Earth Notes: Greener Churches: Kingston Funding Notes (2023)

Updated 2023-07-24.
Notes on how to help churches meet Net Zero and protect the climate with an energy makeover from heating to PV!
Some notes gathered while helping put together plans to green some places of worship in Kingston-upon-Thames, UK.

These were not put together by me, but I was allowed put them here in the hope that they might be useful to others on the same journey!

Energy Audits

Crew Energy https://www.crewenergy.london/ Toby Costin - ask for a quote.

Solar PV Panels

Get at least three quotes from MCS certified companies in your area, you can use this search tool https://mcscertified.com/find-an-installer/. MCS is a government recognized quality mark. For the quotes they will probably need to see the church first - most of these companies can offer a free initial survey.

At some stage, they will need to know the energy consumption of the church, and whether the electricity is single phase or three phase - get that info ready.

Church of England Net Zero Guidance

https://www.churchofengland.org/resources/churchcare/net-zero-carbon-church.

Southwark Diocese Planning Permission (Faculty)

Solar panels need planning permission (Faculty) from Southwark Diocese - more info:

Luke Tatam, DAC Secretary
(Secretary to the Diocesan Advisory Committee for the Care of Churches)
The Diocese of Southwark
Trinity House, 4 Chapel Court, Borough High Street, London SE1 1HW
https://southwark.anglican.org/support/for-our-churches/buildings-dac/

The Church of England approval process, known as the Faculty Jurisdiction, is operated by the diocese within which the church is located. There is no cost for seeking advice from Southwark DAC (Diocesan Advisory Committee). The Faculty process is a two-stage process, of which the DAC is the first stage. If a faculty is required, the application is made to the diocese's legal office (known as the Diocesan Registry).

For applications from Church Councils, there is no fee payable (it is paid centrally, by the diocese), but for third-party applicants, the partner organisation bears the cost. It is usually around £300-£400 or so, but for an accurate figure for the fee payable this calendar year, you would need to contact the Registry Clerk.

All applications are considered on a case-by-case basis. Solar panels being visible does not necessarily mean that they are unacceptable; there is a clear understanding at all levels in the Church of the climate crisis, and of the need for action. Visibility on a listed building does mean that a stronger case would need to be made for the benefits of the application.

Kingston Council Approval Process

Borrowing/Funding