Christmas Trees at Cusop Church

This exhibition of Christmas trees has been going on for a while, but yesterday I walked up the hill to Cusop Church to see it.
There are nine trees in the church, including the two flanking the entrance. Each of them are sponsored by different groups, such as the Keith Leighton Neuro Fund, and decorated by other local groups. Hay School did one, and so did the WI. The WI craft group did one with fabric hearts and patchwork; another was all blue and white pom poms, and another was all card angels. Also around the church were information boards about the history of the Christmas tree.
And on the wall were some of the poppies from Remembrance Day, done in crochet and as rag rugs.

The two smaller trees in the porch were decorated with all natural materials, as Cusop Church is now an Eco Church.
I picked up a leaflet. This is an initiative by A Rocha UK (ecochurch.arocha.org.uk), with the support of Christian Aid, the Church of England, the United Reformed Church, Tearfund and the Methodist Church. They award the title of Ecochurch (with bronze, silver and gold categories - I didn't notice which one Cusop is) on the basis of a questionnaire, which asks about things like use of renewable energy, low energy light bulbs, composting toilets, insulation, and encouraging wildlife in the churchyard, as well as praying and having special services on environmental themes and encouraging cycling and walking, and getting involved with local wildlife trusts and so on.

As far as walking is concerned, the church keeps a kettle with tea and coffee for the use of passing walkers, and has a Walker's Prayer on laminated paper to take away:
Creator God, you hold the whole world in your embrace.
The hills speak your eternal name and the green fields reflect your glory.
Give us who walk this earth sunshine, shade and rain in due season, and open eyes to see its beauty.
May we have joy in the morning, strength through the day and peace when we come to our rest.
Amen.

A Rocha UK also have a nature reserve in the Stour Valley in Essex, and an urban community garden project at Wolf Fields, Southall, near their HQ.