WORSHIPPERS at a Woodford Green church have pledged to do their bit to help poor people across the globe by agreeing only to stock and serve 'Fair Trade' food and drink.

St Thomas of Canterbury Church, in Chigwell Road, was officially awarded 'Fair Trade status' at a ceremony after its parish council agreed only to serve ethical tea and coffee at its services and meetings.

They also hope to begin using other Fairtrade products such as biscuits, fruit and sugar in future, and to promote and raise awareness of Fairtrade through events and their worship.

Parish Priest Fr Austin McCormack said: "The credit crunch has hit all of us in one way or another. But it is the poorest communities in developing countries that are suffering most from rocketing food, fuel and fertiliser prices. "Buying Fairtrade products is a change most people can make in their lives and it really does help to make a difference to producers in the developing world.

"There can be a small price difference to us but it is this ‘premium’ that enables communities to work their way out of poverty.

"Providing the money to send their children to school and investing in farming methods and machinery are just two benefits Fairtrade brings to communities. I look forward to more parishes joining St Thomas’s and applying for Fairtrade status.”

The certificate of Fairtrade status was presented to the church by Joanna Jarvis, Diocesan manager of the Catholic Agency for Overseas Development, one of the groups which helped originally set-up the Fairtrade Foundation.