Church Gets a Green Grant Towards Rewiring and New LED Lights

Published on: 14 Mar, 2013
Updated on: 16 Mar, 2013

St Francis’ Church in Westborough is one of a number of community groups and non-for profit organisations to be awarded a grant of £500 from Guildford Borough Council towards carbon-saving projects.

The church will be putting the money towards purchasing LED lights as part of its electrical rewiring of the building.

St Francis’ Church, Beckingham Road, Westborough.

The team rector, the Rev’d Stefanie Hodges, said: “The £500 that we have received from the council is the start of raising funds for the rewiring of the church. This work was highlighted on the church’s quinquennial report along with the need to re-decorate the inside of the church.

“We hope to also have wiring installed for screens that will be placed at the front of the church. On to these will be projected the service details and words to hymns, etc.

“The cost of decorating, which will need to be done at the same time, is included in the total we have to raise. I am hoping we can get it all done for £40,000.”

Schools, community groups and not-for-profit organisations benefit from Guildford Borough Council’s grants for carbon-saving projects. The Greening the Borough grants, which St Francis successfully applied to, helps fund energy-saving measures and cut carbon emissions.

Others to benefit are

The Raleigh School, West Horsley – for self-closing door mechanisms on three external classroom doors, preventing heat from escaping.
Burpham School – for cycle and scooter storage.
Christ’s College – for compost bins for their kitchen food waste to use on their allotment.
Worplesdon Primary School – for energy-saving outside lighting and light sensors.
Shalford Infant School – for cycle and scooter racks.
Puttenham Church of England School – for radiator reflector panels and shelves.

Cllr Matt Furniss, Lead Councillor for Environment said: “Every year we award grants of up to £500 for projects that use practical measures to help save energy. Our funding has helped support everything from small-scale energy and heat technologies to greener transport schemes. Little changes can make a big difference, and we can all play our part to help reduce our impact on the environment.”