Bishop mistaken for suspicious youth on church roof

The Bishop of Norwich, the Right Reverend Graham Usher, said "it's great to be called a youth"

Police were called to a church roof when a passerby mistook a bishop and some fellow religious leaders for "suspicious youths".

The Bishop of Norwich, the Right Reverend Graham Usher, visited St Peter Mancroft Church in Norwich on Sunday to celebrate the work which has been carried out to help it become "as near net zero as possible".

In March, 48 solar panels, heat source pumps, batteries and LED lighting were installed as part of the Church of England's plans to have all its buildings net zero by 2030.

Norfolk Police was called to the church by someone who wrongly presumed Bishop Usher, the church verger, the Reverend Canon Edward Carter and a BBC reporter were up to no good on the roof.

BBC reporter Jenny Kirk said she believed an assistant had reassured police "all was well" and Bishop Usher took to X saying he was "flattered" to be confused with someone younger.

The new adaptations were celebrated in a harvest eucharist held at the church on Sunday morning.

During the service, Bishop Usher said: "Well it's been great to be up on the roof to be able to see your new installation.

"I understand the police were called... it's great to be called a youth."

Included in the works carried out to the church was the installation of 48 solar panels, heat source pumps, batteries and LED lighting

The work on the church has been funded through the Church of England Demonstrator project and the Benefact Trust, and expects to see an 84% reduction in emissions by saving 52.26 tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) a year.

As the lead Bishop for the environment in the church of England, Bishop Usher hopes St Peter Mancroft will be a "template" for other churches hoping to follow in its footsteps.

He said: "We are learning all the time with our route map to net zero... this project here in the heart of Norwich will give many people both encouragement and much knowledge as they look to do that in their own churches."

Chris Sanham said the church had already seen the benefits of the solar panels which have been installed

Chris Sanham, the church verger, said Norwich City Council was the first to issue planning permission for the Grade I listed building and had already seen the project's benefits.

He said a concert on Saturday night had used up all the solar energy.

"The panels were installed earlier this year and they have made a huge difference to our energy consumption... it really has been a very very positive experience," he said.

"It's excellent that St Peter Mancroft is leading the way with regard to green energy."