominated even if it hasn’t been completed, with as much information as possible about known and projected environmental impacts. A group can enter in one or more categories.
The deadline for entries is 30 June 2024. Details of shortlisted entries will be published in the Church Times during the summer. The awards ceremony will take place during Creationtide, in London. Photos and videos to accompany entries are encouraged.
Nominate a project for the 2024 awards here.
