How a church solved its boiler problem

What do you do when you have an urgent need for a new boiler but no money? Sam Griffiths shares one Baptist church's story

Our church, Wellington Baptist Church in the heart of Wellington, Somerset dates back to 1883. We’d been told that our 40-year old gas boiler was on its last legs but we had no money in the pot to pay for a replacement. With quotations coming in between £12,000 and £20,000 we were forced to issue an appeal to church members and ask them to urgently pray.
 
Then one day I was surfing the Baptist Collaboration Facebook page and caught sight of a discussion on biomass, and alternative heat options. After some research, a miracle presented itself - a totally brand new biomass boiler, installed completely free of charge!

It also came with the added benefits of lowering our energy costs and enhancing our green credentials. It took some believing, further investigation, extensive leadership team and church meetings and then we were ready to move forwards.
 
We commissioned a local biomass company to carry out the installation, which was to be financed by Gwent Energy CIC.
 
After a lengthy process just to get to this stage we were extremely disappointed when our chosen installation company was declared incapable of delivering the project. The project ground to a halt and we were left in the lurch with an imminent Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) tariff digression looming.
 
We prayed again! Within a week God had moved miraculously and out of the blue spoke to Pete O’Shaughnessy, MD of Dryad Energy.
 
Dryad Energy stepped into the breach and took over our installation project as per the original job specification. We were hugely relieved and pleased to have the project back on track.
 
The project was not without its challenges – our church occupies a town centre location so access was difficult and the boiler had to be maneuvered into the boiler house located in the cellar.

We held our breath at that stage but all went according to plan and our fully automated 100kW wood pellet boiler was installed successfully.
 
We’re thrilled with our biomass boiler and hugely appreciative of Pete and the rest of the Dryad team.

I no longer need to pray before switching on the boiler and our congregation will be toasty warm this winter.
 

The Revd Sam Griffiths is Pastor of Wellington Baptist Church