Current Issue
Heritage Roofing
Heritage roofing - maintaining our iconic buildings
The UK is home to some of the most iconic buildings in the world, from stunning churches and cathedrals to historic stately homes. Each and every one of these remarkable feats of architecture requires regular maintenance to ensure they remain in the very best condition, allowing them to be enjoyed for generations.
Traditional Lime
Lime: it’s better for buildings – and for the environment
It is now fairly well known that cement is not good for old buildings and that lime mortar should be used. But why? What are the advantages and what are the disadvantages? In order to begin to answer those questions it is necessary to understand the nature of traditional building, the process by which buildings used to be built, and how it differs from modern construction, the process by which we build today.
Audio Visual
Audio visual equipment in church buildings
This guidance is issued by the Church Buildings Council under section 55(1)(d) of the Dioceses, Mission and Pastoral Measure 2007. As it is statutory guidance, it must be considered with great care. The standards of good practice set out in the guidance should not be departed from unless the departure is justified by reasons that are spelled out clearly, logically and convincingly.
Read More...
CRE Events
After the Midlands, onward to Milton Keynes
"CRE Midlands reminded me of the giddy days when it first began – the venue was packed with exhibitors and visitors and there was a busy atmosphere. The whole thing looked great."
Insurance
You need to ensure that reasonable precautions are in place at your church to keep it safe for those who use it. To do this, you need to think about what might cause harm to people.
You will then need to decide if the precautions already in place are adequate. If they are not, you may need to identify further action to prevent any danger. When done formally, this is known as a risk assessment.
Lead Roofing
Lead is one of the oldest materials in the roofing industry and is still commonly used throughout the world today.
Lead roofing is a traditional roofing method which has been used in the industry for hundreds of years, and is therefore proven to be extremely reliable. Lead roofing, and sand-cast lead, in particular is ideal for old buildings such as churches or historical renovations, whereas milled lead roofing is a mass-produced alternative, used for precision and accuracy in homes and commercial buildings alike.
Lightning Protection
When lightning strikes are you protected against this act of God?
The issue of lightning protection in churches is one that has exercised this publication for many years. In this four-part series of spotlights on the issue we will be revisiting various aspects of the subject, beginning with an overview of current thinking.
Home
Church lighting with a difference...
Lighting Dynamics UK, based in Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands, continue their development as one of the UK’s premier companies specialising in the interior and exterior illumination of cathedrals, churches and other places or worship.
One of the company’s many recently completed prestigious projects now includes the installation of new lighting at the magnificent St Mary’s Church, in Stafford town centre.
The Collegiate Church of St Mary, a Grade I listed building, has been serving Stafford for over a thousand years. St Mary’s has been at the heart of Stafford for worship and as a part of civic life during all of this time. The church currently has a variety of different uses on a weekly basis and also receives many visitors.
Company founder of Lighting Dynamics UK, Gerry Browne, says the proposed interior lighting upgrade at St Mary’s provided a real challenge, especially in terms of the correct type and levels of illumination for the church’s magnificent architectural and ecclesiastical features and the variety of different weekly uses and special events.
Working closely with the rector, key members of the PCC, the church architects, English Heritage and Lichfield DAC, Gerry worked through all of the details and a final lighting design solution evolved.
This final lighting design included a variety of modern, long life and energy saving light sources including LEDs, ceramic metal halide and low voltage tungsten.
A selection of the new lighting incorporates the very latest ranges of high quality single colour LED technology, especially for ‘visitation settings’. Additionally, colour change LED lighting is included for selected concerts, drama and other specific events.
Special attention has also been given to the ‘feature lighting’ of many of St Mary’s splendid interior items, including but not limited to, the nave and chancel ceilings, the organ pipes and the font – the oldest object in the church and believed to have been brought there from the Crusades – as well as the memorial of Izaak Walton, one of Stafford’s famous sons.
In a number of locations the wonderful stone architecture has also been featured and highlighted which really shows off the interior fabric of the building.
The above light sources are all incorporated within a quality range of appropriate architectural light fittings, all with the correct optics and the ability to take a complete range of lighting accessories, such as anti glare louvres, spread lenses, etc.
All of the new lighting is linked to a unique and bespoke dimming / lighting control system which can be operated from a number of different wall mounted keypad control panels, positioned at strategic locations within the building.
The rector, Reverend Preb. Graham Fowell, commented that everybody is thrilled with the new lighting at St Mary’s and the completed project and electrical installation has well exceeded everybody’s expectations.
Lighting Dynamics has a significant number of very prestigious church lighting projects currently in progress with a large number at advanced stages of planning and design.
Gerry Browne believes that this is a very exciting time in the further development of church lighting, especially with such a great and diverse range of modern light sources now coming on stream.
He has found that customers are increasingly looking for someone with the flair and experience to provide a quality lighting design, whilst also specifying top grade lighting equipment and controls that will provide longevity, reliability and overall flexibility for their respective ecclesiastical project.
VISIT OUR ASSOCIATED SITES
