St Mary The Virgin Church in Wylye is a Grade II* listed church and was largely rebuilt in the early 19th century. The 15th-century tower and the 13th-century east window are the main evidence of its medieval origins.
The rebuild introduced a North Aisle alongside the nave which resulted in the church having two parallel east-west roofs. The southern aspect of the north roof cannot be seen from ground level or from any adjacent building – an ideal location for the installation of solar panels especially in a conservation area.
Having obtained permission from the Diocese and with the agreement of local conservation authorities, these are being installed with associated electrics neatly hidden in a redundant boiler room beneath the Vestry.
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It is thought to be the first rural church in Wiltshire to have solar panels. The installation is being carried out by SGS Heating and Electrical Ltd, a Renewables specialist based in Salisbury.
St Mary the Virgin Church in Wylye (Image: Roger Liddiard) Nathan Hollywood, Renewables and Project Manager at SGS said: “It was a pleasure to be given the opportunity to work on this bespoke project which is hopefully the first of many historic buildings looking to adopt sustainable clean energy solutions to reduce bills and carbon footprints to build a better planet.”
Wylye church has recently been fitted with infrared heating and new pew cushions to make the church warmer and cosier. The overall aim is to achieve net carbon zero. These solar panels will provide at least three-quarters of the church’s electrical needs.
The church is famous for the Popjay Tomb located in its churchyard and it has become increasingly popular for weddings and can seat up to 200 people, events which are made memorable by the ringing of its historic bells.
