Welcoming more: Trinity United enhances space for tenant and community use

As community needs shift, many churches are finding new life by opening their doors to a wider range of users, from partner congregations to local organizations and event groups. More people in the building mean higher expectations for comfort, rising energy demands, and growing costs, especially in older buildings. At Trinity United Church in Grimsby, Ontario, this reality came to a head in 2023. In response, the church upgraded its building to ensure its space could remain both welcoming and sustainable.

“Like many small-town churches these days, ours is an important community resource. We’re an old congregation in an old building, and we recognize the need to make that space both comfortable and useful,” states Ken Pettigrew, Board Member at Trinity United Church, Grimsby, Ontario

Over the years, Trinity United has made steady improvements to its facilities with a focus on sustainability and energy efficiency. Upgrades include energy-efficient lighting, windows, and doors, as well as regular caulking and sealing to prevent heat loss. Trees were planted on the property to provide natural shade and reduce cooling needs, and solar panels were installed on three roofs, which feed into the local grid and generate income for the church.

Meeting the needs of members, tenants, and the local community

In late 2023, two significant events occurred at Trinity United that brought attention back to the comfort and energy efficiency of its buildings.

Trinity United’s long-time neighbors and the founders of the congregation, St. John’s Presbyterian, sold their building and joined as tenants, coming full circle by worshipping once again in the space they had built in 1853. Their return raised concerns about the heating, and perhaps more importantly, the cooling of Memory Hall, the original 1889 structure, which would now serve both as their new worship space and as Trinity’s primary community hall.

At the same time, Trinity’s Board had been struggling with the already rising energy costs. Despite past upgrades, including energy-efficient windows and doors, maintaining comfort and controlling costs remained an ongoing challenge.

“Our experience of heating a virtually empty building during the COVID-19 years brought the matter to a head. An energy audit not only confirmed how much our costs were rising, but also revealed the full extent of our growing carbon footprint – Our heating issue had become not simply a financial burden but also and perhaps more importantly, an ecological  and theological one.” shares Pettigrew

A solution for increased building usage 

As Trinity United Church explored various options, heat pumps began to make sense—their heating and cooling capacity, combined with their efficiency and their potential to reduce reliance on natural gas, made them a great alternative. While not eliminating the need for natural gas, the heat pumps offered the opportunity to drastically reduce gas consumption in the church’s two largest spaces: its Memory Hall, the original sanctuary now serving as the main meeting place, and the newer 1958 sanctuary.

“We had several significant tenants who were asking for air conditioning, and we had always resisted due to cost and impact. Heat pumps offered us a way to reduce our carbon usage while improving the comfort of our facilities,” states Pettigrew

The project was made possible by a generous donation from the church’s new neighbors, St. John’s Presbyterian, who donated a significant sum toward the project. Combined with a major grant from the Faithful Footprints program, this support allowed the Trustees to cover the remaining costs and proceed with the installation of 16 mini-split heat pumps in the two key spaces.

“The impact was immediate—even with our natural gas boilers turned down to ‘barely on,’ the comfort levels in our rooms noticeably improved, and folks would actively comment on it. We fully expect that the installation of these heat pumps will not only enhance the usefulness of our facilities to the community but also serve as a model of energy efficiency and carbon reduction for the town. We are hoping that they will also increase the attractiveness of our facilities for community activities and potential rentals, which will in turn allow us to continue as a faith community and a community asset.” reflects Pettigrew

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Faithful Footprints Program

The United Church of Canada’s Faithful Footprints program offers inspiration, tools, and grants to help its faith communities reduce their carbon footprint. With the Church’s commitment to reducing its greenhouse gasses (GHG) emissions by 80% by 2030, this one-of-a-kind program offers up to $30,000 in grants towards energy conservation and renewable energy projects (conditions apply).

Faith & the Common Good is the delivery partner for the Faithful Footprints program. To date, we have engaged over 500 congregations, camps, and buildings across the country. Your participation in the program puts your faith into action and helps the Church reach its target. 

Staying on Course: Stamford Lane United Prioritizes Sustainability with Boiler Replacement Project

Stamford Lane United Church (Niagara Falls) understands the importance of sustainability within its walls, recognizing that its building is much more than just a physical space. As a central hub for worship, learning, fellowship, and community outreach, the church has made it a priority to ensure its longevity and sustainability. 

Congregants at Stamford Lane United are committed to maintaining its building for the future. The church has built up a talented Property Committee with experienced leadership skills, as well as a Trustee Committee that oversees and guides their planning and asset management to ensure the long term health and sustainability of the church and community of faith.

Committed to creating a more eco-friendly and welcoming environment, the church has taken several steps to improve and maintain the integrity and condition of its building, focusing on operational cost-effectiveness and energy conservation. Efforts include upgrading to ENERGY STAR-rated windows, commercial freezer, and dishwasher, installing LED lighting, weatherproofing doors, and replacing the roof and stone masonry, among other improvements.

“The planned sustainability of our building is a continuing high priority for our faith community as the church is a center and a hub for our worship experience, learning and delivery, fellowship, mission and outreach and serving as a space for many and various groups and services in the City – It is of the utmost importance that we remain on course to ensure the building has a long term integrity as it serves so many purposes our congregation and community depends upon.” shares Alastair Davis, Chair Boiler Fundraising Committee, Stamford Lane United Church, Niagara Falls, ON

An impeding boiler 

Requiring extensive maintenance each year, Stamford Lane United’s 32-year-old boiler had reached the point where it was impeding on the larger sustainability goals of the church. With a sound and functioning heating system otherwise, the aging boiler caused a significance drain on finances, and was a major contributor to the church’s carbon emissions. When staff at Stamford Lane United were informed that the boiler was nearing the end of its lifespan, the time had come for a more sustainable solution.

“Replacing our boiler would positively impact our community of faith, demonstrating that we are keeping our commitment, and provide security in knowing a major operational challenge has been met and resolved” stated Davis

To carry out the replacement, Stamford Land United created a Boiler Fundraising Committee which was responsible for raising supporting funds to replace the boiler. This committee discovered The United Church of Canada’s Faithful Footprints program and immediately prepared a grant application with the enthusiastic support of their council, trustees, committees and congregation. 

“We announced the Boiler fundraising plan and the approved $20,000 grant from Faithful Footprints. Everyone was surprised and motivated to learn about the major grant. They responded quickly and generously as the funding goal was achieved.” reflects Davis

Stamford Lane United allocated all funds toward the project. The church was able to upgrade its boiler with a IBC 500,000 BTU high efficiency commercial condensing boiler and a potable water boiler; integrate existing controls to new boilers with zones, and set up 7-day programmable energy management systems to both its sanctuary and gymnasium.

A year after the replacement of their boiler, Stamford Lane United reduced its weather normalized source by 30%, total GHG emissions by 42%, total GHG emission intensity by 42.4%, electricity usage by 23.5%, natural gas usage by 42.8%, and energy costs by 6.5%.

The boiler replacement not only supported Stamford Land United’s operational sustainability but also secured its continued role as a hub for connection, support, and service for members and the surrounding community.

“The Faithful Footprints grant enabled us to rapidly replace an inefficient and expensive to operate boiler – We are secure knowing we will continue a space for worship and pastoral care gatherings, kids' events, humanitarian aid initiatives, bargain boutique, alcoholics anonymous meetings, UNIFOR events, transitions programs, mission and service projects, yoga sessions, adult and junior choirs, dance lessons, and many other community activities” shares Davis.

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Faithful Footprints Program

The United Church of Canada’s Faithful Footprints program offers inspiration, tools, and grants to help its faith communities reduce their carbon footprint. With the Church’s commitment to reducing its greenhouse gasses (GHG) emissions by 80% by 2030, this one-of-a-kind program offers up to $30,000 in grants towards energy conservation and renewable energy projects (conditions apply).

Faith & the Common Good is the delivery partner for the Faithful Footprints program. To date, we have engaged over 500 congregations, camps, and buildings across the country. Your participation in the program puts your faith into action and helps the Church reach its target. 

Five Oaks Centre Invests over 700K to Rejuvenate its Property and Buildings

Five Oaks Centre, located in Paris, Ontario, is a unique intercultural and interfaith centre offering a safe space for educational and spiritual programs and retreats. From one-off workshops to week-long residential experiences, Five Oaks provides a place where individuals and communities can explore their lives and the world in light of faith and values, discovering their calling to participate in Spirit’s healing work in creation.

Situated on 116 acres at the meeting point of the Grand River and Whitemans Creek, among old-growth Carolinian Forest, Five Oaks features 13 buildings that support its work, house guests, and provide spaces for programming, dining, accommodation, and recreation. In line with its core value of environmental stewardship, Five Oaks Centre has prioritized the care of both its land and buildings essential to its mission. This commitment has included ongoing investments to ensure the best possible facilities for its staff and guests, while also fostering sustainable practices that benefit both the community and the Earth.

“Our buildings are more than just structures; they are the foundation of our mission and the spaces where transformation and positive change occur. Each addition and renovation reflects our growth and our commitment to providing a nurturing environment for all who come to Five Oaks” says Kailey Stewart, Communications and Social Media Administrator , Five Oaks Centre “Whether it’s the tranquility of our Simply Be retreats with creative practices and nature connection, the transformative journey of our Seeking Transformation programs exploring biases and perspectives, the custom group retreats designed for team-building, or our engaging outdoor education and camp programs promoting biodiversity and inclusion, our facilities support every aspect of what we do.”

Caring for the Land through its Facilities

Over the last decade, Five Oaks has made significant upgrades to improve the energy efficiency and sustainability of its facilities. Nine windows have been upgraded, and all light fixtures and bulbs have been replaced with LED units. The Centre has also installed seven dusk-to-dawn lights in the parking lot and around its pool area, and old toilets have been replaced with low flush units. During the renovation of its Upper Room part of its main facility, insulation was added to both the walls and the ceiling – which previously had an R-value of 4, with the exterior walls lacking any insulation. In 2016, the furnace in its House on the Hill was also replaced.

“Our planned improvements would further reduce our environmental footprint but also reflect our dedication to creating a comfortable and welcoming environment for our guests. While these choices would be more expensive, requiring additional fundraising efforts, we firmly believe that investing in our property is the right path forward for the future of Centre.” shares Mary Palka, Donor Development, Grants and Gifts Coordinator,Five Oaks Retreat Centre.

Five Oaks Property 5-Year Rejuvenation Plan: Investing in Key Spaces on the Property

To further invest in its property, the Centre adopted a business model in 2016 that included developing a 5-year property rejuvenation plan. Incorporated into the Centre’s Strategic Plan, under the key objective ‘revilitize key spaces’, the rejuvenation plan laid out an extensive retrofit of the Five Oaks property buildings and surrounding areas, with special attention to ensuring environmentally responsible decisions.

Five Oaks started with its building’s Upper Room in 2018. In 2019, they renovated its New Hall, installed an elevator, refurbished its Model Suite, and replaced its Hermitage building roof. The A Wing of its main building were updated during 2019 and 2020, while its New Hall radiator covers and windows were updated in 2020. The carpets in its House on the Hill were replaced in 2021, and its washrooms in the Chalet and Lower Campus, as well as its kitchen were renovated the same year. The furnace in its House on the Hill was changed to an air-source heat pump system in 2022, followed by the conversion of its Peace House and Friendship House from an oil system to air-source heat pumps in 2023.

Faithful Footprints Helps Fund Rejuvenation Plan

To support the Centre’s rejuvenation efforts, The United Church of Canada’s Faithful Footprints program provided $30,000 to help fund the replacement of the 39 windows in several key buildings on the Five Oaks property, including its Peace House, House on the Hill, Friendship House, its main offices, bookstore, prayer room, art room and guest bedrooms.

“This project is a crucial element of our broader rejuvenation plan for our 71-year-old retreat centre. By upgrading our facilities with these new windows, we are not only enhancing the immediate environment but also ensuring that Five Oaks continues to be a vibrant and welcoming space for future generations. Our goal is to preserve and improve our centre so that it remains a place of inspiration, reflection, and community for many years to come.” says Stewart

The new windows dramatically improved the energy efficiency of the buildings, providing better insulation and reducing heating and cooling costs. The upgraded windows also offered additional benefits including improved lighting and aesthetics.

“The results had exceeded our expectations.” says Palka“The windows have also enhanced the aesthetic appeal of our facilities, giving them a fresh, modern look while maintaining the charm and character of our historic property. The improved natural lighting in the prayer and art rooms has been particularly impactful. These spaces are now even more inviting, providing a warm, bright, and welcoming environment for reflection, creativity, and community activities. The main offices and bookstore also benefit from the increased natural light, creating a more pleasant and productive workspace for our staff and visitors.”

In the last year of the five-year plan, the Centre invested $339,000 dollars of capital investment into their property. Upgrades included:

• An investment of $166,000 to complete a renovation of its dining hall, including upgrades to its industrial kitchen. This project was partially funded through the Ontario Trillium Foundation. 

• An investment of $13,000 to apply fresh paint, new carpet, flooring and new shower liners in its House-on-the-Hill.

• An investment of $100,000 to both its outdoor washrooms and Chalet washrooms received upgrades funded partly by the News Horizons for Seniors Grant.

• An investment of $8,000 for upgrades to its walking path, including a new set of stairs down to its lower campus. TD friends of the Environment Grant funded this project.

Continuing Property and Building Upgrades  

The commitment to rejuvenate its property extended beyond the initial scope of the five-year plan. With ongoing investments, the Centre remains dedicated to sustainability, energy efficiency, and enhancing the overall experience for guests and staff. 

“We continue to upgrade the spaces with the environment and our guests in mind,” said Mallory Biggs, General Manager, Five Oaks Centre “Beyond the original five-year plan, our focus is on ensuring the safety and longevity of our property and buildings. These upgrades are essential to building a safe and lasting space that aligns with our values of sustainability and excellence.”

In 2022, the Centre put in $343,000 of capital investment into its building which involved:

• An investment of $115,000 to install a two-story deck behind the main building to increase and offer three-season seating off our dining room, and offer an outdoor gathering space off the Upper Room. This project was funded by the Hamilton,Halton Brant Regional Tourism Authority, through Federal Development Canada.

• An investment of $26,000 to replace 18 windows, partially funded by a Greening Sacred Spaces Grant.

• An investment of $16,500 to undergo a complete retrofit of the New Hall Washroom, which is now fully accessible, and partially funded by a New Horizons for Seniors Grant.

• An investment of $94,000 to replace the roof on the main building, partially funded by our Raise the Roof Walkathon.

In 2023, the Five Oaks expanded its capital investments into its building which included:

• Installing air-source heat pumps in its Peace and Friendship Houses, as well as its office, bookstore, and Upperroom in its main building. This HVAC upgrade significantly reduced heating fuel consumption while adding air-conditioning, enhancing the year-round accessibility and comfort of these spaces.

• Refreshing the B and C wings of its main building with new paint and LED lighting.

• Starting renovations in its Chalet's dining room.

• Enhancing 60ft of the property’s boardwalks with a Brant Community Foundation grant.

Future projects 

Five Oaks has ambitious plans to continue upgrading its property and buildings. Future projects will further enhance sustainability and energy efficiency, ensuring the best facilities for staff and guests. These ongoing improvements include:

• Master Site Plan: Mapping out the property and its capacities.

• HVAC Upgrades: Future upgrades to the rest of the main building.

• Bedrooms and Windows: Comprehensive upgrades to all bedrooms and windows in the main building.

• 3-Season Pavilion: A future goal to develop a versatile pavilion for extended seasonal use.

• Road Upgrades: Enhancements to the roadways on the property.

• Shop Upgrade: Future enhancements to the shop, extending beyond the original five-year plan.

• Main Building Energy Transition: Moving the main building off oil, a step beyond the five-year plan.

The United Church of Canada (UCCan) is a vision partner of the Five Oaks Centre. Vision partners share actively in the governance, programs, funding, and maintenance of the Centre. UCCan specifically offers access to funds for programming that supports the mission of the denomination and has legal oversight of the Centre.

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Faithful Footprints Program

The United Church of Canada’s Faithful Footprints program offers inspiration, tools, and grants to help its faith communities reduce their carbon footprint. With the Church’s commitment to reducing its greenhouse gasses (GHG) emissions by 80% by 2030, this one-of-a-kind program offers up to $30,000 in grants towards energy conservation and renewable energy projects (conditions apply).

Faith & the Common Good is the delivery partner for the Faithful Footprints program. To date, we have engaged over 500 congregations, camps, and buildings across the country. Your participation in the program puts your faith into action and helps the Church reach its target. 

Turn on the Lights Campaign: St. Paul’s United Fundraiser

St. Paul’s United Let There Be Light -

Turn on the Lights Campaign Tracker

Many renovation projects depend on outsourced grants and funding opportunities to complete, but raising the necessary funds can be challenging. However, St. Paul’s United Church in Oakville, Ontario, was confident that their congregants could rise to the challenge and come up with a significant sum of money for the lighting retrofit they were planning.

The church wanted a suitable longer-term solution to reduce the total energy used. After completing a Green Audit through Faith & the Common Good, the project team at St. Paul’s United decided they would tackle a major light retrofit throughout their entire building. Since the building was in relatively good shape, they were advised that the quickest energy-saving opportunity was to switch to LED lights.

With the help of a Faithful Footprints grant, St. Paul’s United expanded its bulb replacement to include replacing 84 bulbs and fluorescent tubes in their gymnasium, 21 light fixtures in one of their halls, and 23 small dome lights in their sanctuary and narthex, which were mini fluorescent bulbs. 

Sorting Out Costs and Raising Funds

The Faithful Footprints grant covers two-thirds of a project’s costs, up to a maximum of $20,000 for energy efficiency-focused projects and an additional $10,000 if you are decarbonizing. To qualify, participating communities of faith must have matching funds that equate to one-third of total project costs and any funds required above the maximum Faithful Footprints grant amount. 

Since the project scope focused on the efficiency of energy usage, St. Paul’s United qualified to receive up to $20,000. With the total cost of St. Paul’s project estimated to be around $23,000, the Faithful Footprints grant covered approximately $15,000. After receiving conditional approval for the Faithful Footprints grant, St. Paul’s United had to come up with around $5,000 to undergo the planned lighting renovations.

In addition to the church’s building maintenance fund, St. Paul’s United launched a campaign to raise funds to cover the rest of the costs for their lighting upgrade. The Turn on the Light Campaign laid out exactly where the money was going and the timeline of the retrofit. 

The project team shared their plans with the congregation members, explaining how they would start with the balcony lights and slowly move towards the lights in the sanctuary. 

Getting support for a cause can be that much easier when people understand the direct impact their donations will make. Harold Devenne, team lead, points to several reasons why their approach proved successful.

“Because we don’t have a lot of extra cash, the best way to raise funds is to give our congregation a specific project to fund. I find that if there’s a project, show them pictures of it, tell them what it is, tell them what it costs, and let them find a way in. As long as they can see and understand it, the money comes in fairly quickly.”

Replacing lights in the gymnasium at St. Paul’s United

While encouraging congregants to donate with an envelope titled “‘Let There Be Light,” the project team provided the opportunity for congregants to support particular areas of the lighting retrofit by categorizing the renovation into three levels of lights: 

1. Pendant light - $272/per light

2. Dome light - $36/per light 

3. Hall bulb - $57/per light

“It's a way to make them feel like they can contribute to any level, and understand what they are spending the money for,” Devenne says.

Within just four weeks, St. Paul’s United had enough funds raised from the congregation to cover their share of the total project costs.

“I was pretty confident that they were going to come up with the amount for the lights. I was surprised when we exceeded our goal and had enough to use for other building upgrades,” Devenne reflects.

Turning on the Lights

Since completing the renovations, St. Paul’s United has already seen a drastic difference in the quality of lighting. 

“The LED bulbs add a little sparkle to the ceiling as well as more light than before while not being harsh,” Harold reports. “The new dome lights down the aisles and in the narthex produce more light than the old ones and look much better.”

With the recent upgrade, St. Paul's United looks forward to lowering its electricity bills. The church says they will continue seeking opportunities to reduce their energy consumption wherever possible.

Stay in the loop about St. Paul's Retrofit Project

Stay updated about St. Paul’s reductions in emissions, electricity usage, fossil fuel use, energy costs, and energy use intensity. Sign up for the Faithful Footprints Monthly Newsletter.

Faithful Footprints Program

The United Church of Canada’s Faithful Footprints program offers inspiration, tools, and grants to help its faith communities reduce their carbon footprint. With the Church’s commitment to reducing its greenhouse gasses (GHG) emissions by 80% by 2030, this one of a kind program offers up to $30,000 in grants towards energy conservation and renewable energy projects (conditions apply).

Faith & the Common Good is the delivery partner for the Faithful Footprints program. To date, we have engaged over 300 congregations, camps, and buildings across the country. Your participation in the program puts your faith into action and helps the Church reach its target. 

Aleyxa Gates Julien is the PR/Communications Coordinator for Faithful Footprints and can be reached at agatesjulien@faithcommongood.org.

The Newest Oldest Church You've Ever Seen - Laidlaw Memorial United

Laidlaw United in Hamilton, Ontario was an old church with a leaky roof , dwindling membership and a financial crunch! Now they are full of enthusiasm, imagination and a mission! Watch how they did it!

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““We know we are doing things that outlive us, and that is what brings life to the world, and that is what brings life to the church””

— Rev Doug Moore

Laidlaw Memorial United Church is a beautiful old building built in 1912. The community boasts 140 members and an average Sunday worship attendance of approx. 80 people.

In 2008, Laidlaw Memorial United Church was a community faced with a dwindling membership, continuous budget deficits and a facility requiring multiple retrofits including a failed roof. Slowly, bit by bit, the community tackled their budget deficit by making small energy and money saving measures in just about every aspect of their facility. From installing a 7-day electronic set back thermostat, turning off the pilot lights when not in use, turning off the water heater in the summer to moving the heat ducts from the ceiling to the floor, setting up a convection current and making the gym warmer and using less fuel. In the process, they realized that they were going green. When it came time to deal with the cost of a replacement roof, it was proposed that the Church investigate the possibility of installing solar panels through the microFIT program in order to help pay for it. As they say, the rest is history as a mortgage loan was taken out to help pay for the new steel roof and the solar installation. On June 4, 2010, the project went live.

Remarkably, there have been no issues. Since an inspection after the first year after installation, where no trouble was found, the panels and equipment have functioned perfectly, and within parameters.

"The panels have been remarkable in starting conversations about being greener in practical ways. The congregation has always and unanimously welcomed the panels. The businesses on the street who buy 'bullfrog' green power, like pointing down the street to where it comes from. Younger people are attracted to our church, in part, because there is a practical expression of care for creation, and the good of generations to come. We have entertained the media, a youtube video and a local cable spot, as well as a spot for 100 Huntly street's "Good News" program. There is credibility to our calling for care for creation, and we have continued to upgrade lighting, windows, and energy efficiency. The solar project was, for us, a public statement of our values, and our ongoing commitment to God's creation."

This and more from Laidlaw United Church on their website: www.laidlawchurch.ca/about