As world leaders and sustainability experts gather in Turkey for the 31st United Nations Climate Change Conference, representatives from the Church of England, English Cathedrals, universities, Innovate UK and the heritage sector gathered at Lichfield Cathedral to explore how some of the nation’s most historic buildings can meet the challenge of Net Zero Carbon while safeguarding their heritage for future generations.
Lichfield Cathedral – Sacred Spaces, Sustainable Futures
The event, held in the Cathedral’s newly refurbished College Hall, showcased progress on Sacred Spaces, Sustainable Futures, Lichfield Cathedral’s pioneering Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP).
The project is developing practical tools and approaches to help churches and cathedrals reduce carbon emissions while caring for historic fabric. It is a collaboration between Lichfield Cathedral, Staffordshire University, the University of Birmingham and Innovate UK, funded by the Church Commissioners for England and Innovate UK.
Attendees included senior representatives from the Church of England’s National Net Zero Carbon Programme and from English Cathedrals, alongside experts from Innovate UK, both universities, the Diocese of Lichfield and the Midlands Net Zero Hub.
Delegates heard from Paul Sampson, Regional Principal Energy Projects Officer at the Midlands Net Zero Hub, who outlined how organisations can use data, carbon modelling, emerging technologies and financing opportunities to identify priorities, secure feasibility funding and develop investable Net Zero projects.
Dr Elena Imani, Sustainability Project Manager at Lichfield Cathedral and KTP Associate, shared findings from the first year of the project, which focuses on how a Grade I listed cathedral can significantly reduce its carbon emissions while continuing to protect its historic structure and serve its communities.
The Church of England has committed to reaching Net Zero Carbon by 2030, a significant challenge for historic buildings. At Lichfield alone, meeting that goal will require a reduction of approximately 160 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions, around 90 per cent.
A key focus of discussion was the development of a practical toolkit that churches and cathedrals across the country could use on their own decarbonisation journeys. Delegates were particularly interested in environmental data loggers and building performance modelling, which are helping researchers understand how historic buildings operate and identify the most effective interventions.
Dr Imani said:
“The ambition of this project extends beyond Lichfield Cathedral. Our aim is to develop tools, evidence and approaches that can be adapted and applied across the wider cathedral and church sector. Bringing together specialists from such a diverse range of organisations has been invaluable in helping shape that work.”
Lichfield is part of a wider movement across English cathedrals. All 42 of our cathedrals are on the A Rocha Eco Church journey, with six now holding gold awards. Lichfield itself holds a Silver Eco Church award, gained in 2022, and is working towards Gold. Many cathedrals have purposeful eco teams an ongoing projects, including Wakefield, Bradford, Salisbury and Worcester, and a growing number of cathedrals, including York Minster, Chester Cathedral and Gloucester Cathedral, have installed solar panels, with further panels on a property in the grounds at St Albans.
The latest to announce a major scheme is Winchester Cathedral, which is to install 243 solar panels in what is described as the largest project of its kind at any cathedral in the UK.
The installation is supported by a grant from regional airline Loganair, donated through its annual GreenSkies Community Fund. The panels will sit on the south-facing roofs of five unlisted buildings within Winchester Cathedral’s grounds and are expected to produce 87,749 kWh of electricity a year, with any surplus returned to the grid generating during their lifetime of 15 to 20 years, around £500,000 of value for the Cathedral.
