British Churches Are Putting Their Faith in Heat Pumps

The article highlights a growing trend among British churches to adopt electric heat pumps as part of their efforts to reduce carbon emissions and modernize heating systems. Despite the challenges posed by ancient, often large and uninsulated buildings, many churches are transitioning away from traditional oil, gas, or wood chip boilers toward more eco-friendly heat pump technology. St. Mary’s Church in Lawford, Essex, which dates back to the 13th century, recently installed a heat pump system replacing its costly and unreliable wood chip boiler, marking a significant shift to electric heating after more than 800 years. This transition is seen by many church communities as an expression of Christian stewardship and care for the environment and future generations. The Church of England (C of E) has committed to reaching net zero carbon emissions by 2030, a goal that includes decarbonizing heating systems across its churches. A 2024 survey of over 12,000 C of E churches found that a small but growing number have installed