Church of England reprimands parish for buying gas heaters instead of eco boiler

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Church of England reprimands parish for buying gas heaters instead of eco boiler

Postby dutchman » Sun Oct 27, 2024 7:22 pm

The Consistory Court of the Diocese of Newcastle branded Holy Cross church in Fenham, Newcastle, ‘embarrassing’

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A Church of England court has reprimanded a parish for buying gas heaters instead of an eco-friendly boiler.

The Consistory Court of the Diocese of Newcastle branded Holy Cross church in Fenham, Newcastle, “embarrassing” for deciding to buy a new gas heating system instead of a greener alternative.

The Anglican church is aiming to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2030.

Church ministers told The Telegraph the judge’s “heavy-handed” approach to the case reflected broader problems caused by the CofE’s push for net zero.

In February, the PCC, or governing committee, of Holy Cross decided to replace their existing gas heating system with a £33,000 version.

“The outcome would be a more cost-effective, modern, energy-efficient system of heating,” the Consistory Court heard.

The parish then put down a non-refundable £17,000 deposit on the heaters before applying for official permission from the diocese in June.

Judge Simon Wood, the chancellor of the court, said the parish should not have paid the deposit before permission was granted.

He said its PCC had failed “to consider net zero” and should have looked at installing a heat pump or electric heating instead.

The church had decided against a heat pump because it would not be allowed on greenbelt land outside the church.

The electric system was also found to be too expensive, costing between £59,000 and £86,000.

In his judgment, Judge Wood granted retrospective permission for the gas heaters after admitting that “the heating system chosen appears to be the only realistic one”.

But he ordered the church to enter a “carbon offsetting scheme” to make up for the emissions of the new system and draw up a “plan” to help it “make a meaningful contribution to net zero”.

“This has been an embarrassing episode in the governance of Holy Cross which it is hoped will not be repeated,” he said.

The Rev Dr Ian Paul, a member of the General Synod and the Archbishops’ Council, said the case “illustrates the real problem of virtue signalling by those who are far removed from the realities of parish life.

“The comments of the judge show a complete failure to understand the challenges of ministry in local churches on the ground.

“And it also points to the failure of General Synod to properly think through the consequences of their motion on net zero.

“The biggest challenge to the environment comes from the growth in China’s use of energy – and our purchase of Chinese goods – and not what one parish had done to maintain its weekly worship in its historic building.”

The Rev Daniel French, the vicar of Salcombe, Devon, and co-host of the Irreverend podcast, said: “Non-adherence to the 2030 net zero target is in danger of becoming the new unpardonable sin against the Holy Ghost.

“As a vicar, this case says everything about the widening gulf between the heavy-handed green idealism of church bureaucracy and the reality of parish life on the ground.

“Most congregations really want to try to do their best for the environment but have to weigh this up against the daunting practicalities of running large, ancient buildings on terrifyingly tight budgets.

“If this sort of judgment becomes the norm, many of the hard-working volunteers who keep our parishes going will throw their hands up and walk. There has to be a better way forward.”

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Re: Church of England reprimands parish for buying gas heaters instead of eco boiler

Postby rebbonk » Mon Oct 28, 2024 12:03 am

The stupidity of Net Zero will bankrupt us all.
Of course it'll fit; you just need a bigger hammer.
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