Solar panels are helping Willington Open Door Methodist Church in County Durham cut its carbon footprint and energy bills, ensuring it can continue offering vital services to the community.
Cutting Energy Expenses by £200
Willington Open Door Methodist Church was awarded a £10,300 community grant from Believe Housing — a housing association — for its Eco Energy for Everyone project. Most of the funding was allocated to solar panels, which church leaders report have reduced the building's energy expenses by approximately £200 per month, with additional plans to sell surplus electricity to the grid, The Northern Echo announced.
Anne-Marie Parkin, a Community Investment Coordinator at Believe Housing, highlighted that the church is a hub of activity, regularly serving hundreds of people from Willington and the surrounding area — including their customers. By enabling the church to produce renewable energy and reduce its electricity costs, the project helps sustain community services and contributes to environmental protection.
Image: Collected
“The church is a busy hub, regularly serving hundreds of people from Willington and the surrounding areas, including customers of Believe Housing,” Parkin expressed. “By helping the church generate renewable energy and reduce electricity costs, the project supports the continuation of community services while benefiting the environment. Additionally, it aids customers and residents in making eco-friendly choices, saving money, and improving their overall well-being.”
Aiding Sustainability
Church trustee Sue Hine emphasized the importance of sustainability, noting that solar panels have significantly reduced operating costs, thereby helping sustain community activities for the future. She also highlighted the environmental benefits of generating renewable energy. Since 2018, the housing association has provided the church with multiple grants.
“The focus is on sustainability. With rising energy bills, solar panels have significantly reduced operating costs, helping sustain the church's community activities for the future. Additionally, generating renewable energy benefits the planet,” Hine stated.
The grant also supported initiatives demonstrating how minor adjustments can have a notable impact on household energy usage, as well as providing funding for solar power banks, efficient hot water dispensers, and draught excluders for several residents.
Church of England Install 438 Solar Panels
According to a recent announcement, the Church of England has installed 438 solar panels on the historic 500-year-old chapel at King's College, Cambridge, as part of its commitment to combating climate change. This significant installation, visible on a chapel that is renowned for its traditional candlelit Christmas service broadcast by the BBC, marks a shift towards sustainability.
Gillian Tett, the provost of King’s College, hopes this project will inspire other churches to consider similar sustainable practices. The Church of England aims to achieve net zero emissions by 2030, and advocates starting with small, impactful changes like installing LEDs, draught excluders, and using electric or infrared heaters.
While alterations to historic church buildings often spark debates about preservation, the Church of England is finding ways to balance heritage with modern sustainability needs. Bishop Graham Usher — the lead bishop on the environment — notes that although some resistance exists, new guidelines and rules are helping to ease the transition towards eco-friendly solutions.
Setting a Precedent for Other Religious Houses
This project at King's College is part of a broader movement within the Church of England to reconcile heritage conservation with environmental stewardship. By setting a precedent with such a prominent and historic building, the church is sending a strong message about the importance of sustainability.
This initiative not only reduces the carbon footprint of one of Britain's most iconic religious structures but also serves as a powerful symbol of innovation and adaptability. As the Church of England continues to implement eco-friendly practices across its 16,000 places of worship, it reinforces the idea that addressing climate change is a collective responsibility that spans both the spiritual and secular realms.