Researching low-carbon heating in churches

Historic England are on the lookout for a number of dioceses to work with to research viable methods of low-carbon heating. 

If successful, a diocese and four partner churches would work with the building services team from Historic England and a quantity surveyor to look at solutions for decarbonising the heating system; assessing the feasibility, costs, and environmental benefits of different options such as heat pumps, hybrid boilers, pew heaters and panel heaters.  The church would obtain an options appraisal for their future heating and increased support from both Historic England and the diocesan church buildings team to implement the findings.

In order to consider whether to make a submission, we need to have four partner churches interested in participating.  The criteria stipulate that it should be either a listed, locally-listed or unlisted church within a conservation areas, one in each category below:

1. a single church building which is on oil and has a reliable three-phase electricity supply,
2. a church plus one or more other related buildings such as a separate church hall, nearby vicarage, and/or church school, all of which are on oil and have reliable three-phase electricity supplies,
3. a single church building which is on oil and has no or single-phase electricity supply,
4. a church plus one or more other related buildings, such as separate church hall, nearby vicarage, and/or church school, all of which are on oil and have no or single-phase electricity supply.

If you are interested in being considered to be part of our submission then please contact Church Buildings Officer, Mark Carter, on mcarter@cofe-worcester.org.uk or 07729 036326 before Friday 16 October, including which category you feel you fit into (including which other buildings might be included if you feel you are category 2 or 4).