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Environmental Policy

LeafSt. Mary’s is a church that seeks to be shaped by the Five Marks of Mission. The fifth mark is a commitment “To strive to safeguard the integrity of creation and sustain and renew the life of the earth”. We are committed to a green agenda for our church community. In the light of that, the PCC has endorsed our Environmental Policy. It is to be noted that this is an aspirational document. We are on a journey into this fifth mark of mission and adherence to the Policy is always a work-in-progress. However, the intention is there – and we do all we can to honour our moral commitments in this area of mission life.

General Clauses
1. We affirm the Fifth Mark of Mission (‘to strive to safeguard the integrity of creation and sustain and renew the life of the earth’) as a central part of our life, work and mission.

2. We will take environmental concerns fully into account in our mission, worship, study, education, training, pastoral, administrative and other programmes and projects.

3. We will identify environmental issues in our village and devise appropriate action on them.

4. We will work with the PCC to devise appropriate ways of bringing environmental concerns forward on a regular basis.

5. We will seek appropriate information from a Christian environmental group (eg. Christian Ecology Link, Eco-congregation, Parish Pump Programme) and keep abreast of current thinking.

6. We will undertake an ‘environmental audit’ of our premises and property, make a list of the most significant aspects of the natural world for which we are responsible, and devise appropriate plans to care for them.

7. We will consider the environmental impact of all our policies and plans, and accept that additional costs may be incurred.

8. We will ask our members to consider their personal impact on the environment in their daily lives.

9. We will support the work of local and national environmental organisations, as appropriate.

10. We will hold a formal debate or discussion on environmental issues and policy at least once every three years.

Group Clauses

Finance Committee:
11. We will pay attention to environmental concerns in our banking and investment practice, and continue to pay regard to the national church ethical investment policy.

12. We will continue to use, and recommend to others, rates of car mileage payments that encourage the use of more environmentally-friendly vehicles.

13. We will seek ways to assess the value of our land and property for wildlife, and to manage them to conserve biodiversity, wherever possible.

14. We will encourage architects and contractors to take environmental concerns into account in their work.

Specific Clauses

Transport:
15. We will encourage environmentally-friendly forms of transport, walk, cycle, use public transport, share cars, keep journeys to meeting venues short, and keep fossil fuel emissions as low as we can, wherever possible.

Energy:
16. We will make an energy audit at least every three years, look for economies in heating, use thermostats, fit low-energy light bulbs, improve insulation, consider switching to ‘green’ energy suppliers, and seek to save energy in our use of heating and lighting, wherever possible.

Purchasing and Waste:
17. We will seek ways to reduce consumption, particularly of paper and envelopes, and the impact of our activities on the environment, use recycled paper, re-use and repair materials where possible, recycle waste, use low-environmental impact cleaning materials (avoiding chlorine-based and phosphate-rich powders), avoid using disposable and plastic items, avoid artificial fertilisers and pesticides.

Biodiversity:
18. We will assess the value of our land and property for wildlife, and manage them to conserve/ increase biodiversity, wherever possible.

Catering:
19. We will seek to purchase food and drink that meets the LOAF principles (Locally-sourced, Organically-grown, Animal-friendly, Fairly-traded), avoid over-catering, use seasonal foods, and avoid using genetically-modified foodstuffs, wherever possible.

Water:
20. We will avoid using water unnecessarily and check for leakages regularly. 

Hello
Hello and welcome to our church. If you are a new visitor, we have a page for you to get to know us and learn more about planning a visit.
Click here to see more.

Planning your Visit

Welcome to St Mary's, Linton


Where and When

Our main service is 10am every Sunday, after an early said Holy Communion in traditional language at 8am, but there are a number of other ways we meet, both in church (details here) and in homes and other venues across our community. There is some parking on Church Lane, or on the High St, or Medical Centre car park, just a few minutes walk away. If you're new or visiting us, do say hello to one of our welcomers on the door.

The 10am is usually an hour long, sometimes less, and we serve tea, coffee and biscuits after the 10am service, apart from Cafe Church - every fourth Sunday morning - where coffee, etc is served before we begin. All refreshments are free, but donations to keeping our ancient church open for everyone are always appreciated. Thanks.

Other types of worship offer contemplative space (The Well, every second Sunday evening at 6pm), Taize worship, as well as prayer for healing (Services of Hope and Healing) where blessing with anointing is available. Evensong (BCP) takes place in Bartlow, 5 minutes drive from Linton, every third Sunday at 6pm. We are very active in our community and host school worship - our Infant School meet here every Friday in term time - and a range of special events (such as a recent Vigil for Ukraine).

St M's is open every day of the year (c9.30am-4pm), for locals and visitors alike. Many people drop by to light a candle, or to find some quiet, or to read or draw with their child or grandchild. Dogs are most welcome, too.

Celebrating life events

If you're visiting our website because you would like to arrange a wedding, funeral or Christening, do contact us. We'd love to help you mark these precious times in your life and the lives of your loved ones. It doesn't matter if you are not a churchgoer - all are welcome here.

Accessibility: There is wheelchair access, and a sound loop for anyone who needs it. Please let one of the Welcome Team know on your arrival and they will help you to get set up. There is a loo in the Pavilion (which has wheelchair access) at the back of the church.

Young people

We really value worshipping God all together as a family. There is an area in the south aisle dedicated to children and their carers, which allows them to take part in the service, while also having books, drawing materials, toys and other resources to hand. We really don't mind if your child makes a noise - they are as welcome as anyone else!

There are other activities, like Messy Church and Tots in Tow, that nurture young people's faith in positive and caring ways. More info can be found on this site.

Children


Root & Branch (RnB) Groups

Being part of one of our small groups is a great way to make new friends, share questions of life and faith and explore the Bible. No previous experience necessary. Four groups meet across the Linton Parishes; three in homes across Linton. Usually, we meet fortnightly, in 'terms' of around four or five dates. Check out our Small Groups and see if there’s a time that works for you, and let us know if you'd like to come along.

Get in touch with us to plan your visit
If you would like to come and visit the church beforehand you are more than welcome! Get in touch and we can arrange a time that suits you.
 
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Comments / Questions or anything you would like to say?

Next, we will contact you by email to say hello and help arrange anything necessary for your visit.
 

PSB website 

 
Peace and blessings,

Revd Paul