Holy Trinity Church in Stroud has been featured in a national Church of England video highlighting the success of its recent carbon friendly heating overhaul.
Back in May, we shared the news of Holy Trinity’s big step towards net zero, when the church upgraded its heating and lighting systems with sustainable technology. Once listed among the top 20 carbon emitters in the diocese, the church now has a range of green upgrades, just in time for the colder months of the year.
The transformation included:
- Under-pew convection heaters that provide targeted warmth directly to congregants.
- Infrared panel heaters beneath the gallery, creating an inviting atmosphere upon entering.
- A bespoke Halo far-infrared heater, hanging above the minister and choir.
- LED lighting and improved insulation, ensuring energy efficiency throughout the building.
Heating costs have plummeted from £122 per week to just £22, and carbon emissions have been slashed by this work. From five hours to slowly heat the whole building, to a mere 10 minutes to generate more focused heating, the difference is remarkable.
You can read the Church of England’s full article here, and their video is below.
Holy Trinity’s journey toward sustainability began when Holy Trinity’s leadership attended a diocesan sustainability seminar, which inspired them to take decisive action, soon achieving their Bronze Eco Church Award.
The Revd James Turk, Acting Team Rector, spoke in both articles about the importance of these changes on future generations: “If we hadn’t done this we would have been passing the problem down to the next generation and that’s the last thing that we wanted to do”, and “The new heating system has greatly contributed to making the church a versatile space for future generations.”
The church can now host more groups and events like orchestras and choirs, which were previously difficult due to the cold, making it a better option for community links looking for a venue.
The upgrades were made possible thanks to generous funding from the Congregational and General Charitable Trust, Garfield Weston Foundation, and The Benefact Trust, all of whom provided crucial support for the £111,000 project.
St Laurence Church in Stroud has already begun installing a similar heating solution, with the goal of heating people rather than the entire building. Meanwhile, Holy Trinity itself plans to continue its green journey by signing up for a renewable electricity contract, to further reduce its carbon footprint.
To learn more or to reach out to the team at Holy Trinity, visit their website here. If you’re looking for inspiration, consider attending the sustainable heating demonstration in Chedworth next month, where you can explore creative solutions for your own church’s green transition.
As a diocese, we are committed to being carbon neutral by 2030. Register your church and pledge one hour per week to make your church greener. #Eco Church in an hour.
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