Buchlyvie and Gartmore Parish Church has been awarded Eco-Congregation Scotland Silver Awards in recognition of their work and commitment to caring for creation.
Eco-Congregation Scotland is a movement of Scottish church congregations, of all denominations and none, committed to addressing environmental issues through their life and mission.
The silver award achieved recognises congregations which have developed a long-term commitment to promoting environmental issues as an integral part of their congregational life.
To achieve an award, the congregation must show that they meet all the criteria across a number of award areas.
To mark the achievement, there were two celebrations – a presentation and a celebratory service – with Stirling MP Chris Kane attending at Buchlyvie to make the presentation.
The award winners were also able to raise with him several points concerning upcoming environmental legislation and Margaret Warnock, one of the assessors for the award, was also able to attend.
Tricia Cumming, a member of both the Eco and Worship groups, led a special service for Creationtide with Buchlyvie and Gartmore congregations, at which their other assessor presented the silver plates to go along with the bronze ones on the award plaques.
Buchlyvie and Gartmore Parish Church has been especially commended by the assessors on a number of fronts including: for their input into environmental initiatives exceeds many other larger congregations; the amount of work carried out to involve their wider communities and local groups and individuals such as their leadership and participation in Planet Friendly Buchlyvie; the Faith Garden at Gartmore, achieved by working together with Stirling Council, community council and the Church, which provides a welcome but ‘semi secret place behind the church where the beauty of creation can be pondered upon’ while looking beyond towards the Trossachs; and the care and attention to detail of the church building and surrounding graves enhanced the village.
Congregation member Tricia Cumming said: “We were delighted when Chris Kane MP accepted our invitation to present the Silver Award to the Eco group.
“Engagement with MPs and decision makers on matters of pressing environmental concerns is a key objective of the group and the presentation gave us the opportunity to spend time talking to Chris about issues of concern in forthcoming legislation.
“We thank him for his time both at the presentation and afterwards as he attended the Buchlyvie Community Hub lunch.”
Stirling MP Chris Kane said: “I was delighted to meet with the Buchlyvie and Gartmore congregations to present them with their Eco-Congregation Silver Award.
“The work they have done to date will make a real impact within their community, and it’s clear they also have a number of fabulous ideas for the future. I look forward to visiting again to see how these plans progress.”