The Church of England is to provide £15 million for dioceses to help churches struggling to pay energy costs.
The Energy Costs Grant will be distributed to dioceses to enable them to help Parochial Church Councils (PCCs) cover the increased cost of heating and lighting church buildings this winter.
The Diocese of Chester is set to receive £299,000.
Diocesan Secretary, George Colville: "The Church of England has announced that it is to provide £15 million for dioceses to help churches struggling to pay energy costs. The Diocese of Chester is due to receive £299,000 of this £15m. We are already discussing how best to allocate this money and distribute it as soon as we can. We hope to be able to say more shortly."
The Energy Costs Grant is accompanied by information aimed at helping churches to become more energy efficient and reduce their carbon footprint.
The new funding comes after £3 million was made available earlier this year by the Church of England for dioceses to distribute to clergy and lay ministers facing particular hardship because of the cost of living crisis. The latest round in the Diocese of Chester closed on the 7th October and applications are currently being conisdered.
How to reduce your church energy bills
The Archdeacons, writing in the E-Bulletin, have also indicated that against the backdrop of high energy costs, parishes have been in touch to ask about the possibility of relocating public worship out of the church to another building during the winter period.
The Archdeacons say that any parish wishing to do this must first write to your Archdeacon with the following information:
- A brief explanation of why you wish to take this step;
- Details of where you wish to move worship to, and over what period of time (the assumption is that this will be for a relatively limited period);
- A risk assessment for the temporary venue, unless this is another parish church or a building already licensed and used for public worship;
- Evidence that you have considered any safeguarding implications;
- A PCC resolution requesting the move
PA to Archdeacon of Chester: Laura Howard
T: 01928 718834 Ext 234 E: laura.howard@chester.anglican.org
PA to Archdeacon of Macclesfield: Deb Toole
T: 01928 718 834 Ext 221 E: deb.toole@chester.anglican.org