The Diocese of Chester covers most of Cheshire plus the Wirral and parts of Greater Manchester, with around 270 parishes. The Net Zero Capital Grants programme supports parish solar with strong delivery records since 2020. The diocese borders Liverpool, Manchester, and Lichfield, creating a busy cross-diocesan corridor for renewables work.
The Diocese of Chester at a glance
- Bishop
- Bishop Mark Tanner
- Coverage
- Cheshire (most), the Wirral, parts of Trafford and Stockport
- Parishes
- ~270 CofE parishes
- Net zero target
- 2030
- Chancellor (faculty)
- Sir Mark Hedley
- Capital programme
- Chester Diocese Net Zero Capital Grants
- Maximum diocesan grant
- £22,000
Notable historic churches in the diocese
- Chester Cathedral
- Stockport St Mary's
- Birkenhead Priory church
- Northwich St Helen's
- Macclesfield St Michael's
Funding stack for Chester parish solar
A typical parish solar project in the Diocese of Chester combines multiple funding routes to achieve 80-100% capex cover:
| Grant source | Value range | Typical share of capex |
|---|---|---|
| Chester Diocese Net Zero Capital Grants | Up to £22,000 | 40-60% |
| Buildings for Mission (CofE national) | £10,000-£50,000 | 40-60% |
| Listed Places of Worship VAT Grant Scheme | 20% of capex | 20% |
| Cheshire Christian Trust | £1,000-£10,000 | 5-10% |
Faculty jurisdiction in the Diocese of Chester
For Church of England parishes in the Diocese of Chester, any works to a consecrated building — including solar PV — require a faculty granted by the Chancellor, Sir Mark Hedley, on the advice of the Diocesan Advisory Committee (DAC). For a well-prepared solar application, the typical timescale from PCC resolution to faculty grant is 10-18 weeks for non-listed and Grade II buildings, extending to 18-26 weeks for Grade II* and Grade I where Historic England consultation is required.
We have prepared faculty applications across the Diocese of Chester and know the DAC office, diocesan architect, and Net Zero Officer personally. See our 2026 PCC guide to faculty jurisdiction for the full process, or our faculty application service page for our delivery approach.
Cities and towns covered in the Diocese of Chester
We deliver across the Cheshire (most), the Wirral, parts of Trafford and Stockport footprint, with particular activity in:
How we work with Diocese of Chester parishes
- Free desk feasibility — system size, capex, grant routes specific to Chester, PCC-ready report inside 7 working days
- On-site survey — structural and electrical engineers; engagement with diocesan architect
- Faculty application — Statement of Significance, Statement of Needs, DAC consultation, representation at chancery
- Grant applications — Chester Diocese Net Zero Capital Grants, Buildings for Mission, Listed Places of Worship VAT scheme
- Install and commission — typically 1-3 weeks on site, with full PCC training and monitoring active
- Post-commissioning — Eco Church credit logged, parish magazine feature, annual carbon report
Common questions — Diocese of Chester parish solar
How many CofE parishes does the Diocese of Chester have?
Approximately 270 parishes across Cheshire (most), the Wirral, parts of Trafford and Stockport.
Who is the Chancellor of the Diocese of Chester?
Sir Mark Hedley grants faculties for solar installations on consecrated parish buildings.
What is the diocese's net zero target?
The Diocese of Chester has committed to net zero by 2030, in line with (or ahead of) the Church of England's national 2030 General Synod commitment.
What grant funding is available for Chester parish solar?
The principal route is the Chester Diocese Net Zero Capital Grants, with awards up to £22,000. This combines with national Buildings for Mission grants, the Listed Places of Worship VAT Grant Scheme, and charitable trust funding to typically cover 50-100% of capex.
How long does a faculty application take in the Diocese of Chester?
For a well-prepared solar faculty application, 10-18 weeks for non-listed and Grade II buildings; longer for Grade II* and Grade I where Historic England consultation is required.