St James’, Shirley.

St James’ cares for creation as part of its mission. It is a Silver Eco Church, and its large churchyard is managed for biodiversity and enjoyed by the local community. The church wanted heating that matched those values better than gas.

The old system was also unreliable. It had to be switched on several hours before a service or event, and even then it did not always warm the church on the coldest days.

Deputy Churchwarden Kate Crocker led the project. The church took expert advice from its diocesan Net Zero Carbon Manager and was put forward as a Demonstrator Church for the Church of England’s Net Zero Carbon Programme.

After weighing up the options, the church chose infrared heating. It warms people directly rather than heating the whole volume of air, so a lofty church becomes comfortable quickly.

• Main church: infrared chandeliers
• Side rooms and other spaces: smaller infrared heaters
• Electricity: the church moved to a green tariff, so the building now runs without fossil fuels

The church hall’s heating had already been changed in an earlier, separate project.

Two grants covered just under 50% of the project cost:

The church now has heating that is more reliable, and chandeliers the congregation finds beautiful.

“There is no worry or anxiety about whether the heating is going to work.”

Linda, Churchwarden, St James’ Shirley

Kate’s message to churches thinking about greener heating is simply to make a start. The Church of England also suggests:

• Reading its Practical Guide to Net Zero Carbon for Churches
• Contacting your diocese’s Net Zero Carbon Officer for support
• Talking to a specialist about the right system for your building — we’re happy to help

Source: “St James’, Shirley is transformed by new heating system”, Church of England, 30 September 2026.