St. Patrick’s Receives Climate Change Grant for Green Action

St. Patrick's Anglican Church in Edmonton will receive a $2,500 grant from the Anglican Foundation of Canada (AFC) for its proposal to address climate change. AFC’s board of directors met via Zoom in May to review 28 proposals from across Canada. The grant will help St. Patrick’s take further green action.

“We are so thankful for the support and generosity of the Anglican Foundation,” says the Rev. Kevin Kraglund, rector, who submitted the proposal along with parish environmental champion Vivian Bell.

St. Patrick’s will use the grant to purchase a digital projector, moveable AV cart, mounted speaker and screen. The AV equipment will help the parish make educational presentations about the urgent need to act on climate change from scientific and Christian perspectives.

The projector will also help the parish reduce its use of paper (saving trees protects creation!), and will aid the parish’s many ministries and groups, including: Sunday school and youth, community English learning classes for newcomers and immigrants, as well as joint events with community groups and the Edmonton diocese.

With the additional funds, the parish will be able to seal and insulate the church’s front doors for improved energy efficiency, and plant a mature tree to shade its community bench (trees are the front line of defense against climate change!).

The parish has already taken many steps toward greening, such as:

1)     collecting and recycling bottles to fund a “Green Fund” to pay for changing all church and hall lighting to energy saving LED lights. The Green Fund, is now being built up for the installation of solar panels;

2)     Installing a new insulated roof;

3)     Replacing inefficient fridge;

4)     Starting a green education corner in the hall with St. Patrick’s banner displaying the new baptismal vow of sustaining creation, green books lending libraries for both adults and children, and inspiring green scripture and other green wisdom posters;

5)     Phasing out the use of plastics in hall and kitchen;

6)     Replacing bathroom and kitchen hand soaps with refillable dispensers requiring two-thirds less biodegradable soap.

The parish hopes these additional steps reflect a continued commitment to our baptismal vow to “sustain and renew the life of the earth.”

Although the timeline for incorporating further green improvements may be affected by the challenges of COVID-19, the parish is adapting to change, it trusts with the blessing of our God and creator.