Revd. David Roberts describes St Martin’s journey to their well-deserved Bronze Eco Church Award:
St Martin’s Church is a rural church situated on the side of a mountain that was once considered to be sliding down into the basin of the valley. It is a remote hamlet with narrow country lanes servicing the local residents. Many of the houses are either second homes or holiday accommodation for those who reside in the area.
The Church has just been awarded the Bronze Award for its environmental impact.
The graveyard is source of fine fauna and flora with many species enjoying the natural plant life. During the grass growing season it is left to grow attracting those insects who enjoy tall grasses and its density in which to hide during their breeding season. The impact of longer grass is not only attractive to different fauna, but suits the natural landscape, blending in with the surrounding fields. The ground is looked after by a local farmer, who treats it sensitively and when the grass is cut, it is left on the ground, to provide compost material for further growth.
The Church is built from dressed stone, with flat stones as roofing material. The really defining architectural feature is the tower which leans at an angle of thirty five degrees. The whole church is a remarkable testimony to the builders of the middle ages. The gutter water is in natural soak ways, thereby watering the ground. There is no water supply to the church, so any water has to be brought into the church in containers.
Inside St Martin’s there were electric heaters under the pews, but with common sense these were never used as they were inefficient and ineffectual. They have been disconnected, as have been the two heaters either side in the chancel. This means the building stays at the natural temperature of the current air temperature. The natural stone needs to breath and by allowing to adjust naturally to the temperatures there is less impact on the stone minimising any causal damage. Congregations are urged to wear suitably warm clothing, as it can feel a little chilly, on times. The environmental impact is zero from a heating perspective.
At one time there were light bulbs fitted discretely but age has taken its toll and new lights had to replace the existing ones, this provided an opportunity to replace the lights with LEDs which are even more sympathetic to the lighting of the church, reducing the unit cost of each light and having a longer life. The LCC embraces the need to recognise the advantages of efficient items when there is a need to replace certain goods, also being sympathetic to the architectural features of the church.
The Rev’d David Roberts