The Revd Dr Sharon Moughtin was licensed in the Chapel at Lambeth Palace by the Bishop of Kingston, the Rt Revd Dr Richard Cheetham, as Team Vicar for St Mary’s Eco Church in the North Lambeth Parish on Monday 29 November.
“I am so excited about all the possibilities that St Mary’s Eco Church opens up. This is a wonderful opportunity to take seriously God’s call to safeguard creation, to show our care of the earth, and to model ways of living differently at a crucial time and in such a vibrant location. We’re looking forward to meeting the many different people who will join with us in seeding this new worshipping community,” said Sharon.
The service was diverse and multi-generational. It included a reading from Luke 12:22-34, read by mother and son Emma and John Addo-Nortey, who also represented St Mary’s Eco Church at the Southwark Cathedral Vigil for COP26. Children read Isla Penfold’s (Year 6) poem Arctic Change, which she contributed to St Mary’s Eco Church’s pop-up for COP26 at St George the Martyr, Borough. The prayers of Intercession were led by the adults and children of North Lambeth Parish. Tolu Alouoke represented the children of North Lambeth Parish, and beyond, in an Act of Commitment for the care of creation which called everyone to account.
Bishop Richard said: “The development of the Eco Church is significant for a number of reasons. It is the result of close partnership working between Lambeth Palace, the Diocese and the Trustees of the Garden Museum and has been made possible through Strategic Development Funding. Sharon’s ’Eco-Pioneering’ post is unique but particularly relevant in the wake of the impact of COP26, and the aim is to connect it with environmental work in the Diocese but also across London and nationally.”
The Revd Canon Chris Russell, The Archbishop of Canterbury’s Advisor for Evangelism and Witness, added: “Archbishop Justin and all at Lambeth Palace are thrilled at Sharon’s appointment. Not simply the orientation and commitment of this worshipping community to celebrating and stewarding creation, but that it is taking place in the locality around Lambeth Palace. We are all looking forward to playing some part in this new thing God is growing, and look forward to supporting, participating and learning from this church in the years ahead.”
Vauxhall MP, Florence Eshalomi, said: “It was wonderful to attend the licensing of Revd Dr Sharon Moughtin on Monday and to see that she will be leading at St Mary’s Eco Church. We all have a role to play in caring for God’s creation and our environment. Revd Moughtin’s work is an inspiration to us all.”
In July this year, the Diocese of Southwark’s Synod unanimously approved its renewed Environment Policy, thereby continuing and building on the Diocese’s commitment made at Synod in 2019 to register as an Eco Diocese and work towards achieving the Bronze Eco Diocese Award by 2025.
“On the ground here in North Lambeth, parishioners immediately get the connection between the mission to care for God’s creation and why the Church has an important and unique role in helping to ensure we deliver this. Sharon’s appointment is so welcome and much needed,” said North Lambeth Team Rector, the Revd Angus Aagaard.
The Revd Canon Will Cookson, Director of Pioneering Ministry and Dean of Fresh Expressions in the Diocese, said: “There have been some rich conversations with the Garden Museum and Lambeth Palace and others leading up to Sharon’s appointment looking at how we can all play our different roles in caring for creation. Sharon is a brilliant priest who has lots to offer those who would like to explore a different way of living and exploring the issues surrounding our care of creation. She has been active in working with children and young people and we are already seeing her gifts being used among young families.”
