A rural 'Eco-Church' in Lancashire has joined with an urban eco counterpart to exchange vicars this weekend for a unique green experiment.

St John's Hurst Green was one of the first, if not the first, Eco Church in the County and nearby Mitton Church has now applied for that status too.

Eco Church is A Rocha UK’s award scheme for churches in England and Wales who want to demonstrate that the gospel is good news for God’s earth. Read more here.

• Media coverage: Rev. Carol Backhouse spoke to BBC Radio Lancashire about the initiative. Listen from 2.10.20 https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0fz8w80 

Increasingly urban churches are now achieving eco status and one such Parish is Christ Church, Lancaster which has already achieved Silver Eco Church Status.  

This Sunday Rev Canon Brian McConkey is taking the services at Christ Church so that Rev Carol Backhouse from Christ Church, along with part of her Eco team, can come to rural Ribble Valley to take services at Mitton and Hurst Green.

Between them they will each share more with their respective congregations about what is happening in their own areas.

Brian said today: "For quite a while now, on the fifth Sunday of the Month (four a year) we have 'Creation Sunday' as part of our commitment to Creation as an Eco-Church.

"We have also been looking round for other churches taking these issues seriously and Christ Church was one of them but in a very different setting; so Carol has kindly agreed to come to Mitton and Hurst Green and I will cover worship in Lancaster.

"I will be doing the service on my own in Lancaster but will complement what Carol is doing and encourage them in their efforts."

Carol added: "The team from Christ Church will lead the whole service at Mitton and Hurst Green and share their experiences. This exchange between an urban and rural church is important as we begin to understand each other more and the challenges we face as Eco-Churches in our own settings."

The Diocesan Environmental Officer is the Rev Canon Professor John Rodwell and he said today: “This is just the kind of sharing of experience we need to make progress in our care of Creation across the diocese. Linking our rural and urban worlds, their people, their landscapes, is crucial in sustaining one environment and telling one story of God's generosity.”

The Bishop of Blackburn, Rt Rev Philip North, was delighted to hear about the exchange between St John's and  Christ Church adding: "I congratulate both churches on this great initiative and the work they are doing as Eco Churches. 

"We are hearing more and more stories of how, thanks to the prayers, efforts and generosity of His people, our churches are making a real difference when it comes to looking after God's creation.

"Increasing the number of 'Eco-Churches' is an important tool in allowing us to mark our progress as we become a more environmentally-friendly church as part of our work towards being a Carbon Net Zero Diocese by 2030.

"I encourage as many parishes as possible to explore the Eco Church concept."

• Any parishes considering being an Eco-Church in the coming months can register here to attend a helpful Church of England national webinar on the subject led by an A Rocha UK expert and with plenty of opportunity to get your questions answered. The webinar is on September 14 at noon. And read more about our environmental work and targets here on the Diocesan website.

Captions for above pictures, top to bottom:

• Rev Carol Backhouse
• Carol pictured during her Sunday exchange in the Ribble Valley
• Rev Canon Brian McConkey
• Brian during his Sunday exchange in Lancaster