AN ancient Gwent church could make legal history by allowing a neighbour to drill a 150-metre bore hole in its graveyard for an eco-friendly heating system.

The rector of St Nicholas' Church in Grosmont, Monmouthshire, is considering allowing his neighbour to drill the hole in the 800-year-old graveyard to install a 'green' Scandinavian heating system which uses the heat of the earth to power it.

Canon Ambrose Mason said: "The congregation is happy with the proposals and the likelihood of the work disturbing a grave is extremely small."

According to church records, no one has been buried in the area to be drilled for at least 150 years.

But because no such work has ever been carried out on consecrated land, the issue was put before a diocesan court two weeks ago.

If the plans are approved, the move could pave the way for similar work on consecrated ground elsewhere.

Canon Mason said: "This is a very sensitive issue because graveyards are special places where people go to remember loved ones.

"But I am confident that the risk of disturbing a grave is very small and the work will not affect the look of the area at all."

Installing the "ground source heat energy system" was the idea of Canon Mason's neighbour, Royal Gwent Hospital orthopaedic surgeon Witek Mintow-Czyz.

He wants to use the energy system when he opens a tearoom next door to the church.

The system involves pumping chilled liquid deep into the earth, collecting warmth which can then be converted into usable heat.

It is said to be cleaner and more eco-friendly than fossil fuels, and is useful in rural areas where properties are rarely able to access mains gas.

Canon Mason said: "The need for renewable energy sources is an issue we should all be aware of.

"The system also opens up the possibility of a heat source for rural churches that are too remote to be connected to the gas mains."

Mr Mintow-Czyz was unavailable for comment as the Argus went to press.

* THE Church of St Nicholas was partly built during the 13th century by Eleanor of Provence, Queen of Henry III, under the direction of a French architect.

The chancel, as an example of the early English style, has scarcely a parallel in any of the rural parishes - there is a Norman font, and the church was restored during the period 1870-75.