From Sunday 17th August to Saturday 27th September 2025, the PCC of Kings Worthy is running a six week fundraising campaign towards the cost of installing solar panels on the roof of the Chapel Hall on Fraser Road.
Information on the solar panels proposal, and how you can help with the fundraising if you would like to, is set out below.
What is the background to the proposals?
The PCC and the Eco Church and Environment Hub have been exploring the potential for installing solar panels on either part of the roof of St Mary’s Church or the Chapel Hall for the last few months.
The PCC has decided to proceed with installation of solar panels on the Chapel Hall roof initially. Final designs and details of the proposed solar panels for the Chapel Hall roof are being finalised, but if we can raise sufficient funds, we hope to install panels on both parts of the ‘front’ and ‘back’ slopes of its existing roof, and to install battery storage and other equipment within an existing underused space in the hall itself.
The solar panels will generate renewable electricity that will be used to help power the Chapel Hall. The panels will also generate surplus electricity which will be sold back to the electricity grid, generating an ongoing small income for the church. In this way, the solar panels will help us to both reduce the church’s ongoing carbon emissions and its running costs.
The solar panels are being designed so that they do not require planning permission. This means that the panels cannot extend more than 20cm above the existing roof height. They must also be sited, so far as is practicable, to minimise the effect on the external appearance of the building and the amenity of the area.
We will inform our residential and commercial neighbours of our plans and timeline, before any installation takes place.
What are the costs and how will you fundraise?
The estimated costs for the installation of the solar panels on the Chapel Hall roof, including batteries and other related work is up to £20,000, depending on the final design.
As part of the work to date, we have made a successful application to the Church of England from its ‘Give to Go Green’ initiative, as part of its Net Zero Programme. This is a match funding scheme to help churches to cut their carbon footprint.
Our successful application means that the Church of England will match fund money that we can fundraise from within our congregation and local community up to the value of £10,000. So if we can raise £10,000, this will become £20,000.
The final decision to go ahead with the solar panel installation will be made by the PCC, based on how much money we can fundraise (including the Church of England match funding), and if we do not raise the full costs, whether any other potential funding can be made available.
Give to Go Green – how can I help and donate?
We would be very grateful to receive any donations towards the costs of the proposed solar panels for the Chapel Hall roof.
The Give to Go Green fundraising campaign has to run for a six week period. This will be from Sunday 17th August to Saturday 27th September 2025.
As noted above, the costs are estimated to be up to £20,000 in total.
As the Church of England will provide up to £10,000 match funding, we are hoping to be able to raise £10,000 towards the project costs from within our church community.
Any donations small or large would be very gratefully received towards these costs. These can be Gift Aided if you are a UK tax payer, which can increase the value of your donation. However, the Church of England’s Give to Go Green match funding is only for donations and won’t match fund any Gift Aid we are able to reclaim.
All the fundraising has to be completed through online giving – this is part of the Church of England’s rules for the Give to Go Green scheme.
There are two online ways in which donations can be given.
The first is through an online payment system called Stripe – details of which can be found either through using the QR code below, or at this website address: https://givealittle.co/c/3r9AK9uaKJrpkxwd7YR1Vk
The second is through the Sum Up machine at the back of St Mary’s church. Simply click the option ‘Give to Go Green’ to make your donation.
If you are interested in making a donation and would like any assistance with making online payments through Stripe or Sum Up, or you are not able to make a donation online, please contact Andy Blaxland (Eco Church and Environment Hub Leader) through the Church Office.
Any donations must be made by Saturday 27th September 2025 as the Church of England will close our fundraising campaign on that date.
As part of our fundraising, we are hoping to run a fundraising event or events in September, potentially including a cake / jumble / book sale. Date(s) for these will be announced through the Church Newsletter and by email. Any funds raised through the sales will be converted into an online Stripe donation so that it can qualify for Church of England match funding too.
What if more money than is needed is donated?
Depending how much money is raised, it is possible that more money may be donated and fundraised than the final costs of the project.
If this happens, any funds remaining could, with the PCC’s approval, be utilised to continue to investigate the potential for a future installation of solar panels on part of the roof of St Mary’s church. This could fund, or part-fund necessary bat surveys and structural surveys of the roof, for example.
How can I find out more information?
This information has been emailed to church members and will also be available in printed form at St Mary’s, the Chapel Hall and St Swithun’s during the fundraising period.
Members of the Eco Church and Environment Hub will also be available to provide more information and answer any queries following services at St Mary’s church on 17th August and St Swithun’s on 24th and 31st August, and at St Mary’s and the Chapel Hall at services in September.
If you have any queries or would like any further information in the meantime, please contact Andy Blaxland through the church office or by emailing ecohub.stmarys@gmail.com