Horsham church wins award for becoming more environmentally friendly

Parishioners at St John’s Catholic church in Springfield Road were delighted to receive the ‘Live Simply’ award which is presented to parishes which demonstrate a commitment to live simply, sustainably and in solidarity with the poor.

St John’s Horsham joins more than 70 Catholic parishes in England and Wales in attaining this award which is made by CAFOD (the Catholic Fund for Overseas Development) .

Parish Priest, Fr Aaron Spinelli congratulated the parish Justice and Peace group on leading the parish’s efforts, and at celebration services he spoke about the importance of protecting the planet for the sake of future generations.

Over the past few months, St John’s parish has been focused on becoming a ‘live simply community’.

The parish weekly newsletter features tips on helping the environment, a group of young people organised a Hand Me Down stall, and a symbolic tree has been planted in the parish grounds.

The parish also has a longstanding commitment to helping the poor, donating 7.5 per cent of its weekly collection to charities at home and abroad.

It is a Fairtrade parish and a founder member of the Horsham Churches Together Night shelter scheme for the homeless.

Achieving the Live Simply award is seen as just the start of the process of ‘living simply’ at St John’s. There are plans to encourage cycling to church, to increase the opportunities for recycling at the church and to plant more trees, and St John’s looks forward to working with other Horsham churches on initiatives to combat climate change.

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