04/04/2025
What makes this even more of an impressive achievement is that All Saints’ Turkdean only has a service once a month (except August), though it is open every day of the year.
But this is a story of a much-loved church that’s growing and which needed the heaters to keep people warm.
Churchwarden Vivien Burford, explains, “Ten years ago, we had a congregation of six or seven. We decided that we needed a service that was accessible for local people. We have a shorter, but still very traditional Book of Common Prayer service now. We serve refreshments and people stay on for an hour after the service chatting.”
Ten years on, some 40 people now attend the monthly service, as well as three special evensongs a year. A 14-year-old boy is being trained up as assistant organist, and the church choir is thriving.
It was at one of these special services, that much of the money was raised. Suddenly, the church had gone from hoping to raise £20,000, to having £16,800 and so work went ahead to install two infra-red heating and lighting chandeliers.
A special service was held in the ‘newly toasty Nave’ in November 2024 to mark the occasion.
Newly toasty: what was it like before? “It was very cold,” says Vivien. “We had mobile, oil-filled radiators, but because of the high ceiling, they didn’t make much of a difference.”
Formerly, the congregation met in the chancel. But since numbers have swelled, they have spread out to use the Nave, making the installation of the halo heaters important.
“It’s lovely and warm inside the church now,” said Vivien. “We have got a lot to be proud of.”
The congregation was, if you’ll forgive the pun, ‘fired up’ about trying to reach net zero and changing its heating system, according to Vivien. “It’s what we have to do,” she says.
“These heaters are part of our faith and mission,” says Vivien. “It’s very warm in the church now, and everybody says that they look so right in that setting.”
Erica Siddall, Net Zero Carbon Project Manager at the Diocese of Gloucester, said: “It's great to see what has been achieved at All Saints Church, who have worked closely with their Diocesan Advisory Committee in making this project happen.
“Churches don’t have to be able to self-fund in order to implement such a project though - funds are available. Projects like these can lead to Eco Church awards which in turn can help attract even more funding.”
