I’ve always been a bit of a tree hugger. As a child my parents instilled in us the benefit of being outdoors in nature, learning about wildflowers, walks on the local hills, bike rides under the South downs to the local pub, and many months spent on their narrowboat in South Wales, with the freedom to go a little bit feral in the countryside. I remember many a hike in the Brecon Beacons with my Dad (and learning the joy of Kendal Mintcake!), canoeing on the canal, swimming in the river, the joy of spotting a Red Kite or a Kingfisher, all times I look back on as an adult and realise quite how much they shaped me.
As I grew up I became so much more aware of the world around me and the impact humanity had on it, learning about what I could do to make a difference, trying to live more sustainably. As a teenager my favorite place to go with all my hormonal angst was the South Downs, a place where I felt I could escape from life and just feel peace. Nature was always my safe space. Even though I went to church as a child I never really associated this love of nature with faith, as an adult I kept it a personal thing, it was my connection to God, through creation. But in later years I realised I wasn’t the only one who felt this way. I discovered Forest Church and outdoor worship. I read about the Cosmic Christ. My faith and love of nature became more intertwined and I began to lead worship outdoors and share my own thoughts. More recently, wanting to research deeper I’ve undertaken an MA in Theology and Religious Studies, with a focus on Ecotheology. All of this feeds into the way I live my life, my own personal faith and worship, the church I lead, the things I study and write about, and indeed pour into this website. Below are some links to posts that might be of interest in this area if you’d like to know more about my ministry and research.
Gold Eco church (to come)
