Kew Gardens, St Mary’s Church launch faith-nature gardening course

An Anglican church in west London has teamed up with Kew Gardens to launch a project exploring the links between faith, nature, and climate change. St Mary’s, Perivale, is running a six-week course called Theology & Gardening, using its small churchyard to grow plants and discuss scripture.

The project comes at a time when churches are increasingly looking at environmental issues through a theological lens. Kew Gardens, just a few miles away, is a global leader in plant science and conservation, giving the church direct access to experts and resources. The idea is to show how gardening can be a form of worship and how faith communities can respond to the climate crisis. Organizers say the sessions are designed to be practical—planting, weeding, and reflecting—as much as they are about discussion.

The course is led by the Rev. Dr. John-Francis Pugh, a priest and environmental theologian, and includes input from Kew’s staff. Participants are planting native species in the churchyard to support local wildlife and reduce carbon footprints. The project also ties into the Church of England’s target to reach net-zero emissions by 2030. Early feedback suggests people are connecting the act of gardening with deeper questions about care for creation. One participant said, “We garden on our knees,” linking the physical act of kneeling to prayer.

Organizers plan to expand the project next year, possibly offering it to other churches and even schools. They hope it will become a model for how faith groups can engage with environmental issues in a hands-on way. The partnership with Kew could also lead to more joint initiatives, like public talks or workshops on biodiversity and theology. For now, the focus is on small, practical steps—one seedling at a time.