Members of St Mary’s Church Embsay with Eastby are celebrating becoming a Carbon Net Zero Church!

First proposed in autumn 2020, planning began in earnest in 2022 with the drawing up of a Carbon Net Zero Parish Plan, using a template provided by the Diocese of Leeds.  The Church of England has a target to be net carbon zero by 2030 and St Mary’s Embsay with Eastby set an ambitious target to be net carbon zero by the end of 2025.

The biggest source of carbon emissions was the gas boiler.  So, after much research and consultation, the church installed electric person-centred heating in 2024.  A mixture of under-pew heating and wall mounted FAR infra-red heaters were selected, as appropriate for the different areas of the church.  The gas boiler was completely switched off in autumn 2024.  The church is continuing to improve insulation and reduce draughts.

The church in Embsay has bought electricity from a ‘green supplier’ for a number of years.

The church completed a comprehensive analysis of other carbon emissions and pays to offset the small amount of carbon which cannot be reduced further, using a carbon offsetting scheme offered by the Christian charity A Rocha.

St Mary’s Embsay with Eastby believes that it is now a net zero carbon church.

The Carbon Net Zero Parish Plan for St Mary’s Embsay can be downloaded from the church website: https://stmaryembsay.org.uk/carbon-zero/

The church was the first in the Diocese of Leeds to become a Gold Eco Church, in May 2023.

Diana Linford, Parish Environment Officer for the church says: ‘We are delighted that we have reached our target to be carbon net zero.  We are happy to share our experience with other local churches who would like help in reducing their own carbon footprints.’

Marion Russell, Vicar of St Mary’s, says: ‘This is an ambitious project first proposed by a few committed and far-sighted individuals who shared their vision and passion with the Church Council and congregation, making this a feasible and welcomed whole-church project. I am deeply thankful for everyone who has pursued this work and engaged others in it, achieving our carbon-neutral status a full five years ahead of our first target date of 2030. Along the way, many of us have embraced personal changes too, reducing our own carbon footprint. It has indeed been, and continues to be, a work and practical expression of faith and love.’