St Gabriel’s Church in Huyton has long been a stand-out church for its contribution towards the Diocese of Liverpool’s net zero goals. Recognised as an outstanding Silver Eco Church, the congregation has made numerous changes to its heating and electrics to reduce environmental impact.
A recent grant enabled the church to install new LED lighting in the community hall. This means that 100% of their lighting is now energy efficient, with a 60% reduction in energy used for the hall lighting alone. The same grant also allowed the creation of specific recycling areas, with clear signage on the walls and bins to prevent cross-contamination and encourage sustainable habits. All of St Gabriel’s net zero work was made possible by Rev Lynne Connolly, the church’s eco lead. Her work has been excellent and the church is hoping to be awarded Gold Eco Church in the near future.
Sustainability extends into their outdoor space too. The scripture garden gives local schoolchildren and the wider community the opportunity to learn about key Bible stories in a natural setting. The community garden has been furnished with new seating, tables and a picnic bench, providing a welcoming place for reflection and fellowship.
But St Gabriel’s has taken their eco commitment one step further, creating something unique that combines heritage, artistry and sustainability.
The main stained-glass window at St Gabriel’s is made entirely from recycled glass.
The story began when glass dating back to the 1950s was recovered from All Saints Church, Farnworth, Manchester, a redundant church where the window had fallen into a sorry state. Pieces of the original glass were missing; the metalwork was badly damaged and its future seemed uncertain. Thanks to the Stained-Glass Repository and conservator Linda Hadfield, St Gabriel’s were put in touch with the right expertise to restore it.
The re-fabrication process took nearly five years. Supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund and the generosity of parishioners, the glass was installed in December 2018 and blessed by the then Bishop of Liverpool, Rt Revd Paul Bayes, in January 2019. Known as The Anniversary Window, it was funded through donations both in memory of loved ones and from the wider local community, as well as a generous grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund.
The glass itself is of the highest quality, originating from the renowned Powells of Whitefriars workshops. The artist was Carl Johannes Edwards (originally Kiviaho, 1914–1985), who was born in Marylebone to Finnish parents. Following the restoration, representatives from All Saints Farnworth officially handed the window over to St Gabriel’s for safekeeping, ensuring that its story continued.
Every piece of glass in this window is recycled, whether from the original design, from other redundant windows, or from donated waste glass provided by parishioners and the local community. What was once broken and overlooked has been reimagined as an awe-inspiring piece of art.
To celebrate the project, members of the congregation joined stained-glass workshops, forming small groups and creating their own works now displayed in the church. Even the left-over glass was put to good use, forming a smaller window funded by a parishioner in memory of her son, which was installed in the chancel south wall. Nothing went to waste.
At an award ceremony hosted by St Gabriel’s forThe National Lottery Heritage Fund to celebrate heritage achievement across the region, the church was highly commended for its sustainable work in giving an old stained-glass window a new life in a new home.
If the colours of the Anniversary Window seem familiar, it may be because Carl Edwards went on to design and install the Great West (Benedicite) Window in Liverpool Cathedral shortly afterwards. The artistic link between St Gabriel’s and the Cathedral adds further depth to the significance of the project.
This stunning piece of art has brought joy to many parishioners and visitors, standing out as a focal point in one of the Diocese’s most deprived areas. This window transparently shows that sustainability and creativity go hand in hand.
Whether through practical changes to heating and electrics, creating gardens and community spaces, or giving new life to historic stained glass, St Gabriel’s continues to show that sustainability and the journey to net zero are central to their mission.
You can check out some of the excellent shots on the window below…
