Heating

One of the most important challenges facing churches today is providing sufficient comfort for the many different users of the building, from worshippers to staff to visitors. Achieving this whilst cutting our greenhouse gas emissions and conserving historic interiors creates specific technical challenges for church buildings.

A church’s heating system affects its fabric, its contents, its congregation and its mission. Heating makes up the vast majority (over 80%) of its energy use and carbon footprint. Heating costs money to run, maintain and replace. 
 

There is no universal solution to making a church comfortable and the key to arriving at a solution that provides reasonable comfort at a reasonable cost and reasonable environmental impact is to devote sufficient time and effort to understanding the particular needs of your own church.

We have divided our guidance into a suite of short, stand-alone sections. 

1. Heating principles

The principles underpinning this guidance start with people, not technology. Heating should focus on creating comfort for those who use the building, while protecting its historic fabric and reducing environmental impact. Churches are encouraged to begin by asking five key questions: Who are you heating? What activities take place? When and for how long? Where in the building? Which areas or objects need special care? These questions help shape a heating strategy that meets real needs rather than assumptions.

Before investing in new systems, churches should optimise what they already have. Simple measures such as repairing roofs and gutters, draught-proofing doors and windows, and insulating pipes can make a building warmer and drier, reducing the energy required for heating. Heating people rather than entire spaces is often more efficient, especially in large, high-ceilinged churches. Localised solutions such as pew heaters or infrared panels can provide comfort without wasting energy. For churches with historic interiors, expert advice is essential to avoid damage caused by rapid changes in temperature or humidity. Moving towards electric heating powered by renewable energy is a key long-term goal, but change may need to be gradual. Hybrid systems and zoning can help reduce reliance on fossil fuels while planning for full decarbonisation. Early consultation with the DAC and heating specialists is strongly recommended.

Download Section 1 Heating Principles

2. Heating perspectives

Heating decisions affect many stakeholders, each with different priorities. Church users want comfort and simple, intuitive controls. Churchwardens value reliability, ease of maintenance, and systems that can be programmed or controlled remotely. Treasurers focus on the total cost of ownership, including installation, running costs, maintenance, and eventual replacement. From an environmental perspective, heating is the single biggest contributor to a church’s carbon footprint, so reducing emissions is critical. Conservators warn that inappropriate heating can damage historic fabric and artefacts, while heating engineers emphasise the importance of technical design and capacity planning. DAC Secretaries ensure compliance with faculty rules and net zero guidance, and their early involvement can prevent delays and costly mistakes.
 

Download Section 2 Heating perspectives

3. Heating approaches

There is no one-size-fits-all solution for church heating. Different approaches achieve different outcomes. Space heating warms the air in the entire building but can be inefficient in large spaces. Background heating maintains a low constant temperature, which can help protect the building fabric but is costly if the church is rarely used. Localised or “people” heating, such as infrared panels or pew heaters, is often more efficient and responsive. Conservation heating focuses on stabilising humidity to protect artefacts, while frost prevention is essential for protecting plumbing during cold weather. Some churches create “winter zones,” heating only smaller areas during the colder months. Energy sources vary widely, from oil and gas to electricity, biomass, heat pumps, and solar thermal systems. Each has different implications for cost, carbon footprint, and practicality. Heat emitters also vary, including radiators, trench heaters, underfloor heating, and infrared panels. Many churches use a combination of approaches to meet their needs.

Download Section 3 Heating Approaches

4. Heating checklist

Before making changes, churches should carry out a thorough review using a structured checklist. This includes understanding how people use the building, assessing the condition and performance of the current system, identifying sources of heat loss, and considering the impact on historic interiors. Churches should also review their energy consumption, costs, and carbon footprint, and set clear objectives for comfort, conservation, and sustainability. Budget planning is essential, covering capital costs, maintenance, running costs, and eventual replacement. Consultation with stakeholders and experts should happen early, and constraints such as utility connections and space limitations must be taken into account.

Download Section 4 Heating Checklist

5. Heating pitfalls

This section highlights common mistakes and how to avoid them. Churches often waste energy by heating air instead of people, ignore humidity issues, or rush decisions without proper planning. Operational problems include misusing controls, running heating unnecessarily, and poor thermostat placement. Inappropriate heating can damage historic fabric and artefacts, while unsightly installations and intrusive flues can spoil the building’s appearance. Financial mistakes include focusing only on upfront costs rather than lifecycle costs and embodied carbon. The guidance stresses the importance of consulting specialists, planning ahead, and considering conservation and community use alongside comfort.

Download Section 5 Heating pitfalls

6. Options appraisals

An options appraisal helps churches compare and select the best solution. It begins with defining needs using the five key questions, then shortlisting feasible options and ruling out impractical ones. Each option should be assessed for installation cost, running cost, maintenance, lifespan, and carbon footprint. Common scenarios include churches with pews or chairs, rural locations, and varying patterns of use. Expert advice is often needed, especially for heritage buildings. The guidance includes a real-world example showing how a church selected electric local heaters over invasive alternatives, demonstrating the importance of careful analysis.

Download Section 6 Heating Options Appraisals

7. Heating Permissions

Changing a heating system involves legal and regulatory requirements. Faculty rules were updated in July 2022: replacing a fossil fuel boiler with another fossil fuel boiler now requires a full faculty, while non-fossil replacements may need archdeacon consent. Planning permission is required for external changes such as flues or heat pump units, especially in conservation areas. Building regulations cover fire safety, fuel storage, water efficiency, and energy conservation. Contractors must comply with industry standards and hold appropriate accreditations, such as Gas Safe, OFTEC, MCS, and NICEIC. Ongoing inspections, including annual servicing for boilers and heat pumps, are essential for safety and efficiency.

Download Section 7 Heating Permissions

8. Temporary Heating Solutions

When a heating system fails, rushing to replace it with a like-for-like fossil fuel boiler is often a missed opportunity. Temporary solutions can provide comfort while allowing time for proper planning. Options include portable electric heaters, heated cushions, and other “people heating” measures such as heated mats or jackets. Temporary boiler hire is possible but expensive and may require faculty permission. Safety is paramount: heaters should have thermostatic controls and automatic cut-offs, and should never be left unattended. Churches are encouraged to create a Heating Resilience Plan and dioceses may hold stocks of temporary heaters or cushions for emergencies.

Download Section 8 Temporary Heating Solutions

Heat Pumps

The 'net zero carbon' case studies page includes examples of projects where heat pumps have been fitted. Newcastle Cathedral opted for air source heat pumps on a section of the roof, whilst Chorley St Lawrence Primary School installed a ground source heat pump in its playing fields.

Biomass

Learn about the work done to install a biomass boiler at St Stephen's Bowling.

Alternative Electric Heating Solutions

Our case studies cover a range of innovative heating solutions, including; over-head and under-pew heaters at St Andrew's Chedworth, heated cushions at Marown, and infra-red chandeliers at St Catherine's Preston-next-Faversham.

Further Case Studies

To see the full range of examples, please visit the Case Studies Page

• Our extensive programme of net-zero church webinars, including videos of all past topics, covers church heating.
• Contact your DAC to ask to speak to your DAC heating or sustainability advisor. More and more dioceses now have them.
• The Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers maintains a register of consultants working in the heating industry.
• Contact your Diocesan Environment Officer.