AN Ipswich congregation is praising itself today after gaining an environmental award.Bramford Road Methodist Church was awarded its first eco-congregation award in 2004 after adopting a programme of conservation and environmental concern.

AN Ipswich congregation is praising itself today after gaining an environmental award.

Bramford Road Methodist Church was awarded its first eco-congregation award in 2004 after adopting a programme of conservation and environmental concern.

And now the church has passed the criteria again and has been granted permission to call itself an eco-congregation church for three more years.

Jim Hall, who has played a key role in making the church more sustainable, said: “We feel we ought to practice what we preach.

“We see ourselves as custodians, stewards, or bailiffs of God's creation.

“We are living on a planet with limited resources and we're called to act as responsible people and use the resources to everyone's advantage - and we're not doing that.”

As a result of the church's dedication to the environmental cause it now has low-energy light bulbs, and eco-friendly insulation, and when it had a facelift recently all the old wooden pews were sent to a recycling company that makes new items from old wood.

Mr Hall added: “Everyone seems to have taken it on board and to be taking the issues seriously.

“And we can all be proud of the fact we've got the award again.

“About 100 churches get it and we're the only one in Suffolk.”

He said the church was hoping gaining the award for a second time would help it go even further in its quest to be green with solar-panels being the next item on the wish list.

However he added: “We have a green-team to get things done and we would like to have solar panels - but that is a bit expensive.”

Is your church celebrating an achievement? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich IP4 1AN or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk.