God and science lead to awe and wonder

God and science lead to awe and wonder

Nine organisations in England and the Isle of Man have received funding totalling more than £70,000 to explore the relationship between science and faith – thanks to Equipping Christian Leadership in an Age of Science (ECLAS).

ECLAS, exhibiting at CRE 25, is a project led by St John’s College, Durham University, with the University of York and Faith and Public Life at the Church of England.

Helen Billam, communications manager for the project, said: ‘Building on the expertise of scientists in their congregations, we will host a range of outreach activities over the next year, with the aim of showing how engaging with science can lead to a deeper experience of faith.’

One recipient is St Cuthbert’s Catholic Church in Durham, which has received a grant of £5000. Their project will work with young people in the parish to explore the relationship between science and faith, demonstrate large-scale scientific experiments with links to scripture, and offer leadership opportunities for teenagers in the church.

Francesca Blondell, who will be co-leading the project at St Cuthbert’s, said: ‘For those of us who love the church and science, there is a deep understanding that they both inspire awe and wonder. This project aims to foster this love in children for whom there is often a gap in provision in Catholic contexts. We will explore themes in scripture such as creation, salvation and the vastness of God’s love for us.’

This year’s awardees have received grants of up to £10,000 each, totalling £71,735 and the range of denominations taking part this year includes Baptist, Roman Catholic, Pentecostal and Anglican churches.

The Revd Prof David Wilkinson, Project Director of ECLAS, said: ‘We have given more than 80 Scientists in Congregations awards since 2016, and the diversity and effectiveness of the work that they have produced has been astonishing. We always knew that using the gifts of scientists, technologists and engineers in local churches would be important – what we did not expect was that when these folk work with church leaders, imaginative mission and ministry emerges in such a fruitful way.’

• ECLAS is on stand S16 at CRE 25

CRE 2025

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