Parishioners urged to go green for Lent

PARISHIONERS at an Edinburgh church are to use Lent to become more environmentally friendly.

Rather than the usual sacrifices of chocolate or sugar, organisers of the Carbon Fast project at Sacred Heart Church in Lauriston are encouraging congregation members to carry out one action on each day of the six-week fasting period to reduce their carbon footprint.

The effort is part of a global project that will see churches adopt greener lifestyles.

Angela Campbell, one of the project organisers at Sacred Heart Church and a teacher at St Peter’s Primary, said: “This is about putting our faith into action by thinking about God’s creation and looking after that. We’ve been working to improve our green space in front of the church. We’re also going to get some cycling racks put in to encourage parishioners to ride their bikes to church.

“On the first day of Lent, we’re asking people to remove a lightbulb in their home and live without that.”