Church leaders have drawn up rigorous measures to save the environment in a determined bid to lead their flocks to pastures green.

Parishioners in Bradford diocese are being urged to consider walking to church, installing composting toilets and carrying their shopping in baskets and cloth bags.

Churches will be the first to see the light by installing eco-friendly bulbs and changing to a Green Tariff.

The proposals were the brainchild of Canon Sam Randall, Bishop's Officer for the Church in the World.

His ideas to encourage diocesan officers and parishes to be more environmentally friendly were overwhelmingly backed on Saturday.

The Bradford Diocesan Synod has unanimously supported the canon's motion to consider changing to a Green Tariff.

Members also took on board his plans to install insulation and energy-saving light bulbs in churches and other parish buildings.

They agreed to look at energy-saving ideas for all parsonages and to include the cost in the committee's annual budget submission.

It was accepted that the proposals would cost more in the short term but that this was worth it for the sake of the future.

Canon Randall also successfully moved that the Synod ask the Church Commissioners to amend their national car loan scheme so that its terms for clergy and other staff encouraged them to acquire vehicles that were eco-friendly.

Leaflets listing ways to save the environment will be handed out at churches across the area. They include a car-free Sunday, waste recycling, compost bins for churchyards, composting toilets, putting up bird and bat boxes, using baskets and cloth bags instead of plastic carrier bags and switching to a co-operative bank.

Secretary of the Diocese Malcolm Halliday said: "Our aim is not to say that Bradford people on their own can save the world but that everyone can do something.

"You can't be black and white about it. Many people in the country could not walk to church on a Sunday but some in urban areas could.

"We can't be judgmental of other people but we would ask them to try to pick some things from the list."

The Reverend Paul Tudge, vicar of All Saints Church, Ilkley, said: "We are making every effort to explore the options and be energy efficient.

"I think it is crucial for the future of society as we've got used to it to make these changes."

He said he was looking at energy-efficient heating and lighting for the church and had switched from a car to a Honda 125 motorcycle that did 100 miles to the gallon.

"Even if it is only little changes that we all make, these are still very important," he said.

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