A church in north Oxfordshire has recently had solar panels installed on its roof and then had them blessed by none other than the Bishop of Oxford.
Last Thursday the Rt Rev John Pritchard visited St Peter and St Paul’s Church in Deddington and climbed to the top of the church showing no fear for heights to bless the 42 solar panels that had been installed by SMC Solar who are located in Stanford in the Vale that is near to Wantage.
The Bishop was most complimentary about seeing the solar panels in all their glory on top of the church.
St Peter and St Paul’s church in Deddington has solar panels installed
(image credit: cbbaxter@btinternet.com)
He is a keen supporter of green issues and the generation of energy in this way feeling that such schemes all help in the overall plan to reduce CO2 emissions.
Bishop John commented: “This is another example of great innovation and imagination from Deddington church and I congratulate the parish on their vision.”
Martin Trinder is a spokesman for SMC Solar stated that St Peter and St Paul’s Church had made an investment of in excess of £20,000 in having the panels installed on their roof.
He said: “We have installed these panels on churches in Kent and Reading and hope other churches in Oxfordshire do the same.”
Dan Inman, who is the curate at St Peter and St Paul’s church, confirmed that the installation of the solar panels was completed back in March of this year. He also added that the funds that were required to undertake the work were raised within the local community as people were keen to lower the carbon footprint.
Furthermore, the installation was felt to be a viable financial proposition as it would enable funds to be raised for the church that was the local community centre. The church would be able to sell energy back to the National Grid enabling around £3,500 per annum to be raised to be used for maintaining the church.
Mr Inman also added: “ Blessing solar panels is probably one of the more unusual requests received by the Bishop but he is very keen to reduce the carbon footprint of churches in the Oxford Diocese.”
