Faced with a broken heating system in its large medieval building, St John the Baptist Church in Keynsham launched a plan to install a cutting-edge, environmentally-friendly replacement and has already raised an impressive £110,000 in under a year.
The church’s new heating solution will use electric radiant heat panels mounted in ‘halo’ chandeliers, chosen for their energy efficiency, low running costs, and visual sensitivity to the historic interior. Once installed, the system will reduce the church’s carbon footprint by more than 12 tonnes of CO₂ every year.
The fundraising effort has been wide-ranging and imaginative. In addition to significant individual giving, the church has secured £5,000 from Bath & Wells, £15,000 from the West of England Combined Authority, and support from local businesses through vouchers and sponsorship.
Because of the innovative nature of the project, it has also attracted the backing of the Aviva Community Fund, which is currently doubling individual donations of up to £250 through its matched funding scheme. St John’s has now raised £30,000. The origional target of £15,000 was raised in just four days!
The team at St Johns also created an informative video. The video seeks to share the plans for the church with the local community. Understanding that St John’s is well known to most people in the town, the team sought to keep them informed about what was taking place and what difference it will make to the town. Their message invited everyone to help it mark 750 years of service to the town by contributing to a lasting legacy for future generations.
On the website the team at St John’s shared practical advice for those who want to make a donation; ideas such as how to use the “custom tip” option on the donation page to avoid extra charges, and information about how Gift Aid can be applied to donations or sponsorships, were explained.
To support the campaign and see the church’s progress, visit the church's Heat the Heart of Keynsham web page.