The Lighthouse Church in Heswall has been recognised in the Church Times Green Church Awards winning the Green Building category.
The parish of Heswall, on the Wirral, long had a mission church and hall on the high street, but both buildings were tired, cold, and run down, and too costly to renovate. Instead, the congregation decided to replace both with a sustainable building that could continue to serve their community.
The church worked with a Christian firm of architects who shared the vision of a bright, airy, welcoming space for mission and ministry, which upheld the highest modern standards for energy efficiency.
The new church, rechristened the Lighthouse Church, has no gas supply; instead, it relies on solar panels and an air-source heat pump, and is almost airtight to reduce energy usage. The congregation paid for almost the whole eco-build through their own fundraising efforts and donations, without any major grants or loans.
The criteria for the awards stated that a new building should consider the environmental and embedded carbon impact of building new as opposed to renovating. The judges were more than satisfied that the Lighthouse Church had made this consideration. The new building demonstrates a clear and well-articulated vision for the church and community, and demonstrates the possibilities for a modern and fossil-fuel-free building.
Bishop Julie, Bishop of Birkenhead said:
"So proud of the folk at Heswall for delivering on their vision to create a welcoming, sustainable and environmentally friendly building for the church and community. Caring for our planet is an essential part of our mission and in Chester Diocese we want to support churches to be 'greener' and to take significant steps to reduce their carbon footprint."
Find out about The Lighthouse Church.