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Congregation Moves Into New Eco-Church At Last

After many delays, the Unitarian congregation at Stockton in north-east England finally took possession of its award-winning new Church at the beginning of August 2007.

The compact modern building, fitted to the highest energy-saving standards, uses solar power to produce its own electricity from photo-voltaic roof tiles. In fact, Stockton Church aims to 'export' surplus electricity to the national grid - if it can overcome the bureaucratic obstacles to doing so.

The congregation is also struggling against red tape over an application to install a wind turbine on the gable end, with its request for planning permission having to be put on hold. The Chair of the congregation, Hazel Warhurst, commented wrily: "Despite the high profile of global warming, we have found that reducing our carbon footprint is very hard work!"

It has been her husband, David, a chartered engineer, who has been one of the driving forces in maintaining the highest ecological standards throughout the building process.

This began in fact with the demolition of the old Stockton Unitarian Church, a large Victorian building, in March 2006. The way it was demolished to cause minimal environmental damage, and the recycling of its materials (everything from metal to stained glass) in constructing the new Church, won it two local awards.

Although the building work was completed in December 2006, delays in connecting electricity, gas and telephone services all held up the process of moving in. But the congregation is at last inside, and has an ambitious programme of events planned for the rest of 2007. *

David Warhurst says the photo-voltaic tiles have been working very well this summer, producing more than 750 units of electricity for the Church between late March 2007, when the supply was connected, and the beginning of August. He expects the roof tiles to produce twice or three times this amount of electricity over a year, and estimates the Church could sell about half of this to the grid. But before the Church can do this, it has discovered it must register as a 'power supplier', so the bureaucratic hurdles continue.

Income for the Church could additionally be gained through trading Renewable Obligation Certificates - these are granted for producing quantities of electricity from renewable energy sources, and are a marketable commodity.

* The programme began with a Dedication Service on Saturday 11 August (led by former congregational Chair Edna Anderson) and the first Sunday service the following day (led by David Arthur). Both attracted full houses. The acoustics proved excellent and many commented on the calm, peaceful atmosphere within the new church.

August 2007

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