Creationtide - spotlight on West Kirby

Creationtide, observed each year from 1 September to 4 October, is a special season in the Church calendar dedicated to celebrating God's creation and reflecting on our shared responsibility to care for it. Across the diocese, many parishes are already finding creative ways to put that calling into action, and we would love to hear and share those stories.

At St Bridget’s in West Kirby, work to enhance biodiversity and deepen connections with creation has been developing over several years. Revd Alex Williams explains how the church began by looking closely at the land around them:

"What was apparent here from the beginning was that we had a really rich area of ground, ancient meadowland and enormous ancient ant hills, but we were told there wasn't a great deal of biodiversity," he said.

To address this, volunteers have been sowing seeds to increase the variety of grasses and wildflowers growing on the site. The church is also cultivating plants that can be used in worship, supporting more sustainable flower arranging by growing materials locally.

The project has also provided opportunities to engage younger generations. Children from the local school have helped to plant fruit trees, creating a lasting contribution to the landscape while learning about environmental stewardship.

For Alex, this work reflects a fundamental aspect of Christian discipleship.

"As Christians, we recognise that we have a responsibility to steward the earth well," he said. "That infiltrates all that we do as a church community: our worship, our prayer, our outreach into the community and our work with the school."

One particularly imaginative project emerging from this vision is a new prayer and reflection space. Inspired by the natural surroundings, Eco Chaplain and Churchwarden Anna Gibson has been developing a "Cosmic Walk", which will invite visitors to journey through the story of creation.

The walk will feature glass artwork designed by local schoolchildren, telling the story of the universe from its earliest beginnings through to the present day. The aim is to create a space for prayer, mindfulness and reflection, helping people reconnect with both their faith and the natural world.

"It's really noticeable how prayer for creation weaves its way through everything that happens in our church," Anna reflected.

Environmental action at St Bridget's extends well beyond the church grounds. Recognising a local need, the parish has become a collection hub for recycling medicine blister packs, a product that can be difficult to dispose of sustainably.

Anna said the response from both the congregation and the wider community has been remarkable.

"We became a hub for recycling blister packs about 18 months ago and the amount we're recycling is phenomenal," she said.

The church has also worked alongside community organisations such as Transition Town West Kirby, hosting events that encourage discussion and action on environmental issues. Among them was a screening of The People's Emergency Briefing, which attracted members of both the congregation and the wider community. Following its success, the parish plans to hold further screenings and discussions during Creationtide to explore practical responses to environmental challenges.

Their experience demonstrates how environmental stewardship can become a natural expression of faith, building stronger relationships within local communities while caring for God's creation.

Share Your Creationtide Story

This Creationtide, we want to celebrate the many ways churches across the Diocese of Chester are responding to God's call to care for creation.

Whether your parish is creating wildlife habitats, reducing its carbon footprint, involving schools in environmental projects, developing outdoor prayer spaces, running recycling initiatives or finding other innovative ways to care for God's earth, we would love to hear about it.

By sharing your story, you can inspire others, showcase the impact of your work and encourage more churches to take their next steps on their eco journey.

Contact Jill Elston, Diocesan Environment Adviser, jill.elston@chester.anglican.org