ECO-CONSCIOUS worshippers in Pinner are hoping God’s green earth will stay green after deciding to install 40 solar panels on the roof of their church.

St Luke’s Roman Catholic Church in Love Lane has applied to Harrow Council to use the south facing roof to harness the sun’s energy, and parishioners hope it will be approved in time for a valuable grant.

The Rev Canon Robert Plourde (pictured) said: “If we do manage to get them installed we would be the first church in this diocese and one of the first in the country to have solar panels. We have taken our cue from head office as it were, as the Vatican is installing a huge system. We are trying to have respect for our natural resources.”

Permission has been granted by the Diocese of Westminster.

Bright spark Andrew Edan, chairman of the property management committee, came up with the idea. The panels will be barely visible from any angle.

Bill Wright, of Waxwell Lane, Pinner has been a member of the congregation for more than 30 years and is now chairman of the finance committee. He said: “I have been in favour of the plans all along because of the benefits it will bring not only the church but to the environment. Within the parish the response has been positive.”

The application needs to be approved and the panels installed by December 8 so entry into the Feed-In Tariff, which gives a lucrative rate for the church selling the energy back to the National Grid, can be applied for before the deadline on December 12.