Last week, Christ Church Winchester has installed solar panels as part of their big project to transform their building and community. Below are a few words from their team, explaining the project and its anticipated impact.
Liz Ord, Operations Director, says, “The 9kW solar panel system, already efficiently making use of all this sunshine, will reduce our church’s carbon footprint, generate significant cost savings and enable us to show our commitment to the Church of England’s net zero target. Christ Church achieved a silver A Rocha Eco Church award in 2023 and the addition of solar energy is another meaningful step in sustainably powering Christ Church and the wider community, putting action to their passion for creation care.”
Christ Church is a welcoming and well-used space. From services of worship and celebration to enabling events throughout the week, much of the church’s activity depends on a building that functions well. The installation of the panels is part of the wider ‘ABCDE’ refurbishment project taking place this summer: making the church more accessible, beautiful, complete, decluttered and EcoChurch. Included are new ramps and lifts, recarpeting and new chairs, reorganisation of the main church space – with more storage – and overhaul of the technical equipment.
Simon Cansdale, vicar of Christ Church, says, “We are so delighted to finally be generating energy from the summer sun, and good timing too! As a church, we aim to be a flourishing and generous regional centre of Christian worship, mission and discipleship – this building project hopefully reflects that vision.”
