Archdeacon blesses first zero-carbon vicarage

The Archdeacon of Northolt, the Venerable Rachel Treweek formally blessed one of the country’s first ‘zero-carbon’ vicarages at St John’s Wembley last Friday.

The vicarage is a new build commissioned by the London Diocesan Fund in partnership with ASRA Greater London Housing Association.

The new vicarage is part of a mixed use development including affordable housing and a church hall.

It is one of the first in the country designed to comply with Level 6 of the Code for Sustainable Homes and The Church Commissioners’ publication, Parsonages: A Design Guide.

The vicarage has been accorded the Code’s highest sustainability rating – level 6 – and is set to become completely ‘zero carbon'.

It has been built with sustainability in mind and ‘green’ features include roof-top solar panels, the use of sustainable materials, and energy-saving measures.

Archdeacon of Northolt, Rachel Treweek presided over the blessing.

She said: "[The vicarage] is an emblem of sustainable building. It’s a fantastic development for Wembley and for the church-at-large, who are working hard and collaboratively to lower the UK’s carbon footprint and take better care of the world God has given us.

"We’re extremely proud to be at the forefront of the fight against climate change, and this is a great example of our principles in practice.”

Vicar of St John’s Wembley, the Rev Francis Adu-Boachie said: "I am very excited about our new home. We are thankful and privileged to live in the first code 6 vicarage in the London Diocese.

"It is a life changing building which will affect how we live and manage our energy consumption.

"As a parish we are committed to working with others on environmental issues and this building is both a sign and an example to the community of what can be achieved.

"There are lots of gadgets which we have to learn to operate and I’m looking forward to trying them all out.”