Q1: Hi Ben, tell us about your role here at Church of England Birmingham.
Ben: I lead on a project to reduce carbon emissions across our church buildings, schools and clergy housing. This includes supporting churches to make their buildings more energy efficient, reduce energy use and transition away from gas or oil towards electric heating. It’s exciting to see the progress so many churches are already making.
Q2: Great stuff. Why’s this such important work?
Ben: Our work towards net zero carbon is part of our wider goal to care for God’s creation and to respond to the global climate emergency (the fifth Mark of Mission). It should also support your church’s local mission directly, as these works can make a church warmer, brighter, more welcoming and fit for the 21st century. We’re still the only diocese in the country to have gained Silver Eco Diocese status, which highlights the great work already taking place at our churches.
Q3: We hear there are several national funding opportunities on the horizon. What’s the latest?
Ben: Yes, the CofE is releasing several new grants over the next few months.
- The Quick Wins grant will be returning very soon, where churches can apply for a grant of up to £5,000 for small-scale works to reduce emissions, like switching to LED lighting and improving heating controls. 20 of our churches received Quick Wins grants in 2024-25 and I hope many others will apply this time.
- Following a successful trial, a new Give to Go Green match-funding scheme will mean churches can run a short fundraising campaign for small-to medium-scale carbon reduction projects, and the amount raised (up to £10,000) will be matched by the CofE.
- Lastly, a new Decarbonising Churches grant is opening for larger-scale projects at higher energy-using church buildings. This flexible grant provides support towards the costs of professional fees while projects are developed, or towards the capital works themselves if you are ready to go ahead.
Q4: Tell us more. What are the criteria, and who is eligible?
Ben: Any church can apply for the Quick Wins grant or Give to Go Green scheme if you have an eligible project – you’ll need to have registered with Eco Church and to have submitted the most recent annual CofE Energy Footprint Tool return, so it’s worth getting ahead now.
Only higher energy-using churches are generally eligible for the Decarbonising Churches grant, but it is open to more churches than the funding it replaces. And you can also apply if your church has failed gas or oil heating, for support in considering alternative, low-carbon heating solutions.
Further details about each of these grants and how to apply will be released soon, so watch this space.
Q5: Are you able to help with our application?
Ben: Yes! I can offer advice for any church that would like to apply for these grants. And I can also offer in-depth support to churches applying for a Decarbonising Churches grant for larger-scale projects.
Q6: In the meantime, what else can churches do in this area?
Ben: Find out whether your church is engaging with Eco Church already. Over 70% of churches in our diocese are already registered and many have gained Eco Church Awards. You can also find out whether your church is using the CofE Energy Footprint Tool, which tracks how your church energy use and associated emissions is changing each year. The EFT is open until 30 June 2026 for churches to submit energy use information for 2025.
Q7: How do we find out more?
Ben: Contact our Lead Environmental Champion Heather Holmes to join the local network of environment contacts. Here you can find out more about what other churches are doing to care for the environment and the different initiatives that you can engage with. You can also contact me directly to discuss any plans or projects at your church that will reduce carbon emissions.