The village of Curbar in the peak park nestles between the river Derwent and the escarpment which forms the ‘bar’ to the east.
On Ascension day 2026 I was pleased to join with over thirty others for a benefice service at the village church, All Saints.
I had another reason for my visit. The May sunshine shone brightly, making for a beautiful day (albeit with a cool wind!). The sun was making the grass in the churchyard grow, and the trees wore a vivid coat of new leaves.
And, thanks to the solar panels on the roof of the church, the sun was also boiling the kettle for tea inside the building!
Back in 2020, the church installed 12 Panasonic solar panels and an inverter, to turn the DC generated into the AC which we use in our homes.
Like many churches, All Saints possesses a large south facing roof, ideal for catching daylight. The panels were installed on top of the slates to the east end of the building. This location makes them unobtrusive and they blend in well. This was important as the church lies in both the peak park and the village conservation area.
On learning of the reason for my visit, one member of the congregation asked ‘Ah, but what would Betjeman say?!’
Sir John Betjeman, poet laureate and keen ecclesiologist, was famously no fan of the intrusions of modern technology.
I replied that both SPAB and the Victorian society had not objected to the installation, and since Betjeman was a very active member of both organisations, that ought to count for something.
On further reflection, whilst Betjeman was a staunch defender of the traditional fabric of churches, I think that he would have been moved by the idea of a church- a place of light- using solar energy to address the modern, highly destructive power of climate change.
I’m sure that he would have seen beauty, love and the hand of God in the work of a church community caring for the world around them.
(As an aside, St Annes in Highgate, where Betjeman was christened, installed a large solar array back in 2016, saving several tonnes of carbon each year!)
I spoke to Jane, the PCC treasurer. She told me that the panels cost about £7000 to instal, with the money being donated by members of the congregation.
As the church is used only a couple of times a week, they decided not to install a battery, rather they sell excess power back to the grid. This is something which could be revisited in future, as it is possible to add batteries in order to store generated energy.
Jane told me that the panels have resulted in the electricity bills falling by over 25% -which will result in the project having paid for itself in just a few more years.
Whilst the installation itself went smoothly (and the panels have worked flawlessly since they were fitted), gaining planning permission was more difficult.
I’m pleased to say that this is becoming far more straightforward. Both the DAC and planning authorities (including in the national park) have become much more familiar and accepting of applications to install panels, even on listed buildings.
If you are interested in installing panels on your church please contact netzero@derby.anglican.org
We are also holding an event looking at the solar panels at St Helens Grindleford on June 18th. If you would like to come along, please get in touch.
