All Saints’ Church, Barnby-in-the-Willows Churchyard, Newark, Notts, NG24 2SA

In 2020, during covid lockdown, entry to CofE churches was banned and churches locked so the village congregation at Barnby in the Willows was unable to gather at or even enter our Grade 1 listed church. We used online services to worship, sing, pray and chat together. During one online chat our Reverend posed a question to all of her three Benefice congregations: “What would our churches look like after covid?” We all gave this a lot of thought at Barnby in the Willows.

One of the ideas for a future vision of our small church was inspired by the ECO Church movement (https://arocha.org.uk/what-we-do/eco-church/) which was just getting off the ground in Nottinghamshire. So, we resolved, as soon as church activities could resume, that we would join the Eco Church movement and rewild our churchyard ourselves. This we did with much enthusiasm during 2021 and 2022 and had many helpers. Over 18 months, we created a woodland walk and no-mow areas. We opened up spaces for outdoor worship, sited a picnic table, more benches and log seating, created a community herb garden, planted a wildflower meadow, invited children to help build a large beetle banks and a hedgehog refuge. We put up an owl box and three bird boxes in the woodland walk and planted more trees. In 2022 we received our Bronze Eco Church Award. We are working towards a Silver award next. No pesticides or herbicides are used anywhere in the grounds of the church, and no chemical cleaners are used in the church. We use Fairtrade tea/coffee/wine and produce wherever possible.

Now our churchyard is visited all year round by locals and visitors from further afield; dog walkers, ramblers and picknickers. Many visit the church too which is now open most days from 10 am to 4pm. All are welcome. We are fundraising and aim to install a composting WC in the churchyard for the convenience of worshippers and visitors. We often hold services outdoors and host environmental talks (bats, beekeeping, plastic waste disposal, etc) on the 4th Sunday each month. These are well attended and help raise money towards our rewilding projects which are ongoing. 

Jenni Harding, Secretary,

All Saints Barnby in the Willows Church PCC