Chester takes steps towards sustainability and safeguarding creation

Work has started to install roof-mounted solar panels on Chester Cathedral.

Chester Cathedral takes a significant step on its journey towards sustainability and safeguarding creation

The move, which will see panels sited in three sections on the cathedral roof, is a significant step on the cathedral’s journey towards reducing its carbon footprint and achieving the Church of England’s ambition to be net-zero carbon by 2030.

Chester Cathedral, the principal place of Christian worship in Cheshire and the largest heritage site in Chester, welcomes over 300,000 visitors per year – and relies principally on public donations to manage its fuel costs.

The solar panels will provide a significant portion of the electricity required to run the site, generating a reduction of approximately 12.39 tCO2 each year.

Dean of Chester, the Very Revd Dr Tim Stratford said:

“Chester Cathedral is the mother church of the Diocese of Chester and has a responsibility to be sustainable.

“For us, sustainability includes ensuring that we are doing everything we can to reduce our carbon footprint and lessen our negative impact on our planet.

“It also means ensuring that we can fund the essential work carried out on our magnificent cathedral.

“The installation of solar panels on the roof will achieve both aims, in reducing the amount of fossil fuels burnt to heat our building, and, in the longer-term, reducing the cost required to provide this fuel.

Work to install the solar panels began on July 7 and will continue throughout the month.

The Church of England, in recognising the climate emergency called on all parts of the Church to become net zero carbon by 2030.