The island’s cathedral’s green credentials have won it an award.

Cathedral Isle of Man, in Peel, has just been awarded a silver ’Eco Church Award’.

To qualify, it had to show its care for the world in five areas:

â?¢Through worship and teaching

â?¢How buildings and land are cared for

â?¢Engaging with the local community

â?¢Supporting global campaigns

â?¢Challenging the personal lifestyles of members of the congregation.

These were achieved in a number of ways, such as using low-energy light bulbs, careful use of paper, composting and recycling and using apples from the trees at the ’Big Table Café’ Monday lunches.

Earlier in the year the cathedral hosted an exhibition supporting Harry Owens’ visit to Burundi to provide training and support to beekeepers and members of the congregation often support Disaster Emergency Appeals through collections outside Shoprite.

Rosemary Clarke, the cathedral’s ’eco rep’, said: ’Young people across the world are demanding change and the cathedral challenges us to alter our behaviour. I know I need to do more.

’It’s great to have been given the award, but it needs much more effort to go for gold.’

In the island, Trinity Methodist Church, Douglas and the Abbey Church, Ballasalla, have already achieved their bronze awards and are working towards silver. They, together with the cathedral, join 500 churches and cathedrals across the UK working towards these Eco Awards.

The scheme is operated by A Rocha - an international network of environmental organisations with a Christian ethos - in partnership with Christian Aid, the Church of England, the Methodist Church, Tear Fund and the United Reformed Church.

Their vision is for churches of all denominations to ’care for creation as an integral part of loving our neighbours and following God faithfully’.

September is ’Creationtide’ within the Church of England and the Cathedral Isle of Man grounds are being transformed into a series of gardens telling the story of Christianity’s ’engagement’ with Manx culture since the fifth century.