Case Study

How congregations can demonstrate care of creation as part of our baptismal covenant.
St. James's Episcopal Church, West Hartford, CT
Tell us about your church or organization and its mission.

St. James’s Episcopal Church in West Hartford, Connecticut, is a vibrant, inclusive, and multigenerational Christian community with a mission “to live, learn, and teach the values of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.” Founded in 1843, the parish is rooted in the Episcopal tradition and is known for its welcoming spirit, traditional liturgy, and active engagement with both its members and the wider community.

The church’s mission centers on restoring all people to unity with God and one another in Christ, a goal pursued through prayer, worship, proclamation of the Gospel, and the promotion of justice, peace, and love. St. James’s aspires to be a place where everyone can experience God’s love, confront life’s questions, seek healing, and find guidance toward personal wholeness. Radical hospitality is a core value, with the parish actively reaching out to those seeking meaning and offering abundant opportunities for involvement in parish life.

The church is led by the Rev. Robert C. Hooper III, supported by a team of clergy and lay leaders. The parish is governed by a vestry and supported by various commissions and ministries, including music, youth, outreach, and pastoral care. Worship is central, with multiple Sunday services offering both traditional and contemporary expressions of the Episcopal liturgy.

Describe your ministry as it relates to creation care.

St James’s community garden (aka St. James’s Good News Garden) was first built and planted using a gift from a friend of the parish of $5000 in 2007. The intention of the gift was to create a program or project that would support underserved children in the area. The hope was that the new program/project would go well into the future with the gifts of money and labor from members of the parish.

Since then, the garden has undergone several expansions, but it has always remained true to its original mission of supporting underserved children in the Hartford area by providing fresh vegetables to families in the Hartford North End. The next expansion of the garden will take place this fall with the addition of three pear trees that will produce fruit to enhance its offerings. The trees are part of an Eagle Scout project, yet again expanding the offerings and the folks involved.

What is the most important thing that has come out of this ministry? How has caring for creation benefited your community?

In 2022, St. James’s expanded the Good News Garden, building a greenhouse and three garden beds. A core group of parishioners came together to build, support, and sustain this garden. The garden has flourished, producing tomatoes, green beans, snap peas, collard greens, squash, herbs, and more. Weekly harvests are collected and donated to the Hartford Catholic Worker, a lay-led, faith-based community in Hartford dedicated to justice, mercy, and solidarity with the poor.

The Good News Garden serves multiple purposes within the ministry of St. James’s. Its primary goal is to grow fresh produce to feed the hungry through our partners in Hartford. However, the process of developing and tending the garden has also become a bonding experience for our community, as members gather weekly to serve together. The garden is a beautiful addition to our parish grounds, and as parishioners plant, pray, and serve together, we witness transformation in both our environment and our relationships.

For a congregation that wants to be more fully aware and engaged in creation care, what can they do? Please share up to three practical tips.

Establishing a Good News Garden within your parish is a rewarding endeavor. It begins with committed stakeholders who are willing to devote their time to building something beautiful and generous for the community. The team defines the garden’s mission, scope, and capacity, drawing on a variety of gifts and skills—some may be experienced gardeners, while others can build beds, make repairs, or develop watering systems. Consistent participation is essential; setting a regular schedule for parishioners to work together ensures steady progress and encouragement. Finally, celebrating the harvest and sharing the garden’s story with the wider community—such as through social media—demonstrates that the church is making a meaningful and generous impact in the world.

Resources

Click here to visit St. James's West Hartford Instagram account!

Click here to visit St. James's West Hartford Facebook account!