Net Zero Carbon

With the Church of England setting the ambitious target to reach Net Zero Carbon by 2030, we all have a part to play in making that happen.

The diocese’s Net Zero Team is here to support parishes to plan and implement measures to reduce their carbon emissions. They are also available to offer advice, information and signposting to resources on:

• General environmental work,
• Fundraising and grant opportunities for energy reduction and eco initiatives, such as boiler replacements.

Meet the team

The Dioceses of Canterbury and Rochester are working together to support net zero work in churches across the area of the two dioceses.

National funding has provided for:

• A Net Zero Adviser in each diocese to focus on supporting parishes
• A Net Zero Project Manager to coordinate work across the two diocese

In Rochester, the team is:

• Catriona Jamieson, Net Zero Programme Manager
  catriona.jamieson@rochester.anglican.org
• Kayleigh Ward, Net Zero Adviser for Rochester Diocese
  kayleigh.ward@rochester.anglican.org
  netzero@rochester.anglican.org

Each member of the team brings with them a wide range of experience, knowledge, and passion for environmental issues.
 

Starting your carbon-zero journey

Beginning to think about your church’s carbon footprint can seem daunting.

The national church’s Environment team has created two resources aimed at helping parishes to take the first steps on their journey to net zero carbon.

• Watch: A short animation offering practical tips for churches to reach net zero
• Download:  A practical digital guide for churches with a new flowchart and checklist
• Get inspired: Many churches within the diocese are making small but impactful changes for their local environment. Watch here
   

Key tools and initiatives

There are some great tools and schemes available to help churches with their stewardship of God’s creation, and which the diocesan Net Zero team would encourage churches to explore.

Eco Church scheme (A Rocha UK)

Through its free online survey and supporting resources, the Eco Church scheme equips churches to express their care for God’s world by asking them to reflect on five key areas of their life as a church. They are:

• Worship and teaching
• Buildings and energy
• Land and nature
• Community and global engagement
• Lifestyle

To find out more, you can watch a training video. A Rocha has also published some new resources for churches, including 'Eco Church survey at a glance’ and ‘Getting started with Eco Church’.

Energy Footprint Tool

Understanding your church’s carbon footprint is essential in caring for God’s creation.

The national church’s Energy Footprint Tool is designed to calculate your church’s carbon footprint based on the energy used for heating and lighting your buildings.

The data collected can help identify areas for improvement and may help your church’s eligibility for grants to support energy efficiency and sustainability projects.

Each year, churches are invited to complete the Tool. In 2025, it will close for entries on June 30.

What You Need to Do:

- Gather your 2024 energy bills – You’ll need your church’s actual energy usage and costs, which can be found on your utility statements.

- Enter your data into the online survey via the Parish Returns System

- Access helpful resources:

• Download a paper copy of the survey for churches beforehand or other building here.
• Watch a step-by-step video guide on how to complete the tool.
• Attend an online or in-person drop-in session, where our Net Zero Advisers can guide you through the process. Book a session here

- Receive instant results – Once submitted, you will immediately receive a report detailing your church’s carbon footprint (CO₂e) and how it has changed over time.

For further support, reach out to our Net Zero Team, who are available to assist with funding applications and sustainability strategies.

Energy Audits

An independent energy audit can help church teams assess various options and approaches to heating their church buildings.

It can also support understanding of what steps can be taken to decarbonise a church/church hall, along with any associated costs and savings.
 
For a limited number of churches, the Diocese's Net Zero team can currently fund 50 per cent of the cost of an energy audit with Greener Edge.

To find out more or to book an energy audit (at a cost to your church of £300+VAT) please contact Kayleigh at: netzero@rochester.anglican.org

Grants

• Boiler Hardship Grant

The new Boiler Hardship Grant Fund aims to support churches/church halls with limited budgets with the costs of replacing a gas boiler with an alternative low-carbon heating system. Find out more

• Net Zero Quick Wins

The Diocese of Rochester’s Net Zero Quick Wins grants can fund projects in full up to £3000, where the work is focused on reducing the energy footprint of buildings such as churches and halls.

For projects over £3000, grants will (in addition to the £3000) cover 50% of the excess. The maximum grant is £10,000 per church/church hall.

The application deadline is 31 August 2025, but applications will be reviewed in batches, on a rolling basis, so please be aware that the total available funding may run out before this date. Find out more

Useful links and resources

If you or your church are looking for more help and inspiration with your own environmental journey, take a look at these national and local groups:

• Church of England Environmental Programme Find out more about whole the Church of England is working to tackle climate change. Plus links to national information, webinars, newsletters and resources.
• 360 Carbon Calculator. This tool developed by Climate Stewards (part of the A Rocha family) calculates a footprint beyond just energy used for heating and lighting. Includes transport, food, and more. Can sync with the Energy Footprint Too.
• Caring for Creation A resource pack for Christian Youth. Five Marks of Mission. Mission five: Treasure - To strive to safeguard the integrity of creation and sustain and renew the life of the earth. Activities for worship, bible study, prayer & action.
• A Positive Vision of a Net Zero Church - A recording of a webinar run by Catherine Ross from the National Church. Offers an introduction to what a thriving net zero church would look like. Inspiring and clear - a star resource.
• A suite of renewables case studies from the Church of England includng: Net zero carbon projects; underpew heating; solar panels; heated pew cushions; far infra-red radiant panels; switching from oil to electric heating.
• Wild Christians The Wild Christian scheme is a community of families and individuals exploring the connections between our Christian faith, the natural environment, and how we live. Sign up and each month they send you something to think about and some practical actions that you can take to help you enjoy, nurture and protect nature. You’ll also have the opportunity to share your own stories, if you wish, and to help us generate ideas for future editions: 
• Eco Church Kent Facebook group This group is to support anyone working to make their church and communities more sustainable and eco-friendly, and working towards an Eco Church award. Members share tools, links, questions, and encouragement so we can work together to be carbon neutral: 
• Faith for the Climate aims to encourage, inspire and equip faith communities in their work on climate change. This is an interfaith organisation:
• Green Christian Is a community of ordinary Christians from all backgrounds and traditions. Inspired by faith, they work to care for Creation through prayer, living simply, public witness, campaigning and mutual encouragement. 
• The Church of England’s Routemap to Net Zero Carbon.
• Church of England’s  pages for net zero carbon churches, net zero carbon schools, and net zero webinar programme to help you on your path.
•  Heating guidance and energy efficiency guidance.
•  Inspiring case studies.
• For news, resources and events, sign up for the Church of England’s Environment Programme newsletter.

Key Contacts