We’ll soon have a new Archbishop of Canterbury. Normally, this would pass me by — I’m an atheist and not interested in religion. But I’ve been sent a campaign letter from Rewild Church Land that struck a chord.
The campaign calls on the Church of England – one of the UK’s top ten landowners – to rewild 30% of its land by 2030. The Church owns 108,000 acres (over 60,000 football pitches) and has funds worth more than £10.3bn. With that privilege comes an unavoidable responsibility and moral duty: to protect the living world on which every human being depends.
Without thriving nature, there can be no love, no joy, no compassion, no life.
Rewilding 30% would be a good start. But why stop there? Every acre – graveyards, churchyards, glebe land, farmland – should be managed to restore biodiversity in one of the most nature-depleted countries on Earth. What possible reason could there be to do anything less?
If the Church is to claim moral leadership, then surely it must lead in the greatest fight humanity has ever faced: the fight to restore nature and protect our planet. Words are not enough – the Church’s actions on the land it owns will show whether its claim to moral authority has meaning.
I’ve signed the campaign letter, and I’ve also added one of my own.
This is what I hope will reach the new Archbishop of Canterbury:
Dear Archbishop,
The Church of England is one of the largest landowners in the country. With that privilege comes an unavoidable responsibility: to protect the living world on which every human being – and every expression of faith – depends. Without thriving nature, there can be no love, no joy, no compassion, no life.
England is already one of the most nature-depleted countries on Earth. While the Church talks of stewardship, its lands too often tell another story: poor ecological health, habitats in decline, species pushed to the brink. This is not leadership. It is a betrayal of future generations.
The very least Christians should be doing is defending the Earth that sustains us all. Graveyards, churchyards, glebe land and farmland could be havens for biodiversity if only they were managed with nature at their heart. Why stop at 30%? Every acre should be tended with respect for the living systems it supports.
As Archbishop, you have the chance to turn pious words into urgent action. Demand that the Church Commissioners commit to restoring their lands for wildlife and ecology – not just as a side project, but as a core mission. Anything less makes a mockery of the Church’s claim to moral leadership.
History will judge whether the Church rises to this moment. Can you ensure it does?
Yours
Julia Hailes
📢 How You Can Help (call-to-action box)
Take action now
✅ Sign the petition at Rewild Church Land to demand 30% rewilding by 2030
✅ Share this post / blog — amplify the message
✅ Contact your local church, diocesan office, or the Church Commissioners
✅ Encourage others to write to the new Archbishop
✅ Use the campaign’s action pack (maps, resources, ideas) to organise or join local efforts
