A NEW green project,T’owards Carbon Neutral Churches in Craven’, which has places of worship in the district looking closely at their green credentials, was officially launched on Sunday, May 2 with The Rt Revd Dr Helen-Ann Hartley, Bishop of Ripon, present and participating.

The service was held at Holy Trinity Church Skipton, one of the five churches taking part in the project.

The service included an Act of Commitment by all those present to care for creation and to explore the possibilities of renewable energy.

Bishop Hartley spoke about the impact of rising sea temperatures on low lying lands and urged everyone to aim, not just for a state of carbon neutral in our churches and lives, but to aim to be carbon negative.

The project, which will explore the feasibility of renewable energy generation for the churches, is supported by the BEIS funded Rural Community Energy Fund which is managed by the North East Yorkshire and Humber Energy Hub.

It is administered by Tees Valley Combined Authority.

Those present included Diana Linford, Embsay, project co-ordinator, Revd Canon Marion Russell, the vicar of St Mary’s, Embsay with Eastby, Sue Wrathmell,Carleton.

Joining them were Rt Revd Helen-Ann Hartley, Bishop of Ripon, Revd Isobel Rathbone Draughton and Holy Trinity, Catherine Birtwistle, Burton in Lonsdale, and Rev Canon Dr James Theodosius, rector of Holy Trinity Skipton.