Wesleys’ ‘home’ church has new loops installed

Brothers John and Charles Wesley were the prime movers behind what is now the Methodist Church: the largest Protestant denomination in the English-speaking world. The term ‘Methodist’ came about because of the way ‘method’ was used in religious affairs. However, the Wesley brothers did not intend to start a new church: in actual fact, they were firmly against a break with the Anglican Church; what they wanted was reform.

It was only after the death of Charles Wesley in 1788 and John in 1791 that their followers broke from the established Anglican Church to create what would become the Methodist Church.

The brothers were born and raised in the Lincolnshire village of Epworth, where their father Samuel served as the rector of St Andrew's Church for 40 years.Almost a century after their deaths, the General Conference of the Methodist Church decided that a church should be built in Epworth to honour the Wesleys. The result was the Wesley Memorial Church, which was officially opened in 1889 – although the work was not completely finished until 1891, 101 years after John Wesley's death.

The church has a steady stream of visitors from across the world, and in particular the USA.

Late last year the church contacted Richard King Systems (RKS), as they were looking for quotes to put a loop system in the church and two meeting rooms.

A hearing loop is an assistive listening system that helps make public premises welcoming to people with hearing loss. They transmit audio directly to users’ hearing aids or cochlear implants, cutting out background noise and making speech and music clear. Listening through an audio loop system – via the ‘T’ coil facility – provides far superior sound for the listener, especially when room reverberation is a factor. The loudest sound sent to the loop would be the sound at the microphone. Audio loops also ensure that companies or organisations are being compliant with equality legislation.

Induction loops systems are still the most versatile technology available for the benefit of hearing aid users. Due to their benefits and ease of use, hard of hearing groups are continuing to mandate ‘loop system’ installation in locations as diverse as taxis, kiosks, schools, houses of worship, concert halls and stadiums.

RKS are an established sound and audio loop provider to churches in North Lincolnshire. Following a site survey at Epworth scheme designs were prepared and submitted for the church’s consideration. Using computer-aided design each system was predicted to provide a facility to comply with the recognised standard IEC 60118-4:2014, AMD1:2017.

Completed in June, the new facilities include three separate, easy to use audio loop systems to reduce the effect of hearing impairment. Discreet and high-quality installation, together with specialist commissioning of the systems by the engineers from Richard King Systems, provides for high audio quality and reliable performance.

With their depth of experience in the design, installation, commissioning and maintenance of sound, loop and audio visual systems in challenging environments the project at Wesley Memorial Methodist Church in Epworth is now part of Richard King Systems’ substantial portfolio.

A spokesperson for Richard King Systems said: “As far as we are aware, all digital hearing aids supplied by the NHS in the UK have a ‘T’ coil facility. Privately dispensed digital aids may or may not have a ‘T’ coil. In the private sector, it is often the audiologist who decides whether to offer the loop reception facility, but generally they do offer aids with a ‘T’ setting. At present, about 95% of hearing aids in the UK are considered to have the loop receiving facility.

“Many digital hearing aids allow the setting of the relative levels between microphone and ‘T’ coil inputs to be adjusted by the audiologist. If the loop signal is quiet or loud relative to normal microphone use, the audiologist can be asked to adjust it for the user.”

• For further information visit www.richardkingsystems.co.uk.