St John the Evangelist Church is one of more than 100 churches across England to take part in multi-million pound project. The Net Zero Carbon Demonstrator church project, with £5.2million funding, is part of The Church of England’s Net Zero Programme.
The funding will help 114 churches develop their plans to become net zero carbon, paying for support such as professional fees, fundraising advice, and project managers. The majority of these churches will then receive further national funding towards the installation of their net zero carbon solution, such as solar panels, heat pumps, insulation, secondary glazing, LED lighting and infrared heating systems.
As work progresses, the network of Demonstrator Churches – representing many different types of community and situations – will share what they have learned more widely with dioceses and parishes so that all Church of England churches can learn from their experiences.
St John the Evangelist church was built in the post-war era of 1955, and is an austere brick building, which hides a light-filled space inside. It will receive a Stage One Preparatory grant, including a package of up to £18,000 in cash and access to in-kind support in the form of independent technical advice and fundraising consultancy support.
Vicar, the Revd Gary Collins, added: “We are not in a good place in terms of carbon efficiency with an outdated - and faulty - boiler. Our insulation and draft proofing also needs improving to modern requirements. We have been trying to deal with smaller challenges, (LED lighting for example) in our own ways, but recognising that in the end this is going to be a massive infrastructure project.
“We have a Greening Group that has been active in the church for a number of years, trying to find solutions and ways to become carbon efficient - but the real challenge now is how we heat the space – and then keep it warm!”
The £18,000 funding the church will receive will go some way towards the plans for replacing the church’s now defunct gas boiler with a net zero carbon solution, likely an air source heat pump. But Gary acknowledges there is more fundraising to do.
St John's Church is an active, busy and welcoming presence in the South Newbury community, and used by many organisations and events. Revd Gary described the church being a part of this scheme as a "joy and a privilege" being able to share their story, not just for their own sakes, but also as a way to inspire others with what to do - and perhaps what not to do!
Abi Hiscock, Project and Grants Manager for the Church of England’s Net Zero Demonstrator Churches Project, said: “Ultimately, we want to demonstrate that with the right support and infrastructure, churches from diverse settings and facing a variety of challenges can reach net zero by 2030.
“By the end of this project, we will have over 100 case studies on what to do and when, and what not to do. Along the way, the supported churches are all required to act as champions to other churches in their dioceses or geographically near to them, or simply to other churches working from similar baselines to them, so that the learnings from these projects engage, influence and support this vision.”
It is hoped the project will reduce carbon emissions by 6,615 tonnes by 2030 – targeting some of the highest emitting churches across the UK.
The Demonstrator Churches project is part of the Church of England’s ambitious Net Zero Carbon Programme which aims to equip, resource and support all parts of the Church to reduce carbon emissions from the energy used in its buildings, schools and through work-related transport by 2030.
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Notes to Editor
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About the Diocese of Oxford
The Diocese of Oxford is the Church of England in the Thames Valley region of Oxfordshire, Berkshire and Buckinghamshire. There are over 800 churches in 626 parishes, the largest number of churches of any diocese in the Church of England. The diocese is also home to 285 schools and academies educating some 60,000 pupils.