BBC Radio Manchester Features

Trinity Church in Audenshaw is being rebuilt using the latest environmentally-friendly techniques to reduce its carbon footprint.

Trinity Church, Audenshaw

In 2004, the church joined with Guide Lane Methodist and Bridge St. United Reformed to form Trinity Church, Audenshaw. But the Red Hall building is to be completely overhauled - in a very green way.

There will be no draughty steeple and stone walls: instead, the new Trinity will incorporate solar panels, roof insulation and the latest energy saving techniques.

Another main difference will be the unique way the church is heated: using geothermic heat, the church will use natural power from the Earth’s core to provide warmth. Fires from Hell indeed.

Carbon footprint

Deacon Roger Hensman and his wife Audrey are behind the project. "Theologically, we want to be good stewards of our environment so it fits in with the ecological imperative to reduce our carbon footprint".

‘We’ll have an emergency immersion heater for those special occasions when we might need more hot water than the panels provide,’ says Audrey.  ‘But for the day-to-day use, the solar panels will be the main source of power.’

Demolition is planned to take two months with rebuilding scheduled to finish in July next year. The grand opening is expected to be the following September.