An East London church has been hailed as the capital's greenest after a major retrofit saw its roof covered with solar panels and its heating system revolutionised with modern heat pumps.
A Beacon of Green Energy in Hackney
St Paul's Church in West Hackney, Stoke Newington, has undergone a transformative £170,000 decarbonisation project. The wide, flat roof of the Anglican church now hosts 104 solar panels, complemented by four air source heat pumps. Together, this system provides approximately 70% of the building's substantial energy needs.
The project was made possible through a collaborative funding effort, utilising grants from the community group Stokey Energy, the Hackney Council Community Energy Fund, and the London Olympics Legacy Fund. Father Brandon Fletcher-James, who became priest in summer 2025, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that the church is now a "green beacon for the Diocese of London."
"All churches aspire to be environmentally friendly, but we try to do it in a way that actually is practical," Father Fletcher-James said, noting that other churches have already begun seeking his advice.
Substantial Savings and a Model for Others
The new green technology is delivering serious financial and environmental benefits. The system generates an impressive 46 megawatt-hours (MWh) of electricity annually. To put that in perspective, an average UK household uses about 2.7 MWh per year.
In June 2025 alone, the church used 6MWh of energy, with 92% generated by its own solar array. Excess power is stored in on-site batteries for use during winter or less sunny days, rather than being sold back to the grid at a lower price.
While exact savings fluctuate with energy prices, initial projections based on the parish's £40,000 investment suggested the cost could be recouped in around four years, implying annual savings of roughly £10,000.
The project was spearheaded by Stokey Energy, a group focused on turning community buildings into solar powerhouses. Co-founder Tom Campbell explained the challenge, stating, "Most churches have phenomenal thermal leaking... the [buildings] are so poorly insulated." This makes achieving 100% renewable energy extremely difficult for such historic structures.
Political Praise and a Wider Green Ambition
The church's success has drawn attention from the highest levels. On 18 December 2025, the site received a ministerial visit from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ). Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State Martin McCluskey praised St Paul's as a flagship example of community-led action that delivers "massive savings."
"It really stands as an example for what other buildings across the country can take advantage of," Mr McCluskey said, highlighting the availability of the technology.
Hackney Council is now looking to replicate this model across other places of worship in the borough. Furthermore, the council is piloting a major residential solar project, installing panels on 27 blocks across three estates at a cost of roughly £2 million from its climate budget and City Hall's Carbon Offset Fund.
As for St Paul's, Father Fletcher-James sees this as just the beginning. "There is so much more we can do to be environmentally friendly in terms of our day-to-day running and costs," he said, signalling further green initiatives in the new year.
