THERE was a very warm welcome for those attending a recent Sunday service at St Mary's Church, Embsay with Eastby.

Parishioners  were surprised to find that the inside of the church was warm and toasty,  thanks to newly installed electric heating - part of St Mary's 'Cut the Carbon' project

The system, which replaces a gas boiler-fired system, had been put to use for the first time for a wedding the day before,  and  was very much welcomed for the around 40 people at the Sunday service

For more than two years, the church has been researching greener practices, and fundraising to put them into action.

St Mary's says it is 'committed to try to reach net zero by 2025,' ahead of the Church of England's target of 2030.

The biggest source of carbon emissions for St Mary's so far has been found to be its gas boiler, which reportedly emitted ten tonnes of carbon annually.

The new heating system is zero-carbon, and powered by electricity sourced through the Anglican Diocese of Leeds-endorsed 'green electricity' supplier, Green Journey.

Person-focussed heating is intended under the new system, through a combination of heaters underneath pews and far infrared units mounted to the wall.

This is in line with the recommendation from the Church of England to 'focus not primarily on boilers or heaters, but instead on people, and how they use the building,' as laid out in a 2023 Church Heating Principles document.

St Mary's said that, while it is too early to compare running costs between the old and new heating systems, it hopes that its newly installed electric heating will enable more efficient energy-use.

The contributions of the community, Diocese, external fundraisers, and architect were acknowledged.

Vicar of St Mary's, Rev Canon Marion Russell, said: "We began this in response to the Church of England’s commitment in 2020 to be carbon net zero by 2030, coinciding with our beginning a replacement plan for the aging gas boiler.

"I am deeply grateful for everyone – within the congregation and in all our various partners – who have addressed the considerable practicalities of this vision and made it possible here.

"God’s work of ongoing creation is seen in people, in things, and in vision and targets – a big thank you!"

The 'Cut the Carbon' initiative has been supported by the Benefact Trust, the Church Buildings Grant Scheme, the Church of England 'Give to Go Green' match funding pilot, the Sir John Priestman Trust, the North Yorkshire UKSPF Climate Action Programme, and 'the communities of Embsay and Eastby.'