St Stephen's Garden - Creation 

The display in front of our church is decorated to reflect the season of Creationtide

A relatively new season in the calendar of the Western church, Creationtide was established in 2007 by the European Ecumenical Assembly. It was adopted by Churches Together in Britain and Ireland and is supported by the Church of England.   
 
The season runs from 1st September to 4th October each year.  October 4th is the feast day of St Francis of Assisi.  In 1979 St Francis was declared the patron saint of ecologists.
 
During Creationtide we celebrate and give thanks for God’s wonderful creative work – see in the Bible Genesis 1 to 2: 7.  Churches are encouraged to focus prayer particularly on ‘the protection of Creation and the promotion of sustainable lifestyles that reverse our contribution to climate change’.   In the light of the findings in the most recent report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and with the climate talks (COP26) taking place in Glasgow in November this must surely be a more necessary and fervent prayer than ever.
 
The display in the garden celebrates creation, mainly with plants but a few other examples (animal, vegetable and mineral) of God’s creative genius are also included.   See what you can spot.