The Celebration of Eco Chaplaincy: A New Era in Environmental Stewardship

In a beautiful ceremony at a special Choral Evensong in Celebration of Chaplaincy, four new Eco Chaplains were commissioned by the Right Reverend Dr. Jane Steen, Bishop of Lynn, on November 16th. Lynn Fry, Helen Blake, Meg Forster, and Iain Grant joined the growing team of Eco Chaplains within the Diocese of Norwich, bringing the total to eight dedicated individuals committed to environmental stewardship through the church. This significant moment represents the diocese’s deepening commitment to addressing climate change and ecological concerns as a fundamental part of Christian ministry and witness. The commissioning service, held in the historic Norwich Cathedral, marked a formal recognition of the vital role these chaplains will play in guiding parishes toward greater environmental responsibility and action.

The newly appointed Eco Chaplains have undertaken specialized training to help parishes integrate creation care into every aspect of their mission and ministry. Their voluntary role encompasses supporting churches in their environmental journeys through multiple avenues: worship that celebrates creation, teaching that emphasizes stewardship, pastoral care that recognizes ecological grief, and practical guidance on reducing carbon footprints in church buildings and land. During the commissioning, Bishop Jane eloquently described chaplains as “frontline missioners” and “a bridgehead between a world that needs God and a Church that offers God.” She emphasized that the chaplaincy role involves stepping back to allow God’s work to unfold while remaining faithful advocates who speak truth to power. This framework perfectly captures the dual nature of the Eco Chaplaincy: providing spiritual guidance on creation care while offering practical support for tangible environmental action.

Each of the newly commissioned Eco Chaplains brings unique experiences and perspectives to this important role. Lynn Fry, Associate Priest in the East Harling benefice, will support churches in Southwest Norfolk, drawing on her experiences in Papua New Guinea where she witnessed “truly wild spaces” that deepened her commitment to environmental justice. Helen Blake, part of the Eco Church Team at Crossroads in Earlham and pursuing chaplaincy training, will serve the Greater Norwich area, motivated by childhood experiences finding “hope and inspiration within creation.” Her vision focuses on demonstrating “God’s abundant provision when we steward with His guidance,” working to bring more of God’s Kingdom to earth through environmental care. Both women express a profound spiritual connection between their faith and their environmental calling.

Meg Foster, a professional artist recently retired from the NHS, describes her path to Eco Chaplaincy as “a journey that has taken years.” Currently training as a Pastor with Garden Network through the Myriad Pathway, Meg has recently launched an animal-assisted therapy project called ‘Sanctuary’ at St. Margaret’s Church in Stratton Strawless. Her North Norfolk childhood, spent “walking and birdwatching on beaches and cliffs,” instilled a deep connection to the natural world that has always intertwined with her faith. Meg beautifully articulates her understanding that “God’s heart has always been for us to lovingly care for creation as part of our worship, and not to harshly subdue it.” She hopes to communicate the joy found in even simple acts of environmental stewardship and what these teach us about the Creator.

Iain Grant, Assistant Curate in the Sheringham Benefice, brings both childhood environmental awareness and theological training to his role. “The climate crisis is an enormous issue that is only going to get more complicated,” Iain acknowledges, yet he emphasizes that it is “entirely from my Christian faith that I have hope and believe we can still address the issue.” His perspective highlights the theological foundation for environmental action – that good stewardship of creation is “entirely within God’s calling for all of us.” The four new chaplains were commissioned with a beautiful prayer asking God to “give them confidence and sensitivity in their mission, that they may encourage, energise, and perhaps challenge your people to embrace change, rejoice in their natural surroundings, and recognise the love of God for all creation.”

The Eco Chaplaincy program represents an important practical response to the Church of England’s commitment to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2030. Supported by the Diocesan Environment Officer and Net Zero Adviser, these chaplains serve as local “ports of call” for parishes seeking guidance on environmental initiatives like the Eco Church program. Their work embodies a holistic approach that unites spiritual practice with practical action, theological understanding with scientific awareness, and individual commitment with community transformation. As churches throughout the diocese embark on their own environmental journeys, these chaplains stand ready to support, encourage, and occasionally challenge congregations to embrace their responsibility as stewards of God’s creation. Through their ministry, they hope to demonstrate that addressing climate change and ecological degradation isn’t merely an add-on to Christian faith but fundamentally woven into what it means to follow Christ in the twenty-first century.