THE rectory of All Saints Parish Church has had PV panels installed on its roof as part of a countywide scheme to produce solar power from church building roofs.

The vicarage is among a series of church buildings being used to produce solar energy by EcoChurch SouthWest, a partnership project between the Dioceses of Exeter, Bath and Wells, and Gloucester, working with Ecotricity to encourage the installation of renewable energy systems for church buildings.

St Mark's Church Hall in Exeter is among many other church buildings having PV panels installed on its roof.

Growing numbers of churches in the Diocese of Exeter are expressing interest in solar schemes and it is hoped to install more in the coming months. Some of them will be on listed buildings, but as temporary fixtures they are positioned so as not to be visibly intrusive.

These projects are part of 'Shrinking the Footprint', which is the Church of England's campaign to reduce its carbon emissions and address global climate change.

There can also be financial benefits to local churches and schools which receive free daytime electricity at a time of rising energy prices, and through long-term tariffs once the panels have been paid for.

The Diocese of Exeter's director for church and society, Martyn Goss, said: 'These are excellent examples of the church making a positive difference to both the climate and the community.

'In Christian terms, churches are able to take the power of God and offer it to the people of God for the benefit of all.'

Other churches across Devon have also installed independent PV systems on their buildings, including the Boniface Centre in Crediton.