Church of England parishes shift from oil and gas with solar panels and heat pumps

The Church of England says more parishes are moving off oil and gas heating, partly to cut winter fuel costs and partly to meet its 2030 net zero target. Since 2023, its net zero programme has awarded nearly £6 million in grants to more than 1,000 church projects, including solar panels and heat pump installations. A pilot match funding scheme called Give to Go Green raised £938,000 across 127 churches and is now expanding to all 42 dioceses. One example is St Paul's Church in Sunderland, which paired with Community Action Northumberland to install low cost solar panels and replaced a 1979 oil boiler with an air source heat pump. The story shows how grant design, local partnerships, and practical equipment swaps can push smaller institutions away from fossil fuels. It also highlights the gap between net zero commitments and the need for ongoing funding and maintenance.