Whitechurch Church of Ireland Parish has been steadily incorporating eco awareness into many aspects of parish life since registering with Eco Congregation Ireland in June 2007.
Located in a tranquil rural setting not far from the south Dublin suburbs, the parish has made the most of its grounds. Just inside the entrance gate a Lenten/Easter Garden greets visitors. This includes a resurrection garden with flowers planted by Sunday School children in the shape of a cross. The garden also features a disused font that was found in the shrubbery and is now used as a bird bath.
A contemplation corner has been created in a corner of the graveyard and a bat box and a bird feeder have been erected.
An Environmental Policy has been drawn up for the parish and ideas for an eco-friendly Christmas have been printed in the parish magazine. Recycling bins and composting bins have been put in place. Fairtrade tea & coffee are served after church.
An Eco Congregation notice-board takes pride of place in the foyer of the parish hall, encouraging people to consider the environment. The lending library includes Christian environmental books.
The parish sponsors a number of projects abroad. Parishioners are helping build a health centre and a pineapple factory in Rwanda where the parish has already helped install a water scheme.
Whitechurch was delighted to win two prizes in the Beautiful South Dublin County Competition 2010 – namely, Best Biodiversity Initiative and Best Environmental Youth Initiative.
Rev Horace McKinley has been running an ecumenical Emmaus course, which includes environmental awareness, for several years.
Whitechurch is an active member of Three Rock Churches’ Environment Group – a group of churches working together ecumenically in south Dublin. Three Rock members were involved in the Stop Climate Chaos campaign the past three years and have lobbied Dublin Bus for feeder buses to the LUAS. The group has also hosted a poster exhibition for local national schools and organised two essay competitions for local secondary schools – all with an environmental theme.
Whitechurch Parish well deserves the Eco-Congregation Ireland award it received on 6th March 2011!
