Blog: July & August 2025 - Heating

All five of our Village Churches have challenges with their heating!  Every winter we begin another round of discussions.  Not just the price of fuel which we all face, but how soon do we turn heating on, who adjusts time switches, do we need heat on for every short service or meeting, do we cancel some services or events or hold them elsewhere?  And how long will the existing system including the boiler work?  And what is our long term (or possible medium or even short term) plan for future renewal or replacement and how might we cost this?

And now rightly we have the challenge of ‘climate change’ and scarcity of the earth’s resources - especially fossil fuels (often now referred to as ‘dirty’ fuels), and looking to plan for using more renewable energy.

So during the summer months (and its especially hot as I write!) we need to look ahead and plan for this coming winter.  Our present culture sees the summer months as a time for rest and recreation, whereas it’s the busiest time for builders and farmers (‘make hay while the sun shines’) and a time to prepare for the cold months of the year when many – especially the very young, the elderly and infirm struggle to cope with the low temperatures.

When I first came here in January 2019, I was told ‘Wilden is the warmest of the 3’ – and later of the 5 - although Keysoe can also get nice and warm.  Wilden’s wonderful old faithful oil heater finally breathed it’s last in January, so we huddled in the Vestry for services in January and February.  The race is on to sort new efficient electric under-pew and wall heaters by next winter (maybe one day utilising solar power?) with all necessary permissions and costs involved especially with new electrical wiring. And we are looking at Grants and other funding sources for approximately £30,000 for the complete installation – so donations as well as other sources of funding would be gratefully received!

Warmth and comfort is a key theme in the Bible.  Whilst much is set in the Mediterranean Climate, Jesus warned of facing challenges in their very cold winters.  One of the pictures of God’s Spirit is of fire, and healing is sometimes experienced by warmth.  We want our churches to be places of welcome, so with all the work and maintenance needed on our Grade 1 listed Mediaeval Buildings, we keep warmth and efficient heating especially with renewable energy constantly in our minds, as we need to be good stewards of God’s wonderful earth.

So as we enjoy our lovely summer weather and get out into God’s beautiful world and maybe visit the seaside, lets also keep in mind our need always to be ready and prepared for what is ahead of us.  And we will continue to work to ensure everyone coming to our churches has a warm welcome, experiences the warmth of God’s present and wherever possible worships Him, meets with Him and His people in as warm a church or alternative winter venue as possible.

Timothy Wilson