Renew Environment Group

RENEW, Ely Cathedral Environment Group, was launched in April 2019 and is comprised of concerned members of the congregation, clergy, staff and the wider community.

We are part of a national community of over 7,500 churches addressing the environmental crisis using the A Rocha UK Eco Church Scheme . In August 2024 we became the 52nd Gold Eco Church and only the 3rd cathedral to achieve this prestigious award.

Our efforts to protect nature and address climate change, using the Eco Church framework, are ongoing.

We’re always delighted to hear from anyone who has any questions, comments, or suggestions. We’d also love to hear from you if you would like to get involved. Please email us at: environment@elycathedral.org

Worship & Teaching

Ely Cathedral continues to ensure that care for the environment and sustainable living are at the heart of all our worship and teaching.

Buildings

Ely Cathedral has completed a survey on the carbon footprint of the Cathedral estate. It is now obtaining costs for the complete replacement of all gas-fired heating appliances by air source heat pumps and ultimately installing underfloor heating in the main body of the Cathedral which will heat the people rather than the air. The first project will be the replacement of the gas fired boilers in the Learning Centre which will be done as part of a major refurbishment.

The project to replace the previous lighting system with a more efficient LED-based system will result in saving up to 80% of electricity used for lighting.

Land

Ely Cathedral is committed to improving biodiversity, creating new habitats and maximising carbon capture/storage on its land. For more information please see the Ely Cathedral Land Management Plan

Community & Global Engagement

Ely Cathedral organises environmental awareness-raising events, such as the Environmental Memorial Lecture and Green Fair. Members of the Cathedral congregation hold a litter-pick on the first Saturday of every month. Please see the Overview page for upcoming events.

Lifestyle

Ely Cathedral provides information on how to live more sustainably. This has included running a Carbon Footprint Sunday where members of the congregation were invited to estimate their own carbon Footprint. Practical lifestyle tips and advice on caring for God’s earth are included in our congregation and staff newsletters.

Projects

Particular projects include:

continuing to ensure that care for the environment and sustainable living are at the heart of all our worship and teaching
commissioning a survey on the carbon footprint of the cathedral estate, excluding private and commercial rented properties
obtaining costs for the complete replacement of all gas-fired heating appliances by air source heat pumps and installing underfloor heating in the main body of the Cathedral to heat the people rather than the air
replacing the existing lighting system with a more efficient LED-based system
improving biodiversity, creating new habitats and maximising carbon capture on Cathedral land, with the help of the young people who attend Café Church, members of the congregation and the wider community
providing information on how to live more sustainably
we were unable to take part in Churches Count on Nature 2023, jointly run by the conservation charities Caring for God’s Acre and A Rocha UK, together with the Church of England Environment Programme and the Church in Wales. However, you can catch up with the Church of England Environment Programme series of webinars on different aspects of land and nature at churchofengland.org