Our Net Zero Carbon Quick Wins grants are still open, looking to support parishes that want to reduce the carbon footprint of their buildings.
The grants are part of our wider diocesan Church Buildings grant scheme.
In the summer of 2024, the diocese received some £69,000 from the Church of England’s Net Zero Carbon Quick Wins Grants for 2024-25, allowing us to add these grants to our existing support.
Our Net Zero Carbon Quick Wins grants will be given to churches to support new energy, heating and lighting projects, including new insulation, solar panels, smart meters and more.
Holy Trinity Cookridge, in the Leeds area, have recently completed work to make their church more efficient, by replacing their windows, and changing their lighting for new efficient LEDs.
The work was project-managed internally, to keep the costs down, and cleaning was undertaken by members of the congregation every Saturday during the works to enable them to use the main part of the church for Sunday Mass.
Sally Firth, Churchwarden, said: “As the churchwarden and person responsible for the day to day project management of this project there were times, especially when I looked at the plaster on the floor on Saturday morning and pews stacked on top of other pews and scaffolding poles everywhere, thinking how are we going to have Mass in here tomorrow.
“But the cleaning team came together and everyone got their brushes out, rubber cloves on and started the clean up after the Saturday morning Mass.
“Those who couldn’t clean did their bit keeping the workers supplied with coffee or sitting down and brushing the hassocks.
“It was team work at its best and helped to strengthen the bond among the members of the congregation all working together for a common goal.”
The work has helped reducing heating costs for the church, and have improved the look of the building.
Drafts from the old windows have disappeared, and the building is safe for all users as there is no longer the risk of windows blowing out in a storm.
Sally said: “Everyone who comes into the building is impressed by the changes brought about by the new lighting.
“The initial impression is of a church where things are happening and there is a view to the future.
“There is still work to do but there is a renewed vigour among the congregation.”
To find out more about what our Net Zero Carbon Quick Wins grants could do for your church, please click here.