St Peter Mancroft Church in Norwich leads Net Zero Programme

St Peter Mancroft Church has accepted a grant from the £5.2m Demonstrator Churches project part of the Church of England’s Net Zero Programme.

It is the first of more than 100 churches set to receive funding for green initiatives such as solar panels and energy-saving lighting.

This grant will allow the historic city centre church to transform its carbon footprint.

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The church received £50,000 from the Demonstrator Churches grant and £36,000 in co-funding from Benefact Trust.

These funds will be used to replace the entire interior lighting system, install heat pumps, batteries and 48 solar panels.

This investment aims to achieve an 84pc reduction in emissions, saving 52.26 tonnes of CO2 each year.

Rev Edward Carter with the batteries for the solar panels being fitted to the roof of St Peter Mancroft church (Image: Denise Bradley, Newsquest)

The Rt Rev Graham Usher, the Bishop of Norwich and lead bishop for environment for the Church of England, said: “I am delighted that the clergy and congregation at St Peter Mancroft have taken the journey to Net Zero Carbon seriously and have worked hard on ambitious plans."

Work began on this major environmental project when the church's main gas boiler failed, speeding up the installation of a more energy-efficient system.

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The Rev Canon Edward Carter, the Vicar of St Peter Mancroft Church, said: “It’s so satisfying to see this project finally come to fruition.

Work started on installing solar panels on the roof of St Peter Mancroft Church earlier this year (Image: Denise Bradley, Newsquest)

"We are delighted to have been identified by the Diocese of Norwich as a demonstrator church project."

By 2030, the project hopes to reduce carbon emissions by 6,615 tonnes – targeting the UK's highest-emitting churches.

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."