Replacing the Lighting in St Mary's
We'd love to hear your views
“We are responsible for this wonderful building and are fortunate to use it for our worship and for it to be used by the wider community, by local schools, for music concerts, and to welcome many visitors each year, both from nearby and from all over the world. With this responsibility comes the need to maintain it in good condition, and to ensure that its facilities continue to support and enhance our worship and welcome in keeping with its grade I, national status.” Rev'd Jeremy Trew.
We are proposing to re-design and improve the lighting in St Mary’s Church and everyone was invited to a consultation session with members of the Lighting Project Team in the church on Wed 17th April, 11am, Wed 17th April, 7:30pm, Thu 25th April, 11am and Thu 25th April, 7:30pm
If you have not already done so then do complete a feedback form (pdf or Word) to help us gauge the level of support for the proposals. We look forward to seeing you!
You can discover some more information about the project in advance of these meetings by scrolling down or by clicking on these links:
Why are we progressing this project?
Our main altar, dim and only half lit
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The existing lighting was installed in the 1970s and is now failing. It is not so much that the bulbs are failing but the units and system into which they are fitted. Much of the nave lighting has failed and the chancel and sanctuary are now particularly poorly lit. In the south aisle you may have noticed that the statues are now either green or yellow! Unless we replace the system, we will be back to using candles,
doing nothing is not an option.
We are proposing a new design, moving to low energy LEDs, to enhance all the activities and services in every part of the church. An improved atmosphere will highlight the architecture of our magnificent church, improving both our worship and the welcome we offer.
Nave uplighters north side, only 1 of 6 still works
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On winter Sundays, when the lights are on for at least 6 hours, we consume enough electricity to boil 400 domestic kettles! The lighting is the single biggest user of electricity in the church, and is a bill we could reduce by up to £2,000 pa. This would cut our carbon footprint and be a considerable step along the way to become a net carbon zero church, in line with the target set by
General Synod.
There will also be a very significant reduction in the maintenance costs of the current system. Currently a team of at least 6 people have to replace all of the bulbs every 5 years. An LED system of this quality should only require that sort of maintenance every 25 years!
Progress so far
With the agreement of our PCC, the team started to assess the lighting in 2022, developing a Statement of Needs, a Liturgical Statement and an assessment of all the other uses of the church by the wider community of Saffron Walden. A Project Brief was generated and sent to 5 Lighting Designers to request a proposal and cost estimate for a Concept Lighting Design for St Mary’s.
Team members then visited 6 reference projects and the PCC then approved the appointment of CBG Light Perceptions, headed by Bruce Kirk. Bruce has designed the lighting in many cathedrals around the country including recently at St George’s Chapel Windsor.
Bruce’s Concept Design can be seen in 6 videos clips, each 2 minutes long, which show the look and feel of the proposed lighting. Click on each one to play. Each video shows part of the church, first in daylight and then in darkness, followed by the effect of turning on the various proposed new sets of lights. The labels on the right of most slides should help.
Nave Facing East - Wide View
Nave Facing East - Close View
Nave Facing West
Chancel
Remembrance Chapel
North Chapel
What's Next?
Once we have received your feedback form (
pdf or
Word), the Team will assess them and present back to the PCC in June. If there is sufficient support for the project, we will ask Bruce Kirk to develop the detailed design and apply for Diocesan approval. The installation is likely to take place in the second half of 2025 subject to successful fundraising.
Funding and Fundraising
Due to the sheer size of St Mary’s, our own funds will be insufficient to pay for the design and installation. A Fundraising Team have started researching possible Trusts and Foundations so that we can make applications as soon as the project costs are finalised. The Fundraising Team are also considering whether Crowd Funding might work.
Some legacies and other donations have been given for improvements to the fabric of the church, and are restricted for these uses rather than the mission and day-to-day running of the church. The lighting project will not use funds donated through our stewardship scheme or pledged to the Stewardship Campaign earlier this year, which are explicitly for the day-to-day needs of the church.
St Mary’s church is a building of national significance so we hope that funders who support the heritage of our nation will contribute significantly to the cost of the project.
The Lighting Team
Please feel free to approach any members of the Lighting Team with any questions you may have:
• Steve Hasler - Project Leader
• Barbara Flaxman – Congregation member and Team Secretary
• Edward Gildea – Eco Church representative
• Paula Griffiths – Retired member of our clergy team, with previous career in church buildings
• Simon Potter – Churchwarden
• Denis Tindley – former Churchwarden and Chair of Property Committee
• Noel Starr – Church Choir representative