The Catholic church has become one of the largest single consumers of green gas certificates in the UK after it signed a new supply deal with British Gas.

Under the deal with the Catholic church’s energy procurement group, Inter-diocesan Fuel Management (IFM), British Gas will supply renewable energy to 2,800 churches in England and Wales, including Westminster, Nottingham and Plymouth cathedrals.

The contract also covers more than 2,200 schools, care homes and community centres across the country.