A Vision for St Petroc:
A Living Landmark
An integrated proposal for transforming St Petroc into a vibrant heritage hub and sanctuary for nature—a beacon of community, conservation, and creation care for generations to come.
An Indivisible Whole
We contend that the church and its churchyard are an indivisible whole—their historic, spiritual, and ecological functions inextricably linked. To separate them would be to diminish the potential of both and miss the chance to create a truly exceptional legacy.
This proposal offers a fully-funded, conservation-led, and community-focused vision that transforms a potential liability into a celebrated asset—a definitive solution for the entire St Petroc site.
Three Integrated Pillars
A comprehensive approach that addresses the entire site as a single, coherent entity
Community & Heritage Hub
Re-animating the church building as a vibrant, non-profit centre for community life, heritage, and wellbeing.
- Concerts, exhibitions, and cultural events
- Parish meetings and community gatherings
- Social prescribing partnerships with GP practices
- Educational programs and heritage tours
Sanctuary for Nature
Fulfilling the Church's creation care mission by managing the churchyard as a national exemplar of biodiversity.
- Four-zone habitat management system
- Wildflower meadows and pollinator corridors
- Chemical-free conservation practices
- Heritage stonework preservation
Sustainable Stewardship
Implementing a low-impact, off-grid model that champions the Church's Net Zero ambitions and protects historic fabric.
- Solar power and battery storage systems
- Minimal intervention conservation approach
- Reversible alterations using traditional materials
- Model for Church Net Zero 2030 targets
A Community & Heritage Hub for Shared Value
The primary function of the church building will be as a non-profit hub for community life. Our approach is to build social capital through a shared commitment to a living, accessible space.
The exceptional acoustics of the building will be utilized for small-scale concerts, recitals, and exhibitions, celebrating local talent and history. The space will also host local clubs, parish meetings, and educational talks.
Social Prescribing
Partnering with local GP practices and OneDevon Integrated Care Strategy to provide a tranquil venue for non-clinical mental and physical health activities.
Cultural Programming
Leveraging the building's remarkable acoustics for concerts, art exhibitions, and heritage talks that enrich local cultural life.
Community Integration
Direct alignment with Torridge District Council's Strategic Plan to promote healthy, culturally enriched lifestyles and combat rural isolation.
A Sanctuary for Nature & Remembrance
The churchyard is as significant as the church itself. This pillar fulfills the Church of England's theological and strategic commitments to creation care.
The Fifth Mark of Mission
"To strive to safeguard the integrity of creation and sustain and renew the life of the earth."
This proposal is a direct and proactive fulfillment of the Church of England's most profound theological imperative. By transforming St Petroc's churchyard into a biodiversity sanctuary, we create a living embodiment of the Church's declared mission to care for creation.
Four Integrated Habitat Zones
Tended Graves & Memorials
Regularly mown areas around graves and primary paths, ensuring respectful access for families and visitors while maintaining a cared-for appearance.
Wildflower Meadows
Traditional hay meadow management allowing wildflowers to bloom and seed (April-June), with a single late-summer cut to create species-rich grassland.
Permanent Long Grass
Designated refuge areas with rotational cutting, providing year-round habitat for invertebrates, small mammals, and overwintering insects.
Heritage Stonework
Non-intervention policy protecting rare lichen communities on walls, tombs, and gravestones—preserving both ecological and historical heritage.
Pollinators
Diverse wildflower meadows supporting bees, butterflies, and other essential pollinators
Birdlife
Nest boxes and seed-rich habitats attracting seed-eating finches and native species
Invertebrates
Log piles, insect hotels, and undisturbed refuges for beetles, amphibians, and more
Proven Success Stories
St Mark's, Hadlow Down, East Sussex
A celebrated living churchyard classified as a Site of Nature Conservation Importance, featuring mown walkways for grave access while managing the majority as summer meadow renowned for spotted and green-winged orchids.
Chinnor Churches Go Wild! (Diocese of Oxford)
Five local churches actively manage their churchyards for wildlife through volunteer programs, creating long grass patches, compost heaps for reptiles, and maintaining old trees for birds and bats—demonstrating powerful community engagement.
St Elidyr's, Ludchurch, Pembrokeshire
Successfully transitioned from frequent short mowing to long-grass meadow system, resulting in celebrated increases in flowers, insects, and seed-eating birds—proving the ecological recovery achievable through proper management.
Sustainable Stewardship as a Model for the Future
A low-impact, off-grid model that champions the Church's Net Zero ambitions while protecting historic fabric for future generations.
Off-Grid Energy System
Discreet, high-efficiency solar technology and battery storage will power the building, avoiding costly and disruptive mains connections while demonstrating practical renewable energy implementation.
- Contributes to Church Net Zero 2030 target
- Long-term financial sustainability
- Minimal environmental footprint
Minimal Intervention Philosophy
All works will be reversible, using traditional materials and techniques wherever possible, ensuring the building's unique story is preserved through its historic fabric.
- Reversible alterations only
- Traditional materials and techniques
- Architectural integrity preserved
Holistic Site Care
This philosophy of care applies equally to the living ecosystem of the churchyard and the historic fabric of the church building—a unified approach to stewardship that respects both natural and built heritage.
Eco Church Exemplar
This project provides the Diocese with a flagship Eco Church 'Land' management plan—a powerful case study of best practice that directly contributes to Eco Diocese targets and demonstrates environmental leadership.
A Clear Choice for the Future
Two pathways, vastly different outcomes
The Sanctuary Proposal
- Biodiversity EnhancementExpert-led ecological management with proven benefits
- Heritage ConservationActive monitoring and specialist care for memorials
- Community HubStructured programs fostering ownership and pride
- Mission AlignedFlagship project for Fifth Mark and Net Zero goals
- Clean BreakFull transfer of all liabilities and future costs
Standard Maintenance
- Uniform MowingEcologically poor management risking species loss
- Safety Focus OnlyRisk of damage from non-specialist maintenance
- Passive AccessNo community programming or engagement resources
- Mission GapContradicts environmental commitments and policy
- Retained LiabilityChurch may retain ownership and ultimate responsibility
A Partnership for Posterity
This is an invitation to create a lasting legacy—a living landmark that serves as a model of environmental stewardship, community partnership, and mission fulfillment.