Research shows that the majority of people across the globe want to move towards a more environmentally sustainable world, but the resources to enable that are not evenly spread. For example, often those who have done the least to cause climate change are the most severely affected by it, but have few resources to respond or to make their environment more sustainable. This year the Bishop of Chelmsford's Lent Appeal focuses on this injustice.
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Bishop of Chelmsford's Lent Appeal 2026
Our Diocese is linked with five Dioceses in an region of Kenya called Mount Kenya East. Communities across this region are facing the harsh realities of the climate crisis. Years of recurring drought have devastated harvests, depleted natural resources and pushed families into increased hardship. In response to these challenges, Anglican Development Services of Mount Kenya East (ADSMKE) is leading inspiring, community‑driven work to restore the environment and strengthen livelihoods.
Funds raised through the Bishop of Chelmsford’s Lent Appeal this year will enable ADSMKE to expand vital climate and conservation projects, supporting individuals, families and communities in great need.
You can find more information about the Lent Appeal here.
Environment Advent Calendar 2025
Our 2025 Environment Advent Calendar contained uplifting and inspiring stories from individuals, churches, worshipping and local communities, and schools highlighting how they are placing care for God’s creation at the heart of their mission.
Season of Creation 2025 - Peace with Creation
During the Season of Creation 2025 there were a number of events in the Diocese. You can find out more about these on our dedicated webpage.
On October 6th we held a celebration event at Chelmsford Cathedral. A Service of Celebration started at 5.15pm. Our lead Bishop for the Environment, Rt Rev'd Roger Morris, spoke, and students from Becket Keys Church of England Secondary School led much of the service, including sharing with us some of what they are doing in their schools to care for creation, and a beautifully inspirational song.
To finish, there was a speaker panel chaired by Rev'd Sandra Eldridge, Diocesan Environmental Officer, with panel members: Gideon Commey, Eco Theologian and Founder of Ghana Youth Environmental Movement and Wild ecovillage, Rev'd. Vanessa Elston, Vicar of St. Barnabas, Southfields, Chaplain to the Bishop of Kingston, and pioneer for climate spirituality and action, Paul Powlesland, Founder of Lawyers for Nature, barrister and river guardian, campaigner for the rights of nature.
Theology and Action for God's Creation - June 17th in Chelmsford Cathedral
Rev. Dave Bookless, Director of Theology at A Rocha International and author of "Planetwise” and "God Doesn't do Waste" and Jo Herbert-James, Head of Engagement at A Rocha UK, spoke about the connection between faith and action for God's creation. There was also a chance to find out about and celebrate what individuals and churches across the Diocese are doing, including some of our gold, silver and bronze Eco Churches. The evening began with an environment themed service at 5.15pm.
Watch the speakers and Q&A session
Environment Advent Calendar 2024
This year for the first time the Diocese produced an Environment Advent Calendar.
It was full of inspirational stories (and pictures!) about what's had happened in the Diocese during the year. You can find out how one church reduced their energy use by 40% for £300, what you can do to support bees and butterflies, how churches are using their churchyards for the community, what motivates some people to take to the streets, how much a repair cafe can contribute to reducing carbon emissions, how toilets are an important part of our Eco journey, the amazing work schools are doing, why one Essex cricket club is featured, what churches are doing about solar panels and heating systems, how to make your own Christmas tree, how the Virgin Mary fits in, and much much more!
29th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29) 11 to 24 November 2024.
A summary of COP29 achievements from the UN
A reflection from the Renewable Energy Institute on what COP29 achieved
Our lead Bishop for the Environment, Rt Rev'd Bishop Roger shared a message and prayer for COP29:
Season of Creation 2024 - To Hope and Act with Creation
Taking action, especially on such crucial issues as caring for our common home, generates hope in our communities. When we act, we are not only doing something positive for creation, but we also inspire others to follow suit.
During the Season of Creation 2024 there were a number of events in the Diocese. You can find out more about these on our dedicated webpage.
On October 2nd we held a celebration day at Chelmsford Cathedral. This started with a reflective retreat on "Hope in a time of Climate Crisis," followed by stalls and refreshments. A Service of Celebration started at 5.15pm. Our lead Bishop for the Environment, Rt Rev'd Roger Morris, spoke, and two primary schools, Colne Engaine and St Andrew's Halstead shared with us some of what they are doing in their schools to care for creation, and sang a beautiful song: "I am the Earth."
To finish, there was a Q&A panel chaired by Rev'd Sandra Eldridge, Diocesan Environmental Officer, with panel members: Mark Smith from Love Your Chelmsford, Melanie Nazareth, Churches Engagement Officer for Green Christian, Steven Green, Essex Organic Farmer, sensitive to the environment.
Watch the address by Bishop Roger and the Q&A panel below:
The General Election 2024
To help individuals and churches who wanted to raise issues around climate change and nature loss with their parliamentary candidates and with others during the run-up to July 4th, the Church of England Central Envirnoment Team compiled a list of five key asks to be used in a variety of ways. These were:
Energy efficient and low carbon homes. Ensure all new build houses are built to net-zero standards and fund the retrofitting of all public sector housing to increase energy efficiency. This means that new homes should be highly energy efficient and run without using fossil fuels, and existing homes become easier and cheaper to keep warm and dry. More information here.
Leave fossil fuels behind and invest in renewable energy. Stop investment and exploration in new sources of fossil fuel extraction. Instead focus on moving to new, renewable technology and improving the capacity and resilience of the National Grid. More information here.
Loss and Damage Fund. Keep the UK’s promise to support a fund for countries which have already suffered loss of lives, homes and livelihoods because of climate change, including a commitment of financial support from the UK. More information here.
Nature Recovery. Keep the UK’s promise to halt and reverse the loss of wildlife and manage 30% of the land and sea for nature by 2030. Known as 30 by 30, the UK joined this global pledge when it was agreed at the biodiversity COP15 in December 2022. The Nature 2030 campaign sets out 5 actions needed to keep this pledge. More information here.
Support the Climate and Nature Bill. This is a bill which aims to join up the climate and nature crises, cut emissions, halt the decline of nature and ensure this is all done fairly and with the involvement of the UK public. More information here.
28th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) November 30 to December 12, 2023.
The main achievements of COP28 are summarised here.
Listen to our Lead Bishop for the environment, the Rt Rev'd Roger Morris, reflecting on COP28:
Season of Creation and Black History Month 2023
Climate Justice is Racial Justice
In September and October 2023 we organised a series of events covering the Season of Creation and Black History Month. Picking up on the Season of Creation theme "Let Justice and Peace Flow" we explored the relationship between climate justice and racial justice under the umbrella "Climate Justice is Racial Justice."
The Programme for Season of Creation and Black History Month 2023
The programme (see below) developed from thinking about the effects of climate change which are being disproportionately felt by those who have done the least to cause this change and have the least resources to deal with what they are facing. In fact, the damage falls mostly on people of colour.
In three events during the Season of Creation we heard first-hand about the effects of climate change in different parts of the world and in a fourth event, Jeremy Williams, a writer and campaigner, the author of "Climate Change is Racist: Race, Privilege and the Struggle for Climate Justice", and the editor of the Christian Climate Action book "Time to Act", drew together what we had heard, and talked about causes and consequences. During Black History Month we explored the relationship between climate justice and racial justice further through poetry, a day-long study day, and a conversation about what we do next. Our programme is below and you can find recordings of all the sessions on our dedicated "Climate Justice is Racial Justice" page.
Resources
These are resources that we recommended alongside the Season of Creation and Black History Month events in 2023.
Podcasts:
Dr Selina Stone. Fire, Fire, Fire. Black faith and the Environmental Crisis.
In this podcast Dr Stone talks about climate change and the human actions that are leading to recent climate chaos. She says: I explore some of the beliefs which can prevent us from taking our responsibility for creation care seriously. And I discuss how caring for the earth ties in to our wider concerns for social justice.
Videos:
Bishop Qampicha of Marsabit Diocese in Kenya talks to Sandra Eldridge, Chelmsford Diocese Enviromental Officer about The Effects of Climate Change in the Diocese of Marsabit.
This Al Jazeera video describes long term effects of the 2022 Pakistan floods.
These two Christian Aid Videos focus on the links between climate justice and racial justice. The first video is very short. Robert Beckford and others talk about these link. The second video is longer; a panel talk about why racial justice is at the heart of climate justice.
Books and articles:
Jeremy Williams. Climate Change is Racist: Race, Privilege and the Struggle for Climate Justice. Icon Books Ltd. 2021. In this book, the author takes us on a short, urgent journey across the globe from Kenya to India, the USA to Australia - to understand how climate justice and racial justice overlap.
Websites:
