CHURCH OF ENGLAND: Parishes Are Urged to Dim the Lights

CHURCH OF ENGLAND: Parishes Are Urged to Dim the Lights

The Church of England is telling its members to, yes, let there be light -- just not so much of it.

Reversing an eight-year campaign to brighten up the evenings, the denomination has come up with new guidelines backed by Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams urging parishes to cut back on the use of floodlights in the interest of reducing their carbon footprints.

The move marks a sharp switch in Anglican enthusiasm, which received a major boost for exterior lighting eight years ago when Britain's Millennium Commission awarded about $4.4 million to install floodlights at about 400 places of worship.

Now, the church's guidelines suggest that the lighting has gone a bit too far in these days of global concern over carbon emissions.

"All Christians have an important role to play in developing their own environmental awareness and encouraging it in others," Williams said.

-- Religion News Service