SCF Founder, Candy Connolly is interviewed about Sustainable Church Flowers.

So how did the Sustainable Church Flowers Movement it start?
I am a Church warden in a small rural Church in Worcestershire. In 2015 my husband, Shane Connolly, raised the issue of flower management in our church. How sustainable where we?
After discussion and explanation, the church flower team agreed to stop using floral foam, and try also to use more flowers from their gardens. It was actually easier than many anticipated. In 2018 we applied for Eco-church status and demonstrated our eco-friendly management of flowers in our church. This undoubtedly assisted us in gaining Silver status. So we realized this could, and should, be taken further and tried to encourage neighbouring Churches to do the same thing.
In 2019 we launched Sustainable Church Flowers with a lecture and demonstration, given by Shane, in St Peter’s Church Martley for the WWRT (West Worcester Rural Team) including members of the Worcester Cathedral Guild. The movement was launched.

Who is involved?
Shane Connolly, co-founder, with Candy Connolly, Warden of St Bartholomew’s Church, Harpley, Worcestershire; Kate Hurst, a flower grower and designer (Camomilecornflowers) and Shelsley Church flower leader; Dot Millward, Harpley Church flower leader; Rev. Jen Denniston, our vicar; Father Benji Tyler, curate of Wantage, Oxfordshire; and Layreader Jill Smith.

What are the objectives?
To Glorify God sustainably and fulfil the 5th mission of the church to respect God’s creation.

Who is your audience?
The Church of England Churches, and other religious organisations

What are sustainable Church Flowers?
Flower decoration in churches and Churchyards that does not harm the planet, so with emphasis on no floral foam, and minimal carbon foot print i.e. local and seasonal flowers.
•What sort of information are you trying to communicate with your audience?
Source flowers from your own gardens, window boxes, churchyards and hedgerows and locate nearest growers from the national organization of Flowers from the Farm
Arrange in water, chicken wire and vessels, eliminate use of floral foam.
Make sure visiting florists are made aware of your policies, arrange in a sustainable way in your church, and are helped and educated too if needs be.

How do you communicate your messages/objectives to your audience? (platforms, events etc?)
Demonstrations, workshops
Web page with demonstration videos and facts and technique support
Instagram, facebook, twitter, web page,
SCF Ambassadors who offer workshop and demonstrations, Zoom Q&A with Shane Connolly including demos.
Recorded Conversation between Shane Connolly and Bishop Martin, Environmental bishop for Worcestershire in Sept 2021, circulated on WWRT network, but not very productive.
Church times article in June 2022
Lower Sapey website, local activities

What sort of feedback have you received?
MIXED and sometimes it can be rather an uphill struggle….
A 2017 Survey circulated in our local diocese was only returned by two out of 15 churches, church officials felt the message was too intrusive to established practices and did not want to offend existing flower arrangers or antagonize them.
We have found that organisers of churches are often more concerned with “fair trade” and perceived employment opportunities for underprivileged in African and South American Countries, than the planetary damage international flower growing and transport entails.
Organisers in the church are reluctant to tackle in-built resistance from flower old timers who have ”always done it this way”.
More recently there has been increasing interest from both Church and non-church flower enthusiasts
In 2020 Fr Benji Tyler joined our committee and produced a very inspiring booklet. We have since been building our national ambassador data base and spreading the word more directly. We have bi-annual Q&A with Shane Connolly for our Ambassadors.