Ancient Halton church approved for 17 solar panels

St Luke’s in Widnes is set to fit  17 panels after being hit with soaring energy costs. The church said it will help meet almost half of its electricity needs and help ensure it can continue to provide religious and community services.

The landmark Pit Lane site can trace its history back to the 12th Century and is a Grade II*-listed building.

The original chapel, which forms the central section of the church, was founded in 1180 and was first referred to as a ‘church’ in its own right in 1324, but a religious site has existed on  the grounds since the 9th Century.

Plans now approved by Halton Council said the panels are designed to avoid ‘unnecessary alteration’ to the existing historic fabric and to ensure that fixings and associated equipment are ‘appropriately located’.

It said the proposal would not include any alterations to the existing windows, doors, walls, roof form, internal layout or other architectural features of the church. The panels will be installed across its Chancel and Cuerdley Chapel roofs.

The application said the Farnworth church faced a hefty hike in gas central heating bills, going up from around £1,000 to £1,700 last December and can impact usage during the colder months.

The proposed system is expected to generate approximately 8.160 kWh of electricity per year, equivalent to approximately 47 per cent of the church’s

annual electricity demand.

It said that the panels would allow it to rein in costs while also ensuring the sustainability of the church,  as well as being in line with the Church of England’s net-zero targets.

The application said: “The proposals are not simply intended to reduce the church’s expenditure, but to help secure the long-term viability of St. Luke’s as a place of worship and as a valuable community facility.”

It added: “By reducing the financial burden associated with operating the building, the parish will be better placed to continue providing its existing range of services and activities, particularly during the colder months when the building is most heavily reliant on heating.”

In 2024 restoration work was carried out following a car crash the year before caused major damage to the 15th Century sandstone boundary
wall and 9th Century Anglo Saxon preaching cross.