Higher power for local church

The church has raised £39,000 to install 32 solar panels on the roof.

An award-winning eco-friendly Methodist church in Cheltenham is looking to the skies as it takes another leap of faith with its environmental activities.

Bethesda Methodist Church has installed 32 solar photovoltaic panels on the south facing roof after two years of planning and fund-raising.

The solar panels are expected to generate upwards of 7,000 kW hours of electricity annually for most of their 25-year life span.

The project has cost around £39,000 with the money being raised through donations from the church congregation, the UK Government Low Carbon Building Fund, the local Methodist Church Circuit Advance Fund, Cheltenham Borough Council and The Summerfield Trust.

Bethesda Methodist Church has already received two national eco-awards for its environmental stewardship programme.

Environmental issues

Since the first award in 2003, Bethesda has become a registered Fair Trade church and has sold more than £12,000 worth of fair-trade goods.

They have also distributed more than 1000 low energy light bulbs, operated an extensive recycling scheme and given support to other environmental groups at home and abroad.

Following the presentation of its second award in 2007, Bethesda has launched its own carbon offset programme, funds from which have just paid for the installation of a solar hot water system at Sukumanwenze AIDs orphanage in Durban, South Africa.

Bethesda is part of the National Eco-Congregation programme which helps churches of all denominations make the link between environmental issues and their Christian faith, encouraging them to respond through practical action.