Four new Eco Chaplains have joined the growing network of Eco Chaplains across the Diocese and become members of the environment team. They will be commissioned later this year at a service of Evensong at Norwich Cathedral.
Martin Greenland, Abigail Leach, Hannah Morris and Michelle Goulding have been trained to help parishes embed creation care in their mission and ministry, through worship, witness, teaching, pastoral care, discipleship, witness, buildings and land across the diocese.
The primary purpose of this voluntary role is to encourage and support churches to respond to the climate and ecological crisis, by advocating for environmental action, resourcing others, and helping churches on their Eco Church and net zero journey.
The role is supported by the Diocesan Environment Officer and Net Zero Adviser, the Environment and Net Zero Working Groups, and means being the ‘port of call’ in their area for parishes who would like further help as they take action on climate change. If you’re not sure if they cover your area, do check with Barbara or Rosalind first. You can find out a little more about each Eco Chaplain below, along with their contact email.
Michelle Goulding
Michelle worships at Sprowston Parish Churches and will be available to support parishes in the greater Norwich area.
Having worked alongside our Eco Church team throughout our Bronze Eco Church journey, I have gained a good understanding of the commitment, enthusiasm and encouragement needed to help churches engage with the Eco Church programme. Seeing first-hand what can be achieved inspired me to become an Eco Chaplain so that I can support, encourage and walk alongside other churches as they begin or continue their own Eco Church journey. I hope to help churches navigate the surveys, share ideas and resources, celebrate achievements and reassure them that every step, however small, is worthwhile.
For me, caring for God’s creation is not an optional extra but an expression of our faith and worship. It is about being faithful stewards of the world God has entrusted to us, creating a healthier environment not only for our church congregations but also for the wider community. I believe that every conversation, every act of encouragement and every small change has the potential to plant a seed. If we can inspire just one church, one family or one individual to care more deeply for God’s creation, that seed can grow and spread far beyond what we first imagined. Through caring for creation we have an opportunity to share God’s hope, love and care, helping both our churches and our communities to flourish together.
Michelle can be contacted at: michelleatsprowstonchurch@gmail.com
Revd Hannah Morris
Hannah is Assistant Curate in the Flegg Parish Churches Team Ministry, and will be available to support parishes in the East of the Diocese.
I’m thrilled to be taking on this role as Eco Chaplain. Caring for creation feels like a natural extension of parish ministry to me, woven through worship, pastoral care, and the everyday life of our churches. Living and serving across the Broads, I see every day how closely our communities are bound up with the land and water around them, and how much that landscape shapes our sense of what it means to be good stewards of God’s world. I’m looking forward to working alongside the other Eco Chaplains, sharing ideas, and helping our churches take practical steps together towards a more sustainable future.
Hannah can be contacted at: revhannahmorris@gmail.com
Revd Canon Martin Greenland
Martin has been the Rector of the Acle and Bure to Yare Benefice for over 12 years and will be available to support parishes in the East of the Diocese. On his recent sabbatical he chose to study insects in churchyards across our Diocese!
Thank you to those churches who invited me to visit. I covered 32 in all. Focussing on the small things means that each provided an insight into the amazing diversity, evolution and interdependence of God’s creation.
I’ve submitted over 750 records of c.310 insect species – including, potentially, a fly not previously recorded in Britain! (at Blofield). Please use me as a resource if you are planning something in the future.
Martin can be contacted at: rector@aclechurch.plus.com
Abigail Leach
Abigail worships at King’s Lynn Minster and will be available to support parishes across the West of the Diocese.
Having begun my career as an intern for A Rocha UK, creation care is deeply rooted through both my personal and professional life. I have since worked as an ecologist for NGOs and public bodies, across the country, involved with the conservation of wetland habitats. I am currently studying for my PhD, looking into the impacts of environmental change on migratory waterbirds in East Anglia. Abigail worships at King’s Lynn Minster and will be available to support parishes across the West of the Diocese.
Abigail can be contacted at: abigail.leach67@gmail.com
Called to be an Eco Chaplain? Train in September!
The next training course takes place over Wednesdays 9 and 16 September, from 6 – 8pm at Diocesan House in Easton. The training sessions will cover the theological context of our climate and biodiversity crises, our missional response to them, and how to signpost parishes to practical support on working towards net zero, improving biodiversity and progressing through the Eco Church survey.
For a more details of what the role commitment and responsibilities are, please see the role description HERE, complete the application form HERE, or contact Barbara.bryant@dioceseofnorwich.org 07876 634867 for a chat.
You’ll need to be able to commit to attending both dates, but do not need to commit to the role until after training is completed. You will need to have the agreement of your parish priest/incumbent. Please contact Barbara if you would like to book onto the course.