Living Gently on the Earth wins Church Times 2024 Green Church Award
Training and Education Category
Worcester Cathedral’s 'Living Gently on The Earth' programme has won a prestigious award run by the Church Times. The project has focused on training and educating the people of Worcestershire in care of creation, carbon literacy, climate justice, and environmentally friendly diets, among other things. Workshops, fairs, tours, nature surveys, lectures, conferences and practical demonstrations at the cathedral have raised awareness of greener and healthier diets, appreciation of the natural world, and the theology and science behind why everyone must act on the climate crisis. Worcester Cathedral’s award-winning training programme Living Gently on the Earth continues into 2025 with its focus on enabling green and generous living in all its aspects:
Upcoming Events
Friday 31 January 2025 | 7.00pm | The Old Palace
'Addressing the Climate Crisis' with Tom Collins, MP for Worcester.
Worcester’s newly elected Member of Parliament will discuss the government's approach to addressing the climate crisis and answer questions.
Click here to book your free tickets
March 2025-February 2026
The SOPHIA Course:A Christian Eco-Spirituality Journey
The Sophia Course is a one-year journey of spiritual formation with a focus on creation-attuned spirituality. It is for anyone seeking to explore and grow in Christian discipleship in a world facing unprecedented environmental challenges.
The course will be delivered over six day-long sessions at Worcester Cathedral, which is an award-winning centre for Green training and education, covering spirituality, lifestyle, and campaigning (2024 Church Times Green Church Awards). The training days aim to engage body, soul, and spirit, blending more theoretical and more practical teaching with hands-on activities, social time, and contemplative prayer. (The six Saturdays are: 15 March, 17 May, 19 July, 20 September, 15 November, 17 January.)
In addition to the formal training days, those on the journey will live by a ‘rule of life’ aimed at instilling patterns of daily prayer and learning to walk gently on the earth.
We will be running two thirty-minute Zoom sessions for those wanting to find out more about the course. They will be from 7.30pm to 8.00pm on Thursday 30 January and on Monday 10 February (they will be the same, so you only need to be at one).
For more information or for Zoom links, please contact Revd Dr Robin Parry at RobinParry@worcestercathedral.org.uk
Click here to find out more.
Saturday 15 March 2025 | 1.30pm | Undercroft Learning Centre
'Foundations for a Wise Economy (Doughnut Economics)'
This session explores the issue of economic growth versus care for the planet, through the lens of Doughnut Economics.
Economic growth is considered an essential requirement for nations by economists, businesses, and politicians, alike. At the same time, environmentalists criticise the adverse effects of uncontrolled economic growth on the environment. Is it possible to take care of the planet and grow the nation's economy at the same time?
Staffan Engström was for many years a corporate executive and strategist in companies with multi-billion turnover, tasked with growth as a key priority. This session explores, through Staffan's personal experience and the principles of Kate Raworth's Doughnut Economics, how the needs of planet and economic growth work together and in conflict, and the requirements for establishing a wise economy.
The event is free. Tickets are not compulsory but will ensure a place if full.
Click here to book your free tickets.
Saturday 17 May 2025 | 1.30pm
'Living a Low-Carbon Lifestyle'
Saturday 19 July 2025 | 1.30pm
'Living in Harmony with Life: Diet and Animal Welfare'
Saturday 20 September 2025 | 1.30pm
'Responsible Stewardship of Land and Sea: Bio-diversity, Fertilisers, Pollution, Habitat use'
Saturday 15 November 2025 | 1.30pm
'Eco-justice: Responding to the Social Implications of Ecological Harm'
Saturday 17 January 2026 | 1.30pm
'Acting for a Changed World: Community, Government, and Business'
The events are free. You can get more details and book a place to attend here. Tickets will be available soon. Tickets are not compulsory for attendance but will ensure that you will have a place if the event is full and will give us a guide of how many people to expect.
Past Events
Articles about these events can be viewed in our Eco Blog.
Saturday 5 October
BIG GREEN FAMILY FAIR
Saturday 24 August
The fascinating and mysterious world of Worcester Cathedral’s bats
Thursday 8 August 2024
Worcester Cathedral Annual Wildlife Survey
Thursday 23 May 2024
How can we all switch to a more sustainable 'circular economy' and lower our environmental footprint?
Thursday 6 June 2024
Hope in an Age of Crisis and Turmoil
Thursday 25 April 2024
Human Health, Planetary Health: Same Thing?
Thursday 21 March 2024
Take the Jump
Thursday 22 February 2024
Social Justice in Action: Sierra Leone
Thursday 25 January 2024
Between Denial and Despair: A Christian perspective on Hope in an Ecological Emergency
Thursday 7 December 2023
Addressing the Climate Crisis – A Debate with Worcester’s Parliamentary Candidates
Thursday 26 October 2023
From People to Planet: A New Vision of Christian Social Justice
Thursday 7 September 2023
Forest Church - An Introduction
Thursday 13 July 2023
Talking Climate Justice with the Bishop of Dudley
Thursday 22 June 2023
Exploring Social Justice for Christians
Thursday 8 June 2023
Wildlife Survey: 'You're Never too old for a Bug Hunt!'
Saturday 27 May 2023
Prayer in Nature: an eco-spirituality teaching and practical session
Thursday 27 April 2023
How we can use Worcester Cathedral’s heritage to engage our communities with green living.
Thursday 2 February 2023
Measuring Your Carbon Footprint and Acting on it
Saturday 5 November 2022
Green Travel: Cheaper, better, easier
Saturday 22 October 2022
Big Green Family Fair
Thursday 13 October 2022
Home and Building Energy: Reducing Energy Use and Saving Money
Thursday 6 October 2022
A visit to Envirosort's Norton Teaching Centre
Thursday 29 September 2022
How to Live a Less Plastic Life
Sunday 25 September 2022
From Garden to Dish
Thursday 7 July 2022
Putting Your Money Where Your Heart Is
Thursday 9 June 2022
Delicious Vegetarian Food Cooking Demonstration
Saturday 7 May 2022
How Faith Effects How We Care For The Planet