At St James's Church, Aston, a small change has made a big difference. With support from the Church of England's Quick Win Grant, St James's Church has replaced its outdated lighting with new LED fittings making the space brighter, more welcoming, and far more energy-efficient.
In June 2024, the St James’s Church team submitted a grant application with a clear objective: improve visibility in the church while lowering energy use and costs. Just four weeks later, the application was approved, and by October, the work was complete. Old bulbs were replaced, some fittings swapped where needed, and everything was up and running swiftly with no changes to layout or switching required.
The results were immediate. Around a third of the old lighting hadn't been working at all, but now the church was well-lit and noticeably more vibrant. Even better, it's now using far less electricity. Comparing December 2023 to the same month a year later, energy use dropped from 804 kWh to just 532 kWh.
Funding came from the following sources: £2,500 from the CofE Quick Win Grant, £942 reclaimed through the National Listed Places of Worship Scheme, and £2,210 from parish funds. The total cost came to £5,652.
This work is one part of St James's Church's wider Eco Church journey of small, practical steps toward long-term sustainability. By cutting carbon and cutting costs, St James's Church is highlighting the way for others considering similar projects and contributing to CofE Birmingham's progress as a recently awarded A Rocha Silver Eco Diocese.
CofE Quick Win Grants are available every six months starting June 2024. Contact Alice Latham (alice.latham@cofebirmingham.com) for the application form.