Ecclesiastical & Heritage World Issue No. 87

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COVER STORY

CONTENTS Festive phone call takes church on the route to virtual services The front cover of this issue features the new sound and audio visual system at St Bede’s in South Tyneside. The church had wanted an urgent upgrade to the system ahead of the Christmas services, as it had become unintelligible. Local company Blaydon Communications were happy to oblige.

After Christmas, however, Blaydon Communications were again contacted with a view to expanding the system to take advantage of the growing trend towards live streaming of services.

Read the full story of how both ambitions were fulfilled on page 16

5 Reflections NEWS 6 Lottery grants help to mark NI centenary 7 Report fires starting gun for

Parliament restoration 8 Hurst Castle wall collapses

following storm

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Slipway repairs will facilitate paddle steamer restoration Roaming heating expert helps churches emerge from lockdown Methodist community looks to an innovative future Retrofitting historic homes can reduce carbon, HE report says Yorkshire pride and passion are evident in every project An unusual passion: the role of an IRATA specialist clockmaker COVID challenges lead to surge in awards entries

SOUND & AV SYSTEMS 15 We’re ‘gannin alang’ to virtual

church – in surprising numbers 15 New system adds clarity to Eton

College’s worship 16 Festive phone call takes church on

the route to virtual services 18 St Gabriel’s Church shines bright 19 Response to latest challenges echo

the church’s growth through the ages 21 Technical innovation can lead us

from the bleak winter to glorious summer 22 Missionaries’ spiritual centre

benefits from technical upgrade 23 Medieval gem finds its clarity of voice

MASTIC ASPHALT 38 Mastic asphalt: the traditional

material with modern applications 39 Leading player showcases

asphalting prowess CRE 24

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CRE South West postponed to next year, but Sandown Park gallops on Who dares to stream – risks creating a clip that streams with laughter!

Streaming figures large as seminar programme goes online

BRICKS 26 Clay bricks add to converted

warehouse’s attraction CHURCH LIGHTING 27 Lighting The Way can help save

the planet 29 From bright lights to controlled

environments – these experts have

it covered 29 Introducing: the latest in miniature

LED luminaires!

30 LED upgrade prompts new revival

for Gothic gem PROJECT 32 Ancient and modern: technology

and craftsmanship come together

to create ‘splendid balcony’ 33 French windows reflect Lorimer’s vision ROOFING & LEADWORK 35 Roofing Awards are finally

revealed (virtually) – and heritage

projects scoop the pool again!

36 Aluminium provides the low

maintenance solution 37 Lead theft still a problem for

churches as police target metal thieves 37 Lead sheet academy is taking

bookings for summer

TRAINING 40 We can deliver it! Training provider

expands its range of courses and facilities ACCESS & LIGHTNING PROTECTION 41 Temporary CSCS cards

implemented for lightning

conductor engineers and steeplejacks 41 Where there’s a window there’s a

way: scaffolders’ ingenuity gets the

job done 43 Steeplejacks: the traditional

craftsmen that are thriving in the

21st century 45 For inspection and rectification,

high-level expertise is the order of

the day 45 Students to benefit from lightning

protection at former nurses’ home IRONWORK & METALWORK 46 Ironwork webinar programme continues 47 Historic lantern now lights the way

to a healthy lifestyle MEMORIALS 48 Trust aims to pass on the passion

for our war memorials to the next generation 48 War graves commission apologises

for discrimination and promises redress 49 Memorial cleaning reveals need

for further work

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[WHEN PEOPLE READ in the press that Parliament is being eroded, it is usually the prelude to a political opinion piece. In the

context of our built heritage, however, that statement is true in a very literal sense. The Palace of Westminster is actually in the process of falling down – and the enormous restoration project needed to prevent that happening is finally starting to grind into action.

A Strategic Report published in March puts some flesh on the bones of how the work should progress, while the surveys that will preface the restoration are in motion. The Strategic Report itself has taken nearly a year to produce, so we can’t expect a rush to the tools just yet.

• Much of the nation’s housing stock dates from before the First World War, and is far from meeting the green credentials necessary to meet carbon neutral obligations. All that could change if heritage properties were retrofitted in the sensitive manner necessary to provide the facilities we require while minimising energy costs, according to another report – this time from Historic England.

The Heritage Counts report estimates that such a retrofitting effort could result in a carbon saving of up to 84% in a large Victorian home, and over 50% in a Victorian terrace.

• A good proportion of lost heat in most buildings simply goes out through the roof, so high-quality reroofing means more than just keeping the rain out. The best in new roofing projects is celebrated annually at the UK Roofing Awards – and is usually sprinkled with church and heritage projects. Indeed, there is a category purely given over to Heritage Roofing.

Last year’s awards were beset by postponement after postponement as the COVID pandemic raged and were eventually abandoned as a physical awards ceremony. The winners have been announced online, however, and rewarded.

• Lofty places are also the stock in trade of steeplejacks. As the name implies, they first plied their trade by scaling church buildings to carry out repairs, before adding factory chimneys to their remit with the advent of industrialisation.

More latterly they became associated with the installation of lightning protection. That dual role is reflected in the name of their trade association, which celebrates its 75th anniversary this year. We learn about how their methods of gaining access at height have developed over the years.

• Lightning protection systems have also developed over time. The latest standard places great emphasis on surge protection to mitigate the effects of a strike on electrical and electronic equipment.

The huge growth in the scope of such equipment is evident in even the most modest church building, with PA systems and theatrestyle lighting being the base point. In more ambitious settings we find sophisticated lighting systems with pre-set scenarios that can be changed with the click of a mouse. AV systems are including live streaming capabilities almost as a matter of course these days and we look in some detail at what that entails, and what can be achieved.

• Anyone who has seen one of the various series featuring TV ‘gaffs’ will be aware of the tendency of the normal person to lose their dignity as soon as a camera is pointed at them. The clergy are no different and the growth in live streaming has resulted in a plethora of unfortunate situations caught on video – from celebrants catching fire to musicians hit by falling trees!

Online Christian resource Ship of Fools is compiling a selection of such ‘fails’ in its Streaming with Laughter poll. Those of us who are less sympathetic than we ought to be can view the clips on the Ship of Fools website, or via a link from the CRE site. q

Chris Stokes

Editor, Ecclesiastical & Heritage World

www.ecclesiasticalandheritageworld.co.uk

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Lottery grants help to mark NI centenary [

GRANTS TOTALLING £1M have been awarded to 39 projects to mark the centenary of Northern Ireland in a thoughtful, inclusive and engaging way. The National Lottery Heritage Fund is distributing the Shared History Fund on behalf of the Northern Ireland Office to mark the centenary, which takes places this year.

From discovering untold stories of the past, to the contribution made by a range of communities to the Northern Ireland of today, the diverse projects funded cover a wide range of subjects and key moments in Northern Ireland’s history.

Grants range from £4,200 to £94,600 and include: • Exploring local connections – the memories and moments in history that shaped local towns and neighbourhoods as well as rural communities, with projects led by Ballynafeigh Community Development Association, Rural Community Network, Belfast City Council, Newry, Mourne and Down District Council and Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council.

• Diverse communities – exploring the role and contribution of minority communities, with projects led by the Belfast Jewish Community, Chinese Welfare Association and Armagh Roma Traveller Support.

• Football’s role – 100 years of football in Northern Ireland, from the impact of partition to the role football plays in communities today, will be explored in projects by Tollymore Football Club and Crusaders Football Club.

• Engaging new audiences through digital – the creation of new digital resources, online exhibitions, podcasts and events which bring

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the story of Northern Ireland to a new audience, with projects by the Nerve Centre, Libraries NI and Linen Hall Library.

• Young people – crosscommunity projects by Reach Across and Shared Future News will support young people and gain their perspective on the Northern Ireland of the future.

• Increasing knowledge and understanding – building a better understanding of the key events, institutions, people and communities who have been impacted since the establishment of Northern Ireland, with projects led by Cardinal Tomas Ó Fiaich Memorial Library and Archive, and Magherafelt District Orange Lodge.

Mukesh Sharma, Northern Ireland chair of the National Lottery Heritage Fund, said: “As a leading funder of heritage throughout the UK, we understand the central role that heritage plays in people’s lives and their communities. We also recognise that there are aspects of heritage that can be challenging.

“However, our experience in supporting partners to navigate difficult periods in our history throughout the Decade of Centenaries demonstrates that there is a way to engage with difficult heritage in a positive way. No one narrative is more important than another, and it’s important we create a space that allows a range of stories to be told.

“We’re delighted to be delivering this funding on behalf of the Northern Ireland Office and have supported projects which will not only mark the centenary, but show how we can engage with difficult heritage going forward.” q

Report fires starting gun for Parliament restoration [

A STRATEGIC REPORT has set the parameters for the restoration of the Palace of Westminster. The report, published in March by the Houses of Parliament Restoration and Renewal Sponsor Body, underlines the urgent need to restore the building and recommends new approaches for doing so.

It also confirms the strategy of temporarily locating MPs on Parliament’s northern estate and Peers in temporary accommodation at the QEII Conference Centre as the best option. It recommends new ways of phasing the restoration work to minimise the time MPs and Peers would spend in temporary accommodation, including accessing the palace from the river to carry out work.

The comprehensive review was launched last year to provide clarity on the way forward. It looked at all the evidence available, including previous investigations and reports, as well as new evidence from surveys and submissions by expert stakeholders, MPs and Peers. It found that restoring the building while all MPs and Peers remain on-site would cost billions of pounds more and take decades longer than temporarily moving out while work takes place.

The 150-year-old building is falling apart faster than it can be fixed, with the cost of maintenance projects and on-going works recently doubling in just three years to £127m a year in 2018/9.

Sarah Johnson, chief executive of the Restoration and Renewal Sponsor Body, commented: “The iconic home of Parliament is in urgent need of restoration. The review has found new ways of carrying out the complex project, focused on getting value for money, and we will continue preparing a detailed and costed restoration and renewal plan that will for the first time give Parliament a true sense of the costs and timescales of restoring the Palace of Westminster.”

As previously planned, work is expected to begin on the Palace of Westminster in the mid-2020s, although preparatory work has already begun. Expressions of interest have been called for from specialist surveyors across the UK, to carry out dozens of on-site surveys in the palace. The survey analysis will map out the condition of all the complex mechanical and engineering systems including the Victorian heating and cooling system.

Expert surveyors will also look at the miles of gas and electricity pipes that often run directly alongside one another in the basement, and in thousands of spaces in floors, walls and risers that were originally designed as part of the Victorian ventilation system. Many of the systems reached the end of their expected life decades ago and urgently need replacing.

Other surveys will focus on archaeology and the structure of the building and investigators will also look at fire safety, the condition of windows, walls, floors and stonework, and heat loss from the building.

The call for expressions of interest closed on 4 May. q

The work will include more than 100 investigative surveys, with specialist teams spending thousands of hours analysing the building, which contains 1,100 rooms and more than 3,000 windows.

The review makes a series of recommendations aimed at getting value for money and minimising the time all MPs and Peers spend in temporary accommodation, while making sure Parliament is protected for future generations.

They include focusing the detailed and costed restoration plan on the essential and vital work that is needed to restore and protect the building, aimed at keeping costs down wherever possible. That restoration plan will be submitted to Parliament for final consideration.

The programme will also investigate accessing the palace from the Thames to minimise the time MPs and Peers spend in temporary accommodation, though the period of fully vacating the palace would be in years, not months. The plan could see a dry dock erected alongside the palace, giving engineers much better access along the full length of the building. www.ecclesiasticalandheritageworld.co.uk

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Hurst Castle wall collapses following storm [ ON 26 FEBRUARY a section of the

east wing wall of Hurst Castle in Hampshire collapsed, after the sea exposed and undercut its foundations days after a storm. At the time the castle was closed to the public; the staff were evacuated and there were no injuries. Staff from English Heritage’s engineering team were on site when the incident occurred as remedial work was due to start the following week.

English Heritage’s estates director Rob Woodside said in a statement: “This is a devastating blow to a Hampshire icon and for all of us whose life’s work is to protect England’s historic buildings. Hurst Castle is the most challenging of our sites to protect – a coastal fort built on a shingle spit directly facing the hammering sea.

Faced with more frequent storms and rising sea levels, Hurst Castle is emblematic of the issues posed by climate change to our heritage.”

Located at the western end of The Solent, Hurst Castle was originally built by Henry VIII between 1541 and 1544 to guard the Needles Passage – the narrow western entrance

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between the Isle of Wight and the mainland. In the 1860s two wings were added – on the east and west side of the central structure – as part of a programme of defence that made that part of the south coast one of the most heavily fortified in the world. It was a wall on one of those wings that collapsed.

The castle is in an extremely vulnerable position. Located on a shingle spit, it faces the full force of the wind and waves.

In 2019, English Heritage undertook an extensive programme of works totalling £750,000 to stabilise the foundations of

the west wing. The charity underpinned the west wing’s foundations, replaced broken groynes and barriers, and replenished the beach with 7,500 tonnes of shingle.

Although English Heritage was only days away from commencing works to underpin the east wing of the castle, whose foundations were being eroded by the sea, it said there were no signs of any major structural problems until a storm on 23 February prompted a rapid descent from stability to the collapse of an approximately 38m section of the east wing wall. q

Slipway repairs will facilitate paddle steamer restoration [

THE PROSPECT OF paddle steamer cruises taking place on Loch Lomond once more took a great stride forward in March when Historic Environment Scotland awarded £94,108 towards the repair and replacement of the Balloch steam slipway and carriage. As well as being the only surviving operational steam slipway in Europe and an important listed structure, it is key to the survival of the famous Maid of the Loch.

Moving the steamer onto the slipway will enable essential repairs and restoration work to be carried out in preparation for a return to operation.

Over the past few years a few dedicated volunteers have worked to salvage bogies and other historic metalwork from the original carriage and work has now commenced on building the new, more robust one. It is hoped to slip the Maid of the Loch later this summer.

Built in 1953, the Maid was the last paddle steamer to be built in Britain, and is the UK’s only remaining example of an ‘up an doon’ vessel. The vessel was assembled on the Clyde, then dismantled, taken to Balloch by road and reassembled.

After 28 years of service the Maid was decommissioned and deteriorated before being rescued

in 1996 by the Loch Lomond Steam Ship Company, which looks after the vessel today. Up to this year they have welcomed visitors, but they have taken advantage of the COVID-19 uncertainty to take strides in restoring the ship.

In a statement the company said: “Our heritage engineer Jim Mitchell has been our champion in leading the project and we’re extremely grateful for all his efforts to first secure the funds and then to organise the work of reconstruction.

“We do aim to keep everyone updated on progress and the Winch House and the Slipway will be open at weekends once the slipway carriage is complete. We also hope to have some events on the pier.

Season ticket and Friends benefits will be carried forward and be valid until the end of 2022 season.” q

Roaming heating expert helps churches emerge from lockdown [

AS THE COUNTRY begins to emerge from lockdown and churches prepare to welcome limited congregations, a number of contracts for the installation of new heating systems are being carried out – in readiness for the colder weather that will inevitably follow.

The pandemic saw one expert in the field crisscross the country overseeing various projects. Stuart Mottram, managing director of Mellor and Mottram Ltd, is an apt successor to the travelling masons who were responsible for the creation of the remarkable medieval masterpieces his team install heating systems into.

The most notable new projects Mellor and Mottram currently have in the pipeline, however, are on the company’s Midlands home turf.

St Mary’s in Grendon, Northants (above), is typical of the wonderful churches Mellor and Mottram are privileged to work in. Dating in part from Norman times, the Grade Two*-listed building is built of limestone with ironstone dressing and lias ashlar on its west tower, which boasts a ring of bells dating from 1618.

One of its main features is a wooden-framed clock made locally in 1690. Although it was replaced in the tower in the 1970s the original is kept as an exhibit.

Mellor and Mottram have been contracted to install a complete new oil-fired system, with Dunham-Bush radiators and a new flue system.

Another Grade Two*-listed church that is to benefit from a heating upgrade from Mellor and Mottram is St Bartholomew’s in Penn, Wolverhampton. There has been a church on the site since Saxon times, although the earliest parts of the current building date from the 15th century and there have been successive developments up to 2000, when a new wing was added.

The new heating system will feature two Remeha gas-fired condensing boilers (below) with gilled tubes laid in the ducts in the church floor. There will also be a Dunham-Bush gas-fired convector heater in the extension.

Across the Midlands, in Nottingham, the Church of St Giles in West Bridgford is to have new Remeha boilers with Heatmiser computerised controls installed, together with a new flue system.

Little remains of the original medieval church, with the present building being the result of successive restorations in the 19th century – although a 14th-century screen has been retained.

Such treasures as that screen, and the clock at St Mary’s, illustrate the need for ancient church buildings to be able to maintain a controlled temperature through the use of modern heating controls. q • For further information call 0800 644 6240 or visit the website at www.mellorandmottram.com. www.ecclesiasticalandheritageworld.co.uk

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Methodist community looks to an innovative future [

THE HISTORY OF St Ives Methodist Church in Cambridgeshire can be traced back to 1784. Members first met in a house, then in a barn, and from 1815 in a chapel. In 1905 the chapel was replaced with a building which subsequently served as a Red Cross hospital during both world wars.

In 1997 the church was refurbished following a fire and 2020 saw plans come to fruition to facilitate the future of the church in providing a ‘base for innovative worship, hospitality, outreach and support for the whole community‘. Specialist suppliers of bespoke church furniture Fullers Finer Furniture were delighted to be involved in the exciting project.

Innovative worship At the front of the church is a semi-circular stage under an arch, the backdrop for which is an unusual ornate circular window.

Fullers provided two lecterns, one table and one wall cross to facilitate worship in what is a special place.

On the left of the stage can be seen the larger York Lectern (pictured left) and on the right the Canterbury Lectern. Both height-adjustable lecterns were finished in natural oak with a contrasting Gothic arch panel.

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The Canterbury Lectern panel features a dove and olive branch while the York Lectern bears the church flame logo. Each lectern is fitted with a shockmount mic socket and is on castors to aid manoeuvrability. The York Lectern also has a lip which can be easily raised when required, to facilitate the use of tablets and other technology.

A matching Communion table with a solid oak top stands centre stage. The table – also on castors for ease of movement – has a central column with a useful locking cupboard at the rear. The front incorporates a Gothic arch panel with a cross to match those on the lecterns. The top of the table has chamfered corners and a matching bevel running around the top and bottom faces. That forms an attractive aesthetic feature while at the same time ensuring there are no dangerous sharp corners.

Centre stage and just below the window is an 800mm-high solid oak wall cross, finished with a bevelled edge to match the other furniture: an impressive focus point for the worshippers at St Ives Methodist Church.

Retrofitting historic homes can reduce carbon, HE report says

Hospitality Refreshments are essential to any community event. The servery area, completed in conjunction with other parts of the church, was fitted with Fullers’ bespoke oak panels in a frame and panel construction with Gothic arch centres to ensure a perfect match with the other furniture supplied.

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Support In contrast to the cross, which is designed to be at the forefront, the next items supplied by Fullers consist of two moveable partition screens, (above) made from oak frames on castors, each fitted with two panels of toughened frosted patterned glass, framed with Gothic arched oak panels to match the other items. The idea is to use them to screen off an area of the church to provide more privacy for quiet prayer, conversation and support when required.

Outreach Last, but certainly not least, a matching heritage cabinet (right) was designed, manufactured and supplied. That has been placed in the sanctuary to be used for storage and display. Custom built to fit neatly in a suitable alcove, the cabinet has two bottom-hinged lockable, frosted glass doors and two lockable hinged doors at the top. The upper doors were made with clear toughened glass with glass shelves behind, enhanced by LED strip downlighting.

Fullers Finer Furniture are renowned for their skill and experience in designing and building furniture which respects the style, age and purpose of a building, yet at the same time enhances and maximises its use as a multi-functional, adaptable building suitable for the years ahead. q

CAREFULLY RETROFITTING our historic homes could save up to 84% in their carbon emissions, according to this year’s Heritage Counts report. The report is compiled by Historic England on behalf of the leading heritage organisations which make up England’s Historic Environment Forum.

As England has one of the oldest building stocks in Europe, with a fifth of all homes being over a century old, we need to reduce the carbon emissions from our historic homes, the report says. But it is a complex process, as every building is different and how they function is affected by a range of elements, from size and number of occupants to the impact of regional weather patterns.

Historic buildings were built to last across generations. To meet the government’s target of being carbon neutral by 2050, we know we must recycle and reuse our existing historic buildings, rather than demolishing and building new, so the CO2 emissions already embodied within existing buildings are not lost through demolition.

Demolishing buildings not only produces millions of tonnes of waste – three fifths of all waste produced in the UK every year comes from construction, demolition and excavation – but building new has high energy costs and guzzles resources.

Historic England’s chief executive Duncan Wilson commented: “The scale and urgency of climate change requires people to take action now to reduce carbon emissions. Our buildings are important sources of embodied carbon, so we know we must reuse them, rather than demolish and rebuild; but as buildings are the third largest carbon emission producers in the UK after transport and industry we must also address their daily emissions. From small behavioural changes to larger energy efficiency improvements, this new research demonstrates that we can greatly reduce the carbon footprint of our precious historic homes, whilst maintaining what makes them special.”

There are no simple ‘one size fits all’ solutions to reducing the carbon footprints of historic homes, but homeowners need to consider the retrofit option that avoids waste and reduces carbon.

That means keeping on top of repair and maintenance at home to improve the condition of its existing materials. It also means planning well for a retrofit, using fewer new materials with large carbon footprints – which are often imported from abroad – and instead using natural, durable and recycled materials.

Modelled examples in the report show that carefully retrofitting our historic homes can lead to substantial carbon savings in the long term. Carbon emissions could be reduced by up to 84% in a detached Victorian home, 62% in a Georgian terrace, 58% in a 1900s terrace, 56% in a Victorian semi-detached and 54% in a Victorian terrace. q www.ecclesiasticalandheritageworld.co.uk

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Yorkshire pride and passion are evident in every project [ BUILT ON strong foundations

of working extensively in the restoration and heritage market for over 20 years, Yorkshire-based CG Building and Restoration Ltd today serves a growing customer base, thanks to its ability to deliver projects both traditionally and in a fully-managed way.

The managing director of the company, which has bases in York itself and in nearby Ryedale, is Vernon Carter. He explained the reasons behind its success.

“We have a great depth of experience and capabilities within restoration and renovation and we are dedicated to carrying out the best, most empathetic conservation and restoration work possible.

“Our priorities are the strong relationships we have and create with our clients, architects, conservation officers and other professionals, together with the properties that we are privileged to work on. To achieve the right result with any conservation, restoration or refurbishment project requires an understanding and

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sympathetic approach. We use traditional building techniques and craftsmanship, combining that with state-of-the-art technology to provide our clients with outstanding service.”

The mindset of the company and its workforce is key to that approach. Vernon continued: “We pride ourselves on our commitment to excellence in every building restoration and conservation project. A large number of our employees have many years experience working on some of the country’s finest buildings and together we can bring that knowledge to your particular project.

“That makes us the number one choice for building work on listed buildings, properties in conservation areas and unique structures that could so easily lose their character without a careful and respectful approach to the work.” q

An unusual passion: the role of an IRATA specialist clockmaker [

THE START OF British Summer Time – when the clocks change – signals warmer days, lighter evenings and spring blooms.

For Smith of Derby, it brings with it the start of the ‘dial restoration season’, meaning that its skilled engineers and clockmakers are busy in the workshop and out and about around the country helping to restore and maintain public time.

Supporting this work is a seven-strong team of IRATA-trained rope access specialist clockmakers – IRATA being the Industrial Rope Access Trade Association. The expertise they bring to the business, coupled with rigorous bi-annual safety checks and safety-critical medicals, demonstrates the company’s commitment to health and safety, along with the wellbeing of its team. Running alongside that is continual training to enhance the depth and breadth of the skills Smith of Derby offers as a company.

The team is headed up by clockmaker Jason Budd, who has in excess of 10,000 hours of working in rope access: expertise gained over 20 years. Jason (pictured below) first qualified in rope access in 2001 with IRATA and since that time has re-validated his Level 3

under the supervision of a Level 3 technician.

The Level 2 qualification is intermediate in terms of skills and knowledge. To achieve Level 2 a technician has to have a minimum of 12 months and 1,000 hours of work experience under their belt. They need to have the ability to rig the working ropes for a variety of situations and undertake complex rescue and hauling techniques under the supervision of a Level 3 technician, as well as looking more in depth at legislation affecting the industry.

Finally, Level 3 is the advanced qualification in terms of site work. It is all about site supervision, combined with the knowledge of both Levels 1 and 2 and more advanced rigging and rescue techniques. Along with that, a technician must have an understanding of the legislation, safety requirements and procedures relating to the IRATA international code of practice. To gain Level 3 a technician must have been operating at Level 2 for a minimum of 12 months and have logged at least 1,000 hours of work experience at that level.

Further to those levels there are trainer, instructor and assessor qualifications.

Those can be gained through experience and knowledge, along with meeting the requirements laid out in IRATA’s Training Assessment and Certification Scheme.

As well as the formal training and safety training the team must keep physically fit – rope access work is strenuous.

Over the coming months if you see Smith of Derby’s rope access clockmakers working on churches and buildings up and down the country you will know a little more about the role and training they do. q

One of the bi-annual safety inspections made to all the equipment the clockmakers use, including the ropes which are checked for wear or damage – the inspections are carried out independently by Zurich qualification every three years, as required – in total Jason has taken five assessments at that level. He has worked with Smith of Derby as a Level 3 supervisor since 2007.

IRATA was formed in the late 1980s and is internationally recognised as the leading authority in rope access techniques and procedures. The techniques originated from ‘caving’, and the early equipment used was taken straight from the climbing and caving world. Over the years the equipment has developed to be more suited to the industrial environment it is used in today and much of it is a far cry from the basic caving equipment of yesteryear.

To become a qualified technician involves four days of intensive training, both classroom based and practical. That is followed by a day’s assessment where everything learnt over the previous four days is put to the test.

There are three levels of qualification in the IRATA technician training programme.

Level 1 is the basic principles of rope manoeuvres, the fundamentals of rope rigging and simple rescues. Any work on site as a Level 1 technician must be carried out

• For further information visit the website at www.smithofderby.com. If you are inspired by the work they do and would like more details on being a clockmaker, contact jane.betts@smithofderby.com

COVID challenges lead to surge in awards entries [

THE ADDITION OF special categories of the 2021 Museums + Heritage Awards to recognise achievements connected with COVID challenges is thought to be one of the drivers behind an increase of 34% in entries compared to last year.

“Thank you to everyone who entered,” said director Anna Preedy. “I was thrilled to see how many submissions we received for this special edition of the Museums + Heritage Awards and from such a wide range of organisations, both in terms of size and location.

“The people and projects represented will no doubt be reflective of the extraordinarily agile response to the challenges of this last year. I am looking forward to seeing who makes the shortlist and ultimately who goes on to scoop one of 16 awards.”

The awards shortlists will be announced on 12 May. Thereafter, the two categories created to reflect events of the past year – the COVID Special Recognition Award and the COVID Best Supplier Award – will see the winners chosen by a sector-wide vote.

The awards ceremony will take place online on 1 July, with the live-streamed event hosted by journalist, broadcaster and equal pay activist Samira Ahmed. q www.ecclesiasticalandheritageworld.co.uk

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We’re ‘gannin alang’ to virtual church – in surprising numbers CHRIS STOKES prefaces our regular look at online services

[TO PEOPLE OF a certain

age the Tyneside suburb of Blaydon evokes an image of Geordies flocking to the races – streaming along Scotswood Road. Nowadays, the streaming is done online to maintain communication during the COVID-19 pandemic, and Blaydon Communications is a company that enables churches to embrace streaming as a way of reaching congregations who cannot attend in person.

One of their more notable recent installations – St Bede’s in South Tyneside (above left) – is the second streaming installation to be featured as our cover story in the past year of upheavals: the first being St James’s in Bushey, installed by Creative Audio-Visual Solutions (above right).

There is no doubt it will not be the last – live streaming of services has been a lifeline for many churches while they were closed for personal attendance. Much of the content of the next few pages is devoted to such installations and how to use them.

During the period of online services, however, a previously little-attended need became apparent. There has always been a large and hitherto unknown potential congregation of people who have been unable to attend church in person.

Many disabled and older people have always found it difficult to attend church, despite efforts made to make buildings more accessible. Over the past 12 months that constituency has become more and more visible – often to the surprise of clerics, who have suddenly found their congregations increasing manifold.

One of CRE’s excellent seminars examines that phenomenon.

The only possible conclusion is that online church is here to stay in one form or another. The consensus among those who have been working in the online world is that some kind of ‘hybrid’ activity will become a normal activity for most churches.

Over the next few issues we will no doubt be seeing how that process pans out. q

New system adds clarity to Eton College’s worship [ THE SOUND SYSTEM at Eton College Chapel has recently

been upgraded by specialist consultants Scanaudio. Begun in 1441 by King Henry VI, the magnificent Grade One-listed building features a fan vaulted ceiling and wall paintings dating from the late 15th century.

The earlier, Yamaha-based control equipment was installed by Scanaudio in 2009 and had reached the end of its useful life.

Following discussions between the company and the college it was agreed that a new control system would provide greater flexibility of use, with the provision to record and livestream chapel services remotely.

The previous control system was based around fixed hardware; however, a new wireless tablet now provides the user with greater flexibility to adjust the sound around the chapel. Scanaudio installed a new Yamaha MRX7-D processor with additional inputs and output expanders to replace the earlier Yamaha DME system. The new processor allows remote control of music playback, via both a Bluetooth connection and an internal card reader.

The Yamaha system is linked to a multichannel amplifier set-up, driving K-Array KV50 and KK10 miniature line arrays supported by sub-speakers for full range music reproduction. An Ampetronic loop amplifier provides assistive listening for hearing aid users. q www.ecclesiasticalandheritageworld.co.uk

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COVER STORY

Festive phone call takes church on the route to virtual services

[IN DECEMBER LAST YEAR, Blaydon Communications got a

phone call they were not expecting. A member of the PCC at St Bede’s Church in South Tyneside called and asked if they could urgently upgrade the church’s sound system in anticipation of the festive events that were to be held in the church. The team at Blaydon were a little surprised as their installation work had been a bit thin on the ground during lockdown and they had been focussing a lot of effort on their online presence and having virtual meetings. The chance to get out was gratefully received as they were totally ‘Zoomed out’ at that point!

During their socially distanced meeting with the resident Father of the church, it was explained that their existing sound system was not providing an intelligible sound to the congregation. The system included a lot of loudspeakers dotted around the church, which resulted in a cacophony simply bouncing around in the cavernous ceiling space and not sounding very good at all.

The significantly smaller congregation numbers did not help with the acoustics either: it is very surprising how a few extra people in a space can completely change the way it sounds. Having people in a reverberant space can really help absorb some of those horrible echoes that bounce around forever when the place is only a quarter full.

Blaydon Communications MD Paul Dougherty took up the story: “Our solution to the problem was a simple but effective one. We fitted a pair of loudspeakers that were capable of directing audio from the sanctuary to the back pew without bouncing unwanted sound all over the place. To do that you need a speaker that is fit for purpose, and in our experience a small compact array speaker system ticks all the boxes.

“The loudspeakers were mounted in line with each other, on walls in line with the front of the sanctuary and in front of any microphones, so we could get maximum volume with no feedback. Mounting loudspeakers in line gets all the sound moving in the same direction at the same time: that helps massively with intelligibility and minimises reflected sounds or echoes. For those of you that like the technical aspect of a system, feel free to get in touch or just Google TOA HX-5 to have a read about the speakers we used.”

The team also had to upgrade the amplifier, so that sufficient power could be given to the new loudspeakers. The new amplifier had the added benefit of a few spare inputs, so the church took the opportunity to add a new media player to the

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system and can now broadcast music to the congregation via CD, USB, aux input, or Bluetooth. The existing microphones were fine, so the church were advised to save their money and keep what they had.

Paul Dougherty continued: “The results were superb compared to the original system, but we did have a little complaint about it not being perfect towards the rear of the church. That was easily rectified with a quick visit from our engineers, who adjusted the dispersion angles of the loudspeakers and balanced the system perfectly from front to back. We even took advantage of a quiet spell and completed some intelligibility testing, with the results being more comparable with a carpeted room than an echoey old church!”

December came and went without any issues and the limited congregation who could attend the church were happy with the system; but what about those who could not attend? Fortunately, the team at St Bede’s are always very keen to include everyone they can into their worship times, so they rang Blaydon Communications again to give them some ideas for a streaming service.

Streaming services can be very daunting for those that do not deal with it every day: just how do you get a picture from an old church onto the internet and into the homes and devices of the congregation? Is it some form of dark art or is it a simple process? The truth of the matter is that it can be both!

A lot of churches have very capable volunteers who are able to put on a TV show with 100 buttons for this and 100 controls for that, but they are in the minority and sometimes a simpler approach is needed.

That was certainly the case for St Bede’s who had no one who could become a TV producer overnight; and they didn’t need that level of production anyway. Some conversations were had and everything was brought back to a sensible level.

Discussion centred on what a person would see if they attended the church. Generally, they’d look at the sanctuary area as a whole, with focus given to the pulpit, lectern and altar at different times in the service. However, a general view of the sanctuary would actually suffice as long as it was accompanied by good audio. So that was the goal: put in a good camera that can view the entire sanctuary area and mix in an audio feed from the new sound system amplifier.

Paul continued: “Churches often struggle for

funds, and while it’s never a good idea to overspend, it is always wise to have a level of future-proofing, too. When we looked at the price difference between a fixed broadcast-quality camera and a pan, tilt and zoom version, the cost was negligible, so the proposal was put forward with the moveable camera included. That small enhancement meant that the church could recall pre-sets of close-up shots of the lectern, pulpit and altar, or just stick with their general overview of the sanctuary area. We’re sure that as their confidence with the system increases, they will soon be panning back and forth like pros!”

In addition to the functionality of the camera solution, they needed to consider the installation impact. Just how do you get power cables, video cables, audio cables and control cables to a camera installed in a listed building? The answer to that lay in technology called HDBaseT. Basically, with an HDBaseT solution all of the needs of the camera can be met using one single CAT6 cable: the kind of cable used to connect a computer to a network so it’s easy to install and hide away.

The final hurdle for the church was how they would stream everything to a streaming service on the internet? Some options were explained to them, and it was decided that YouTube would be the preferred streaming service. After all, everyone has access to it and it’s free, too! The cost of that one was certainly a major deciding factor.

Paul continued: “We helped the church setup a YouTube account and enabled their live stream and archive capabilities. We installed a device called a streaming encoder that takes the video signal, mixes it with an audio feed, encodes it to the correct format to match the available upload speed and required format for YouTube, then sends it out down the phone cables to everyone who wants to watch it. Sounds complicated? Well, that entire process is achieved by pressing a button marked ‘Start’: that’s it, it’s the only thing to do before getting on with the service. A push of a second button, aptly marked ‘Stop’, ends the transmission and everything sits and waits for the next service.”

The church have been successfully streaming for a good few weeks now and, like many churches, will likely never stop providing the service even when lockdown is finally over.

Paul Dougherty concluded: “It is often easy for churches and other venues to go way over the top on what they use to complete a streaming system, or even a sound system for that matter. We have seen some examples where even the most seasoned sound engineers and TV producers would sit and scratch their heads.

“The key to providing a good system for any purpose is to talk through what the end result needs to be, then work backwards from there making sure to keep everything as simple as possible. That has always worked for us ­­– and certainly worked for the system at St Bede’s.” q

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St Gabriel’s Church shines bright

[A NEW HIGH-DEFINITION PROJECTOR is just one of the

upgrades recently carried out at St Gabriel’s Church in Cricklewood by church audio visual specialists Cunnings Recording Associates.

Rev James Yeates was appointed vicar at the church in north west London shortly before the start of the coronavirus pandemic, having moved from St Thomas in Clapham, south London. The introduction of lockdown restrictions in England highlighted the need for a live streaming solution in the church, and also provided the opportunity for installing a much needed improvement to the existing visual system.

James knew the benefits of a good quality AV system and contacted Daniel Cunnings, who had designed and installed a complete audio and visual system for St Thomas’s when it was refurbished a few years previously.

James explained: “Cunnings provided a considered bespoke solution for us, with careful attention to budget, aesthetic and functionality. They not only came up with a solution that no

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competitor had suggested, but also provided solid technical reasons why our initial idea was not likely to work. Within the constraints of lockdown they were able to provide comments to assist with the Church of England faculty process and start the installation as soon as permission was obtained. That allowed us to meet our deadline of having the majority of works completed before people returned to the building for in-person worship.”

The visual system includes a high-definition projector mounted towards the back of the church, which provides a bright and clear image for the congregation. The rear projection screen was replaced with a new, electric front projection screen which raises and lowers automatically. The screen mounts were reused to assist with the faculty process and avoid the need to drill any new fixings for the screen.

Two moveable 65” LCD screens can be connected via floor box sockets at the base of each column and used as confidence monitors for musicians and service leaders, or repeater screens for the aisles.

Those screens are also used for digital signage, and displaying notices and important information to the congregation. Laptops and tablets can be connected wirelessly to the system or via an HDMI connection, which can be patched through any of the floor box connection points.

Two high-definition controllable cameras have been installed for streaming, with one hidden below the projector. These can be controlled and moved remotely by the operator or via presets, and viewed on a dedicated 22” preview screen.

Tally lights on the camera allow service leaders to see which camera is in use and address the congregation at home directly.

James concluded: “The installation team from Cunnings were friendly and knowledgeable, and happy to accommodate our quirks and specific requests. As a church we now have a complete streaming and visual solution that not only has greatly improved our broadcast work during lockdown, but has also been invaluable to funeral ministry.

“Streaming has provided a new front door to our church and allows visitors a more accessible way to find out about us before coming in person. We have used the system to host hybrid theatre events, bring in guest contributors to services via Zoom, record drama projects and interviews, and display information on digital signage. We believe it will strengthen our mission and ministry as we begin to regain a sense of normality.”

To find out more about live streaming solutions and audio visual systems for churches get in contact with the friendly team at Cunnings. q

Response to latest challenges echo the church’s growth through the ages JONNY GOODWILLIE, director of Brighton Sound System, postulates that the changes to worship delivery caused by the COVID-19 pandemic may form a permanent part of the development of the church.

[FOURTEEN MONTHS! It seems like only yesterday, while at the same

time an age. It’s just 14 months since, as a company, we made beautiful sound in amazing spaces like Tate Modern, Roedean School, the Royal Air Force Museum and a myriad of live music spaces, churches and colleges.

Whatever the space, the central purpose of what we do is communication, whether that be through speech, song, instrument or sermon. Sound not only communicates meaning; it can also make you feel emotions of all kinds – a song that takes you back to a certain period of your life or words that give comfort and strength.

The history of worship would have started in outside spaces, around fires between small groups of people: then into people’s homes or marketplaces – stories passed from person to person, village to village, which found their way across the country. Around 1,500 years ago the first churches began to spring up. Church buildings were initially small, but over time large church buildings began to evolve after the acquisition of bigger areas of land and the availability of skilled labour. That helped in achieving a better building, that is aesthetically pleasing and large enough for the congregation.

As churches became larger it became difficult for everyone to hear the preacher clearly. Architectural design overcame that at first. Amazingly, the acoustic characteristics of Byzantine churches, built from the 5th through

the 14th century, exhibit a close match to the optimal acoustical parameter ranges that were not formalised in the literature until the 20th century.

The age of sound reinforcement began in the 1950s. Amplifiers, speakers and microphones enabled sound to be controlled and distributed throughout the space, improving intelligibility and allowing bigger spaces to be used for worship. Since then electronics have refined, got smaller and more reliable; but essentially, 70 years later the basic equipment remains the same.

Then, in early 2020 the world changed, and with it the way we led our lives changed in ways we could never expect. We had to isolate, remain at home, communicate to our loved ones via technology rather than face to face. Businesses faced ruin; our children were educated at home by their parents and carers. Our way of life was turned upside down. For some, in times of trouble, they would turn to their place of worship to find companionship and advice, and to be transported to a place of peace.

Now that was impossible.

The church community, ever resourceful, found ways to reach out to their congregation, whether in the simplest way via a smartphone and Facebook Live or by using webcams and laptops. The vast majority of churches weren’t prepared for the change to the way they gave services, but they made it happen.

Now, with vaccines rolling out we look to get back to some sense of normal in all walks of life. Children are back in their classrooms with their teachers; we are able to share food and drink with our loved ones in outside spaces; we can travel and reconnect with loved ones that we haven’t seen in months, even years! People will be returning to their places of worship.

However, as we look back at the past 14 months some things have become apparent. By talking to parishes we as a company have relationships with, we are learning that congregations have grown, services are able to reach more worshipers and go beyond local, as anyone in the world is able to log into online services. Elderly people who were finding it too much to travel to church were able to take part in services – the same for people with disabilities. So, as we move back to whatever we call normal, there is still a place for online worship.

When we look back at 2020, perhaps it will be seen as one of the major steps in the history of worship – from homes and marketplaces into small churches, then bigger churches with electronic amplification. The next giant leap for worship is online.

If you would like to discuss any of the above, we’d love to talk about how we can move your place of worship into the next level. We design and install beautiful yet simple-to-use sound systems and audio-visual solutions. q • Contact Jonny and the team at Brighton Sound System – online, of course – via info@brightonsoundsystem.co.uk www.ecclesiasticalandheritageworld.co.uk

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Technical innovation can lead us from the bleak winter to glorious summer

As we gradually emerge from the pandemic we can start planning for a careful return to the activities in our places of worship that we love and have missed so very much. Here IAN BRADSHAW, marketing manager of KORG UK, offers some insights into ways in which the new approaches to worship we have adopted could be a change for the good.

[

MANY OF US will be relieved and just want to get straight back into our ‘normal’ routine; but before rushing down that path, perhaps we should take some time out to rethink – to spare a moment or two to consider what we ‘always did’ and think about how things could be improved. Now might be the perfect time for a review which could help stimulate fresh ideas to further engage with your congregation.

The time we can all meet again in our respective places of worship is going to be the cause for much celebration, so why not fully embrace that and bring a lot more music and singing into your services? If you’re going to do that, then it’s worth spending a little time and effort on doing it properly so that the whole congregation can fully enjoy it.

In the case of a small group of performers, though they may have their own amplification the sound can be localised and fail to reach the furthest parts of your worship space. Simply turning up the volume will just deafen those near the front instead of evenly distributing a clear and balanced sound to everyone at an acceptable level.

If your system allows, you may want to consider routing the performers' sound through your audio system, with loudspeakers positioned optimally around your audience. That technique will provide you with far greater control of the overall sound quality and will almost certainly improve the listening experience of your congregation. That approach not only applies to musicians but also to choirs, where adding a multiple microphone set up can significantly enhance the congregation’s enjoyment of their performance. Modern sound reproduction mixers will often have built-in effects such as ambience, delay and reverb. When used judiciously, those effects can really bring vocals to life, especially in rooms or buildings with little or no natural reverb.

If you’re thinking that all of this sounds a little complicated and not worth the bother, then don’t worry. Modern sound equipment can yield amazing results and can be specified and set up to suit the abilities of the users. Many digital audio systems have ‘SCENE’ memories and they are a great way of instantly recalling a setup.

Unless you are confident with your AV system they would be preprogrammed by the installer, making it unnecessary for you to ‘lift the bonnet’.

The more traditional analogue systems are much simpler, having a common style interface that can be understood by most novices. A common approach is to ‘MUTE’ the channels you don’t want to be live and ‘UN-MUTE’ them when you do – the challenge is

to remember which channels are needed where and when!

More modern hybrid mixers, such as the KORG MW series, feature ‘MUTE’ group memories which overcome such challenges – effectively doing a similar job to ‘SCENE’ memories. The beauty is that they can be set up at the press of a button much like you would store a radio pre-set in an old car radio.

And of course we must never forget your online fraternity. There will be those members of your congregation who prefer the remote experience, or who are unable to join you in person for worship.

To include and properly serve that group, you may want to consider simultaneously recording or live streaming your service.

Using an audio mixer with a USB audio output will provide a ‘MASTER’ audio feed for your streaming hardware to combine with a video feed.

Check before you turn on System health checks are important and should be carried out regularly.

Keeping a log provides traceability and gives operators confidence in the safety and performance of the equipment they are using.

If you haven’t used your audio system in a while you should be giving it a health check sooner rather than later, just in case any part of it is no longer performing as intended. Your first full service or performance will be very important and you will want it to go without technical issues.

Start with a visual inspection, making sure all devices are sited correctly and there is no evidence of impact or liquid damage. Make sure all connections are secure, no cables are damaged and, where mains power is concerned, confirm it is connected according to the manufacturer’s instructions. If you use an audio mixer to combine the various sources, turn the master volume control to a minimum.

Proceed by turning on all the equipment you intend to use, allowing it to warm up for 30 minutes or more. After that time the components inside should have reached their normal operating temperatures. Gradually increase the mixer master volume to a nominal level while checking your speakers for unusual noises. If all is well proceed to check each audio source for clarity in use.

If for any reason you hear any inexplicable noises you need to quickly identify the source. Your mixer will most likely have a ‘MUTE’ button on every channel, which can be engaged to silence that channel's output. Start by muting everything and continue by ‘unmuting’ a channel at a time. With any problem areas identified, lower the volume for that device's channel and power the device down. The culprit at that point can be safely disconnected for checking by a qualified person. If your audio system is operated by several people, be sure to identify any problems clearly before leaving the system unattended, as well as noting any issues in your inspection log. q • Having spent the first 25 years of his career in the engineering sector, IAN BRADSHAW brings a unique combination of skills to bear, giving him a deep understanding of pro-audio products and their applications, as well as the everyday challenges faced by users. If you have any questions on your current or a future audio system, you can reach him via ianb@korg.co.uk www.ecclesiasticalandheritageworld.co.uk

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Missionaries’ spiritual centre benefits from technical upgrade

[LADYWELL CONVENT near Guildford in Surrey is the Motherhouse of the Franciscan Missionaries of the Divine Motherhood worldwide. As a retreat, conference and spirituality centre it offers an oasis of peace and tranquility.

To make the facilities fit for purpose in the modern world, an extensive refurbishment and internal alteration works to the Grade Two-listed residential and conference buildings is being carried out.

To their delight, Devon-based APi Sound and Visual have been chosen

as the audio visual designer and installer for the exciting project.

Caroline Smith, general manager at Ladywell, commented: “We have needed to ensure that our meeting rooms and hospitality areas are fitted with visual and audio technology that meet expectation for all our guests.”

The two main areas APi Sound and Visual have been involved in are the conference room and refectory – a dining area which also doubles as a presentation venue with a retractable partition creating two venues.

They have installed comprehensive sound reinforcement and HD laser projection in each side, and an intelligent touch control system to make operation as a single space or two spaces intuitive. That allows the joining or splitting of the sound and visual components depending on whether the partition is open or closed.

The conference room has twin projection due to its width, so that everyone in attendance can see clearly. A rear screen is useful for the speaker to have confidence in what is being shown behind them on the main screens. The system links to both a screen in the adjacent conference/dining room and to the digital signage system in the building, allowing unified communication throughout.

As Caroline Smith explained: “Ladywell’s desire is for those who will use the centre to be spiritually enriched and to experience outstanding hospitality – and excellent technology is essential.” She added: “We give thanks to APi, who have provided us with a professional service and continued support after the installation.”

As phase two of the works will soon commence, the team at APi Sound and Visual are looking forward to working back at Ladywell in the near future. q • To discuss a suitable sound or visual system for your building, call 01392 677668 or email info@apicommunications.co.uk, where APi’s team will be pleased to help. Visit www.churchsoundsystems.co for more information and case studies.

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Medieval gem finds its clarity of voice

[THE Parish Church of St Giles in Wrexham, North Wales – a Grade

One-listed building – is considered one of the finest examples of a medieval parish church in Wales. Built mainly between the end of the 15th and early part of the 16th centuries the church annually welcomes around 33,000 visitors through its doors.

Unfortunately, the performance of the sound system no longer met the church’s needs and in 2017 the PCC engaged Richard King Systems

to provide a scheme for improving the audio facilities. Richard King Systems can boast over 30 years experience of sound system design in places of worship.

The company designed and installed a complete bespoke demonstration system at the church for evaluation purposes. The vast improvement in the sound reproduction was widely acknowledged and led to the PCC approving the proposed scheme.

Following the necessary building works consent the installation schedule was drawn up. The equipment includes a pair of best-in-class column speakers in the main nave, plus three column speakers to act as delay infill in the nave and the Royal Welsh Fusiliers North Chapel.

In terms of microphones, three professional-quality wireless systems were specified, including an antenna distribution system for first-class wireless reception. A discrete professional gooseneck mic system was also specified for the lectern.

Digital signal processing is used to balance the frequency response of the system, configure delays and allow for scene changes. A controller allows simple switching of those scenes.

The original control mixer has been retained together with some auxiliary amplification.

The system also includes the fabrication of bespoke loudspeaker brackets with no new masonry holes being drilled.

Following completion the vicar, Rev Dr Jason Bray, commented: “The natural acoustic of the fine medieval Parish Church of St Giles has been significantly enhanced by the system installed by Richard King Systems, allowing us also the flexibility to isolate various parts of the building for particular purposes, extending their use for meetings and events as well as for the prime purpose of worship.” q www.ecclesiasticalandheritageworld.co.uk

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CRE South West postponed to next year, but Sandown Park gallops on [

WITH THE BAN on large public gatherings likely to be in place for the foreseeable future, CRE has announced that the much-anticipated CRE South West in Exeter has had to be postponed until 23-24 February next year.

“With the impressive roll out of the vaccination programme, things are certainly looking more hopeful for us all,” said exhibition owner Steve Goddard. “However, we think it will be a while yet before large-scale indoor events will be sanctioned. With this in mind, we thought it best to make an early decision to postpone CRE South West until 2022, to ensure the event has the best possible chance of being successful.”

At the time of publication the next CRE National, at Sandown Park in Surrey, is still scheduled to take place on 12-14 October this year.

It will be opened by Jeff Lucas (pictured), a much-loved Bible teacher and author. Jeff will introduce visitors to the biblical story of Daniel and friends, deported and forced into a form of lockdown.

“There are so many lessons we can learn from their experiences,” said Jeff. “In fact, much of the Bible is written from lockdown – whether

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it’s Daniel and his friends, Joseph, Esther or the apostle Paul. Their stories show us how to thrive rather than just survive.”

His new book Singing in Babylon, published by David C Cook, is subtitled Finding Purpose in Life’s Second Choices.

Steve Goddard added: “With more than 70% of the floor space already sold at Sandown Park we look forward to an event where, together, we celebrate the first steps on the long road back to normality. While the internet has been a lifeline over the past 12 months, people still want to meet the person behind the product – because face to face beats mouse to mouse…every time. In fact, nothing beats trying it on, tasting it, sitting on it, hearing it, discussing it and comparing it. Nothing beats CRE!” The Association of Exhibition Organisers has worked closely with the government to suggest timely best practice in light of COVID-19. With that in mind, new measures at CRE may include foot pedal-activated hand sanitisers, decontaminating spray, protective screens at visitor registration, messaging reminders, one-way systems and sociallydistanced seminar rooms, toilets and breakout areas. q

Who dares to stream – risks creating a clip that streams with laughter! [

THE TREND TO MOVE services online means the world’s population can tune in to the services of even the smallest provincial church – and also witness some of the You’ve Been Framed-style gaffes and pratfalls that befall hapless clerics.

And ever since Revd Stephen Beach of St Budeaux in Plymouth got too close to some candles and set his jumper alight – prompting the priceless quote: “Oh dear! I’ve just caught fire!” – churches have been posting streaming service ‘fails’ during lockdown.

Now Ship of Fools – the well-known online community and magazine – is calling for the funniest online church gaffes to be sent in, which they will run in a readers’ poll later this year to discover the best Streaming with Laughter moment. Followers of CRE online, the website of Christian Resources Exhibition, can nominate their favourite clips at creonline.co.uk/ streaming-with-laughter/ Simon Jenkins, editor of Ship of Fools, explained: “It’s been wonderful to see how willing local churches have been to embrace online church during a very difficult year. Despite some embarrassing and downright hilarious moments, church leaders have been willing to take risks, make mistakes, and then post them online for the rest of us to enjoy. We want to celebrate that.”

Some of the best examples sent in to Ship of Fools so far and revealed by CRE include a tree falling onto a worship group drummer, who heroically battles the foliage to continue playing, and a Catholic priest who forgot to turn off the augmentation filters on his Facebook livestream during Mass. As a result, online worshippers see him continue to lead the service wearing, in turn, a cartoon pink moustache, a cat mask and a pair of sunglasses (pictured).

Switching to digital services will form a major feature of the next CRE National, at Sandown Park in October.

CRE owner and MD Steve Goddard said: “Our special Church Digital feature will help churches go to the next level in learning how to broadcast their services effectively. However, with so many outsiders still, wrongly, viewing the church as po-faced, it’s good to show how we are also happy to laugh at our misfortunes.” q

Streaming figures large as seminar programme goes online [

STREAMING IN CHURCHES is the subject of a raft of seminars available from CRE. Seminars have always been a key ingredient of CRE, with a full programme always available for visitors. Now CRE has made all its seminars available to view free of charge on its YouTube channel, CRETV.uk.

The streaming seminars include some basic ‘need-to-know’ lessons by Andy Pidsley, as well as top tips on how to cope with some of the unexpected consequences of going online – Oops, Our Church Grew Fourfold Overnight!

The reality of the return to worship in person and its effect on the streaming process is another subject – is online worship here to stay and, if so, in what form?

Other seminars that deal with the church’s online presence deal with safety and security.

Over 30 seminars, worship sessions and interviews are currently available, with more being expected to be added on a regular basis. The full range is available via the online seminar playlist at CRETV.uk. q www.ecclesiasticalandheritageworld.co.uk

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Clay bricks add to converted warehouse’s attraction

[THE DUCIE STREET WAREHOUSE in Manchester is a vast red

brick building of seven storeys, looming over the Rochdale Canal basin in the Northern Quarter of the city. Built in 1867, it originally belonged to the Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway and was used to store cotton bales en route from the port of Liverpool to London.

The Grade Two-listed building had been used as an aparthotel since 2005, though recently it has been revamped as Cultureplex, a social

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hub in which people can come to work, lounge and dine. The building also incorporates a new aparthotel, Native, operated by the award-winning provider of serviced apartments Go Native, as well as a boutique fitness studio, Blok.

The project was shortlisted in the Hotel, Retail and Leisure category of the AJ Retrofit Awards 2021.

Architects Archer Humphryes worked together with David Waddington and Pablo Flack, founders of London’s Bistrotheque, to embrace the industrial nature of the building in their new designs.

Waddington and Flack were keen to use as many local products as possible and Ketley quarry tiles, made by Ketley Brick in the Midlands from Etruria marl clay from their own local quarry, suited the industrial context of the building perfectly, as well as providing an extremely lowmaintenance and hard-wearing flooring solution.

Ketley’s quarry tiles have been used extensively in the newly-renovated warehouse – in Cultureplex, Blok and Go Native. Different laying patterns using a combination of square, brick-sized and paver-sized tiles in Staffordshire brown brindle and Staffordshire blue define the different spaces. Laying the quarry tiles at an angle is a distinctive feature and it is extremely effective, not only adding more interest to the floors and drawing the eye, but also disguising any out-of-square walls. q

Lighting The Way can help save the planet [IN THE LAST ISSUE we traced the history of

lighting in churches from the clever use of natural light to the development of sophisticated systems designed to highlight particular features, while allowing the congregation to see.

The latest development we alluded to is the use of low-energy LED lighting to minimise the carbon footprint of the church. Recognising the importance of LEDs in modern church lighting the Church of England has published a comprehensive guide to their use, compiled as a pro bono project by energy management consultants Briar Associates on behalf of the Cathedral and Churches Buildings Division, with input from the Diocesan Environment Officers Energy Group.

The report stresses that it is designed to help churches move towards net zero carbon emissions as well as improve their overall lighting conditions.

It states: “LED lights are far more efficient than other types of light bulbs and fittings and last longer. Older style incandescent light bulbs (the old 100W light bulb that used to be commonplace in houses) last approximately 1,000 operational hours. Normal fluorescent light bulbs/ lamps typically last for 15,000 operational hours. LEDs, by comparison, can last between 50,000 and 75,000 hours, although you might not achieve quite this long with intermittent use in a church.”

The benefit of replacing light fittings less often goes beyond the savings in costs: there is less waste of materials – both in the raw materials used to make the bulbs and in the amount of used waste sent to landfill. For churches, even the cost of replacing the bulbs can be further reduced by parish buying.

A third area of saving, both in terms of cost and time, is in the time taken to install replacements – plus, if the lights are in difficult-to-access places, there is a reduction in risk.

Both the Church of England itself and the LED guide recommend that a professional designer/installer should be consulted before any works are embarked upon.

In the next pages we look at a number of markworthy new schemes that are based on LED lamps. q

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From bright lights to controlled environments – these experts have it covered

[

However, achieving the optimum lighting design solution is a longWEST MIDLANDS-BASED Lighting Dynamics UK is continuing to term process which involves educating, informing and demonstrating cement its position as one of the UK’s premier specialists in the design to all members of a specific project team what can be achieved. and installation of interior and exterior lighting of cathedrals, churches The team at Lighting Dynamics UK are also fully aware of the need and other places or worship – across all religious denominations. to be energy conscious: in this modern age it would appear that the The Sutton Coldfield company is dedicated to offering a totally never-ending increasing number of new energy regulations is only independent, creative, imaginative and unbiased lighting design, surpassed by the cost of energy itself. as well as an in-depth consultancy service and, where required, the supply of all associated or specified lighting equipment. Its We’re all experts now, right? comprehensive range of modern, energy-saving, long-life lighting With the advent of easy internet access and the more recent LED equipment is manufactured from the highest quality materials and lighting technologies, many end user clients have tremendous difficulty takes into consideration many important factors, such as reliability, in differentiating between the various price points available online, durability, optical performance, overall efficiency, size, style and ease and in particular understanding the prime differences between high of maintenance. quality ‘commercial grade’ LED luminaires and their counterpart lowThe company has also launched – and continues to develop cost alternatives, which in many situations would not even be deemed – a brand new family of the very latest in bespoke, high-quality, suitable for a domestic type lighting application. The issue is further commercial grade LED luminaires, specifically designed for all types compounded when modern LED light sources need to be dimmed and of ecclesiastical lighting tasks. The extensive range of LED products, linked to any form of separate lighting control systems. along with a host of related LED lighting accessories, has been under Lighting Dynamics UK has, if required, a fully qualified team development for some time and now takes Lighting Dynamics’ lighting of NIC EIC-registered electricians to carry out the installation of portfolio to the next level of technical innovation. interior and exterior lighting systems to current electrical standards Colour-change lighting linked to DMX controls is also proving and regulations. The team is well-versed in working in all types popular for a number of church illumination applications: and the of ecclesiastical buildings, including – and especially – those with team at Lighting Dynamics has an unrivalled knowledge and expertise listed status. of all modern intelligent dimming and smart lighting control systems.

In short, Lighting Dynamics UK can provide a bespoke design The recent Casambi controls system – a Bluetooth low-energy service for each individual church lighting project – be it interior or wireless solution – can also have a number of benefits for the end exterior – from initial meeting and informal discussions right through user client; however, the Casambi solution can prove to be somewhat to final focusing and commissioning of the completed project. q restricted in older-type church buildings, especially those with thick walls. In those cases further design solutions have been developed and implemented

by Lighting Dynamics UK to overcome the operational limitations of the system.

The team 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 AS PART OF its very modern extensive range of available. In the main, clients no longer wish high quality ‘commercial grade’ LED luminaires, Lighting to see their completed church lighting project Dynamics UK has recently introduced the Solus Micro looking like an extension of somebody else’s miniature LED luminaire. lighting showroom, or lit with floodlights to The 6.5W rated fitting is available in a range of different resemble an industrial style installation. colour finishes and selectable colour output temperatures, The result is that is that most customers and with dimensions of just 32mm diameter, 41mm depth are increasingly looking for someone with and 90mm overall height, it is suitable for a variety of the flair and experience to provide a quality specialist feature lighting applications. lighting design, while also specifying topAs with all of the company’s other LED luminaires, the grade, high-quality ‘commercial grade’ Solus Micro can also be supplied with a variety of different lighting equipment and controls that will lighting design attachments or accessories. provide longevity, reliability and overall For more information visit www.lighting-dynamics.co.uk. q flexibility for their specific ecclesiastical lighting upgrade project.

Introducing: the latest in miniature LED luminaires! [

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LED upgrade prompts new revival for Gothic gem [THE CHURCH OF ST JOHN THE BAPTIST on London’s Holland

Road is an impressive example of Victorian Gothic revival situated between the urban landscapes of Shepherd’s Bush and Holland Park. Begun in the 1870s to a design by architect James Brooks and based loosely on his design for Liverpool Cathedral, St John’s was intended to portray the plain Cistercian style; however, it was developed in stages over the succeeding four decades to a more ostentatious expression of theology through ritual.

The lighting had received very little attention over the years, leaving the church with a failing, life-expired system needing ever-present maintenance.

Lighting specialists CES were approached to provide a flexible new lighting design that would address the requirements for the everyday running of services and events along with emphasising the architecture of the Grade One-listed building. The church was also concerned about its carbon footprint, looking for a new system that was carbon responsible and energy efficient to help reach the Church of England’s target for net-zero carbon emissions by 2030.

The project was primarily an LED conversion utilising much of the existing infrastructure. Improvements to the lighting were necessary for the day-today running of the church and flexibility was achieved with wireless controls.

CES worked closely with the client and current church architect to design a new lighting scheme utilising much of the existing wiring where appropriate to do so – thus minimising labour costs and the impact on the fabric. Great care had to be taken to ensure that the new lighting did not interrupt or detract from the architecture, but enhanced the character of the church.

Almost all of the luminaires feature the Xicato Artist series of modules, which renders the full spectrum of visible light and colours accurately.

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That is of vital importance when highlighting painted features such as the nave angel corbels. A colour temperature of 2,700K, or warm white, was selected throughout to warm the church and complement its stone construction.

The existing pendants suspended in the nave were sent away, gutted and refurbished with modern LED technologies. A small unseen fitting was also located on top of each pendant to capture the spectacular angel corbels in the nave. A new range of architectural LED luminaires from Stoane Lighting was installed throughout to provide focus to service-leading areas, along with architectural features of the church. Each of the fittings was carefully specified to be as discreet as possible and each was RAL coloured to match the surrounding church fabric, with the correct beam angle for its purpose and suitable anti-glare accessory. The range’s modular design affords a great deal of versatility: track and surface mount variations were used, each having the same ‘family’ look and feel.

The brief was to create a flexible system suitable for the current and potential future needs of the church. By retaining the wiring the flexibility could have been severely hampered – let alone church personnel having to run around to different switch positions. The only route to offer the required flexibility with simple unified control was to implement a wireless control scheme – the company’s usual method is a hard-wired system.

One benefit of the Xicato modules is that each has a wireless chip. These chips all communicate with one another to create a robust mesh network, allowing for a single control plate at the west end to activate all the lights.

The control plate has eight simple buttons, each with a pre-set lighting scenario ready for a function of the church. The church has full control over the lighting scenarios and can adjust them as required.

It was a very successful project for both the church and CES. A modern, energyefficient, flexible lighting system was introduced for an affordable budget, which allows the church to create many different and dynamic environments for their various services and other in-church gatherings. Simple control allows for one-switch

operation of all the lighting, which can also provide an element of intrigue when the lighting is transitioned from a low level with focus on the pulpit to a bright level.

Both CES and St John’s are strongly committed to preserving the world’s resources and creating less waste. CES worked with Stoane Lighting to that effect. All of the fixtures in the scheme were designed using circular economy principles. The modular in-house design using locally-made components means repair or remanufacture to the same, or if needed different, specifications is always possible – something the manufacturer has agreed to support for 25 years. The pendants were remanufactured with modern technology, not only preserving materials which otherwise would have been recycled at best – losing their original value in the process – or sent to a landfill site at worst, but also upgrading them to a longer life with wireless communication. In addition, a spotlight was incorporated to light up the angles cantilevered above without recourse to new fixings or wiring. Up and downlighting are independently switchable thanks to Bluetooth control.

It is anticipated that the cost for running the lighting will be less than £20 per month.

Associate vicar Neil Traynor wrote to CES, saying: “Many thanks; the lighting is looking stunning. It really does bring out the important elements of the building.

“We used the lighting for the first time last night in our All Souls service.

We began with the congregation entering with just the pendants at a low level. When the new lighting was turned on there was an audible gasp and round of applause – the congregation were impressed.”

A spokesperson for Xicato Controls added: “We were delighted to work alongside the talented teams of CES and Stoane Lighting on such an iconic building project. Xicato Controls were more than a match for this challenging environment and we are extremely pleased the new dynamic lighting is being enjoyed by both the visiting congregation and the hundreds of viewers around the world that watch the live service broadcasts.” q

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Ancient and modern: technology and craftsmanship come together to create ‘splendid balcony’ A large, cantilevered balcony is an exacting thing to build, particularly in stone, so when specialist surveyors Smith & Garratt were given the task of enhancing the galleries in the south wing of Marchmont House, an A-listed Palladian mansion in the Scottish Borders – to provide visitors with an outdoor dining space and to improve access to the west garden – they were keen to explain how it was achieved. This is their account of the build.

[OUR SOLUTION was a 10’ x 30’ balcony providing room for three

tables of eight, accessed on the level from the main gallery through three pairs of French windows, with broad sweeping steps down to a garden terrace. Smith & Garratt designed, obtained consents for, and delivered this splendid balcony.

The concept of sweeping steps leading to a deck cantilevering from a rusticated arch in the context of a wing of this great house – a former kitchen wing with three large, full-height windows – began as a sketch inspired by imagination rather than practicality. A precise survey of the face of the building was made and drawn using AutoCAD, and basic axonometric drawings were based on the sketch. They were developed into a full 3D

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model of the whole, which could then be carefully divided into components and exploded out…13 steps, corbels, rusticated blocks and voussoirs, edges and paviours: 291 stones in all, each now individually produced in 3D imagery. Precision was paramount: the aesthetic of the whole is supported by the detail of each component part, with every mortar bed, perpend and pin in perfect detail.

The means of support was added, also in 3D. The concealed elements comprise a stepped foundation, leaves of blockwork beneath the steps and a deck of reinforced concrete. A pivotal decision was to cast the deck within a tray of low-grade stainless steel with a channel-section edge, through which the balustrade would be fixed.

Accuracy was maintained by exporting the 3D stone drawings to banker masons as STL files, for cutting on a CNC machine, and exporting the tray drawing into the fabricating engineers’ Autodesk Inventor for automated plasma cutting and precision welding. Designing in that way paid dividends in procurement, cost certainty and assembly time. Suppliers knew exactly what was required of them, and it went together on site like Lego – skilled masons assembled it quickly and with minimal impact on activities in the house and gardens.

What about art and the hand of the artisan craftsman?

Standing on the balcony is anything but a disappointment. The original sketch design shines through, natural marks and flaws in the stone provide character and it feels craft led. Part of that is undoubtedly due to its balustrade. Inspired by the work of Thomas Hadden for Robert Lorimer – who remodelled the mansion at the turn of the last century – the balustrade was drawn and forged by hand. There really is no other means of producing quality scrollwork.

The balcony represents a triumph for the use of modern,

French windows reflect Lorimer’s vision

computerised techniques in support of traditional crafts. Without that a balcony of such quality and stature would not have been affordable, and would not have been achievable in the timescale acceptable to the builder-mason or to the client.

• The team involved in the creation of the balcony comprised structural engineers Robertson Eadie, stone supplier and banker masons Hutton Stone Co Ltd, steel fabricators SWP Engineering Services Ltd and builder-masons Sandy McLean & Co. The French windows were supplied

by Charles Taylor Woodwork and the balustrade by Brian Russell.

Design, consents, 3D work, procurement and project co-ordination was by Smith & Garratt specialist surveyors. q

[THE THREE SETS of French windows were manufactured and

fitted by Charles Taylor Woodwork, whose team of craftsmen had worked for many years at Marchmont House. Close attention was paid to the specification to ensure the windows faithfully replicated the adjacent Lorimer detailing – complete with bespoke brass handles and locking mechanisms of a unique and challenging design to accommodate the very fine ‘meeting’ style of the windows. q

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Roofing Awards are finally revealed (virtually) – and heritage projects scoop the pool again!

[THE WINNERS OF the NFRC UK Roofing Awards 2020 were

announced on 10 March. Owing to on-going COVID-19 restrictions the live event that was previously scheduled for 28 May was not able to take place. However, due to the high quality of all of the entries, NFRC felt that it was essential that the judging of the awards would still take place; and for the first time it was done entirely online, by a panel of highly-regarded industry figures.

The competition, covering the full spectrum of roofing disciplines, normally runs from October to January every year; thereafter a selection of projects are shortlisted in March, with the winners announced at a glittering awards ceremony.

As in previous years, heritage and ecclesiastical projects feature large in the list of category winners – in addition to the Heritage Roofing category itself. This year, however, the winner in that category also won the most prestigious award, that of Roof of the Year. The winner was Claude N Smith Ltd for the roof of Bodley Court at Kings College, Cambridge (right).

Covering 1,500m², the existing roof material was made of Collyweston slate and was original to the build. Because reclaimed Collyweston slates are now in very short supply, the challenge was to re-open the only Collyweston slate mine in the world to achieve a match.

Bob Richardson, head of technical and training at NFRC, commented: “This project was unanimously chosen as Roof of the Year. The sheer scale of the planning, leading to the completion of what can only be classed as a labour of love by skilled craftsmen, resulted in a remarkable re-roofing project.”

The project headed up a quartet of heritage-based projects that topped their categories. The winner in the Fully-supported Metal category was the copper dome on Ludgate House in London (left), carried out by Full Metal Jacket.

Describing the project in its Roofing Today newsletter, the NFRC said: “Many challenges had to be overcome, not least the dome as it had three barrel vault dormers with ornate scrolls at each cheek. The original roof was installed in 1890, and ways had to be found to replicate the design.

“As the three gold cherub ornaments at the top of the dome were missing eyes and noses, they also had to be carefully restored before being prepared, primed and coated in gold leaf.

“The design of the roof meant the work all had to be formed and installed by hand, with each panel being made individually. The circular dormers, and in particular the forming of the scrolls, were first formed on a mockup and then replicated on the actual dormer. Each dormer was not exact in size, so each one had to be made individually.”

The replacement of the lead roof of the South Quire Tribune of Canterbury Cathedral (right), which won the Lead Roofing category, has already been extensively described in

this publication. Also carried out by Full Metal Jacket, the project ensures that the fabric of the 12th-century quire remains a safe and accessible environment for worshippers, for musicians to perform in and for the one million people who visit annually.

The existing cast lead was taken up and smelted down to molten lead where any impurities were removed. The lead was then cast into ingots, ready for re-casting.

North of the Border, George Brolly & Co (Roofing) Ltd, working with fellow NFRC contractor DM Roofing, took the accolade in the Reinforced Bitumen Membrane category for the complex refurbishment to the roof on the Isle of Bute Discovery Centre.

In Northern Ireland, the project on Hillsborough Castle’s Lower Visitor Centre won the Roof Slating category for Penrose Roofing 2014 Ltd. The winning projects headed up a posse of high-quality heritage and ecclesiastical projects that were picked out as runners-up in a number of categories. In the Heritage Roofing category they were Carrickfergus Castle – also by Penrose Roofing 2014 Ltd – Queens Court by John Williams & Company, Phase One of the West Dean College restoration

by Clarke Roofing Southern Ltd and Wythenshawe Hall in Manchester by Fulwood Roofing Ltd. Commenting on the announcement of the winners, NFRC CEO James Talman said: “On behalf of everyone at NFRC, I want to warmly congratulate all of the UK Roofing Awards 2020 prize winners. The judges were very impressed by the high level of craftsmanship, attention to detail and innovation in the projects this year. The winning projects all show our industry at its best – and everyone involved should be truly proud.”

The awards also singled out three individuals for special praise.

The Young Roofer of the Year was Muhammad Farhan of SPV Group (right). In a statement SPV said: “Mo was a stand-out student from the first Building Futures Construction Pathway course delivered by Juniper Training Ltd and SPV Group, and had excellent attendance and engagement throughout.

“He had previously studied other areas of construction before joining our course but felt disappointed that there was no progression, so the Roofing Pathway course stood out to him as a course with excellent progression and opportunities.”

Mo was the first apprentice the company had taken on from the Construction Pathway course and soon proved himself one of SPV’s best and most valued apprentices, winning Apprentice of the Year at SPV’s own 2020 Awards.

His supervisor could not speak more highly of him, describing him as engaged, enthusiastic and always asking questions, adding: “He is very willing to learn and has an excellent understanding of the importance of health and safety.”

SPV’s statement concluded: “Mo is a fantastic role model and ambassador for the roofing industry and is completely deserving of this award.”

The Health and Safety individual Award went to Michelle Hoddle of Contour Roofing. The Local Hero Award went to David Hare of Darwin Roofing, who looked after a client during the first lockdown with shopping and other supplies, while the client nursed his wife through her last days.

It is hoped the 2021 awards will be able to take place in person, and to that end the NFRC has secured the InterContinental London – The O2 – on 5 November for the event. q www.ecclesiasticalandheritageworld.co.uk

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Aluminium provides the low-maintenance solution [RAINCLEAR SYSTEMS, the UK’s

leading stockist and online retailer of metal rainwater, roofline and drainage solutions, is now also offering contemporary aluminium canopies, wall coping and window sills on its website in 26 standard RAL colours.

Canopies Attractive, contemporary door canopies can make a great first impression and add a touch of style and modern character to any home. In addition, they help keep the worst of the rain and wind off when answering the front door.

Rainclear now have canopies for sale The contemporary aluminium canopy in situ on a new-build development (left) and adding a including the Richmond at 120mm front distinctive character to a bungalow (right) height­and the Kensington at 90mm front height. Both come in 1m, 1.5m, 2m and 2.5m widths. The aluminium house canopies, made in the UK by penetrating the capping to reach and Skyline, are designed to be easy to install and are manufactured from compromise the integrity of the high-quality aluminium, with BBA-approved colour powder coating for wall, while still allowing ventilation great looks, a long life and low maintenance. over the top of the wall. They are Custom canopies and colour-matching RAL and BS colours are also available in 15 sizes and 26 standard possible as a special or bespoke order.

RAL colours, made to order in 10 days.

Customers can simply place an order Aluminium parapet Coping online and Rainclear will call them to coping CAD detail Aluminium wall coping from Skyline provides a capping solution with confirm the colour required. economical and easy installation that is ideal for retrofitting or newWhether you are looking for RAL 7016 anthracite grey or RAL 9017 build projects alike. They can be installed to prevent rain and weather black wall capping – or something unusual to match or contrast with your doors, canopies, rainwater system, window frames and window sills – Rainclear can arrange aluminium wall capping to suit your project.

Anthracite grey aluminium cappings are available in two sizes: SL30 & SL36, for wall widths from 241-300mm and from 301360mm. All are available from stock for next day delivery.

Aluminium parapet capping prices begin from £73.81 for the narrowest three metre length with the current An example of the wall capping offer of 30% off online.

Sills The contemporary aluminium external window sills from Rainclear are available in 26 standard RAL colours and can be a stylish addition to any home. The choice of aluminium and the BBA-approved powder coating will save owners the job of constantly painting window sills.

Aluminium external window sills CAD detail

The range from Rainclear is made to measure: simply measure the window ledge outside the window to find the width and depth and then choose the number of bends (three or four) required. q An example of the sills

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Lead theft still a problem for churches as police target metal thieves [ IN APRIL North Yorkshire Police and its partner organisations

took part in a week-long operation targeting metal theft and heritage crime in York and North Yorkshire. It was part of a national clampdown which saw forces across the country focus on metal theft to prevent an increase in offending as lockdown restrictions ease.

The theft of metal is often linked to organised crime, and North

Lead sheet academy is taking bookings for summer [THE Lead Sheet Training Academy (LSTA) is now taking bookings

for Basic, Intermediate and Advanced courses in both lead and hard metals. Places are available for June and July.

CITB funding is available for companies registered and paying into the Levy scheme. The courses can be taken on consecutive days or spread over a period, to suit customer need. Bookings are also now being taken again for mobile courses: further dates will be published in due course.

The Lead Sheet Training Academy is at the forefront of training for those using lead or hard metals in the construction industry.

To deliver that training the LSTA operates from a state-of-the-art, purpose-built training facility in East Peckham, Kent. The training centre includes full-scale training rigs and resources, as well as providing a well-equipped environment in which to learn as it recreates real-life situations.

LSTA is a COVID-19-secure business. Information is available on its website, at leadsheet.co.uk, regarding risk assessments. Its COVID-19 booklet explains how risk will be managed for individuals attending training.

To make a booking or find out about alternative dates available, contact Sharon at info@leadsheet.co.uk. q

Yorkshire’s isolated, rural areas can be particularly vulnerable to such offending.

Inspector Clive Turner of North Yorkshire Police’s Rural Task Force said: “Metal theft and waste crime is a focus for us in North Yorkshire, and this week of action was a good opportunity for us to work alongside partners to keep up the pressure on those responsible.

“Following the COVID-19 pandemic, metal prices may start to rise, risking an increase in metal theft and associated crimes. Vital public services – such as transport, power and telecommunications – can be severely affected, and construction work can be interrupted and delayed, resulting in a significant knock-on economic impact.

“Heritage sites can also be targeted by metal thieves, including places of worship – and this may result in irreparable structural damage. I know the serious effect that metal theft and waste crime can have on communities, both in urban and rural areas – it’s something we treat very seriously and will continue to deal with as a priority.”

Over the week, Rural Task Force officers also carried out patrols at more than 40 churches, particularly in remote areas, to check security and raise awareness with local residents about metal theft.

Sergeant Stuart Grainger of the Rural Task Force added: “Church lead theft is still a problem, but can tend to run in cycles. There was a spate of lead theft last year in South Yorkshire, and in the Dales some isolated thefts – often the removal is very crude and can damage the roof or headstones when it is dropped.

“They can be difficult to identify as some turn up looking like legitimate roofing companies, wearing hi-viz, with a van with a madeup name on the side.” q

Martin-Brooks (Roofing Specialists) Ltd T: 0114 244 7720 E: mb@allroofing.co.uk W: www.martin-brooks.co.uk

Ross Street, Darnall, Sheffield, South Yorkshire S9 4PU

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Mastic asphalt: the traditional material with modern applications [

IN THE LAST ISSUE of Ecclesiastical and Heritage World we featured an introduction to the Mastic Asphalt Council (MAC) – the trade association for the UK mastic asphalt industry, representing more than 90 manufacturers, contractors and associated suppliers of equipment and services. Here we look at some of the material’s qualities.

Explaining the organisation’s role on the MAC’s own website, its director Malcolm Grinstead said: “As a non-profit making independent body, our primary objective is to promote the use of mastic asphalt and to regulate the quality and workmanship standards for its installation.

“In recent years, there has also been a resurgence of popularity of mastic asphalt amongst the specification market for roofing, flooring, paving and tanking projects. We provide a technical information service to architects, surveyors and other specifiers, on the design of all types of mastic asphalt installation. As part of this, we produce a series of Technical Guides which can be readily downloaded from our website.”

Of particular importance to the heritage market, mastic asphalt is one of the few construction activities still regarded as a craft trade and there are many time-served mastic asphalt roofing applicators working across the country. The skilled work involves ensuring that asphalt is at the correct temperature and then spreading it using traditional techniques to coat the surface.

Mastic asphalt is a thermoplastic material that changes shape when heated, then cures to form a hard, durable, finished product to suit all applications.

As it is laid in molten form, it is often confused with other types of waterproofing membrane that require naked flame or torch on application.

In reality, there is no naked flame at the point of installation and because mastic asphalt is so highly flame resistant, there is little or no potential of fire risk.

In addition, the high mineral content of mastic asphalt renders it virtually incombustible. In fire tests no significant spread of flame was observed and no flame penetration occurred.

Green credentials Back in 2008 the Mastic Asphalt Council made history as the first industry body in the world to achieve the carbon zero standard. Since then, mastic asphalt has offset thousands of tonnes of carbon dioxide – underlining its status as a green waterproofing material. When mastic asphalt has reached the end of its useful life it can be recycled or used as roof screed. The Building Research Establishment (BRE) has officially stated that asphalt roofing is capable of lasting 50-60 years, but the MAC has many examples well in excess of that.

A stable surface In many heritage properties a major feature is the stable block – often in regular use for riding. Mastic asphalt is particularly suitable for stable floors, where a smooth, seamless, durable and waterproof surface is required. Impermeable and free of cavities, it is easy to clean and cannot be attacked by vermin, bacteria or conditions of high humidity.

In several European countries, such as Germany, Denmark and the Netherlands, mastic asphalt has a long tradition of being used to protect stable floors, and here in the UK more owners are recognising the benefits of using mastic asphalt as an effective longterm protective flooring solution.

In this issue we continue our series of case studies of projects in which mastic asphalt has formed an integral part with the world-famous St Paul’s Cathedral (right). q

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Leading player showcases asphalting prowess

[ THE ASPHALT on the iconic Stone Gallery at St Paul’s

Cathedral was recently relaid by Sussex Asphalte, replacing 416m2 of asphalt laid in 1906. At a height of 53 metres, the gallery’s exposure to the elements and surface deterioration caused water ingress, damaging artwork inside the dome.

Successful project management and asphalt installation was key to conserving one of the most important architectural structures in the UK. The works were phased to enable continued public access to sections of the Stone Gallery.

The height and highly sensitive fabric of the building meant that all materials were transported to the gallery through a series of hoists, requiring careful operation and management.

Asphalt was stripped and re-laid in sections to ensure watertightness. Stripping enabled the client to view the condition of the Portland stone paving beneath the asphalt. During that work a disused stairwell was discovered that was made safe by the main contractor Sykes & Son Ltd. The Stone Gallery includes a central gutter covered by 122 metres of iron grills that were removed, cleaned and refitted on the new asphalt. To ensure the correct width of asphalt was applied a gutter template was fabricated and used as a guide by the asphalters, requiring skilled precision work.

Other detailed asphalt works involved adjustments to rainwater outlets to improve drainage and vertical upstand into a chase, including a double angle fillet around the galley’s circumference of 286 metres.

Through excellent project management the works were completed ahead of schedule.

Promoting the asphalt profession Because of the conservation and architectural significance of St Paul’s Cathedral, Sussex Asphalte hosted a successful site visit by a large group of surveyors to promote the roofing profession and asphalt installation by highly-skilled craftsmen.

The unique nature of the project, the importance and sensitivity of the site, the opportunity to positively promote roofing and the successful completion of the project on time to the customer’s and main contractor Sykes & Son’s satisfaction made it one of Sussex Asphalte’s most important projects in its 70-year history.

To the delight of everyone involved, the project at St Paul’s Cathedral’s Stone Gallery was the winner in the Mastic Asphalt category of the UK Roofing Awards 2018. q

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We can deliver it! Training provider expands its range of courses and facilities

[

IT IS OF enormous credit to National Construction Training Services (NCTS) that it has forged ahead not only with its on-going training provision, but also a massive expansion to its facilities, while dealing – like all businesses – with the global COVID-19 pandemic.

Last year NCTS joined forces with Master Roofers UK, leading to the launch of prestigious new training premises in Salford. This year its existing training facility in Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire, is seeing the restructuring and modification of its premises – with new classroom facilities, the expansion of its workshop area and new training rigs. Those works do not affect the running of the current training programme.

The range of courses available at each centre covers sector-specific training, such as qualifications in lead and hard metals, slating and tiling, and health and safety.

However, new courses will be added wherever there is a demand. An ornate slating course – the first of its kind – is scheduled for August this year, while a lead casting course will be available in September.

These new and existing courses have necessitated the recruitment of five additional tutors/assessors, who together cover the entire range of the training and assessment programmes at the two sites.

Meanwhile, future mobile training courses – which have received enquiries from as far afield as the Republic of Ireland and Oban – are due to take place later in the year. They will cover lead and hard metals training, with the existing team of tutors involved in their delivery.

Unsurprisingly, the on-site assessment and training (OSAT) programme is proving as popular as ever. An efficient route for experienced workers without formal qualifications to obtain recognition of their skills by obtaining an NVQ Level 2 or Level 3,

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assessments are carried out on site, reducing the amount of time the candidate has to spend away from normal work.

In the past, experienced lead and hard metal workers were issued with CSCS cards through the industry accreditation process – also known as ‘grandfather rights’ – gained through employer recommendations rather than the achievement of a recognised qualification. CSCS closed that process to new applicants in 2010, but existing cardholders have been allowed to renew on the same basis.

However, from 1 January 2020, all cards renewed under industry accreditation will expire on 31 December 2024 – and CSCS will stop issuing the cards from 30 June 2024. q • For further details on courses and venues call 01992 801914, email training@ncts.org.uk or visit www.ncts.org.uk.

Temporary CSCS cards implemented for lightning conductor engineers and steeplejacks [

THE COUNCIL OF ATLAS – the Association of Technical Lightning and Access Specialists – has voted in favour of temporarily amending the standard CSCS card renewal requirements for its sector, due to the coronavirus severely restricting access to training.

That has meant the suspension of the requirement for an Anchors for Steeplejacks and/or Working at Height for Lightning Conductor Engineer course in order to renew blue or gold Steeplejack and/or Lightning Conductor Engineer CSCS cards. As a result, on a temporary basis, the Health, Safety and Environment Specialist Work at Height Test will be sufficient to renew a CSCS card; but it will be valid for one year only.

As face-to-face training is significantly restricted due to lockdown restrictions, Anchors for Steeplejacks and Working at Height for Lightning Conductor Engineer courses are currently suspended. The courses were assessed for remote or eLearning conversion, but this created significant logistical challenges, which may take some time to resolve. The grace period of one year on expired cards, offered

by CSCS, ended in March this year. To allow members to carry on

accessing sites during this period, ATLAS has worked with CSCS to allow the issuing of short-term CSCS cards until training can resume, or alternative training formats can be implemented.

The short-term CSCS cards will be valid for one year only, so operatives will then need to renew again, for their five-year CSCS card, when the relevant courses can resume.

The cost to renew a CSCS card remains the same regardless of the duration, so the cost to renew will remain at £36.00. This temporary implementation came into force from 15 March 2021 and is expected to be in place for no longer than one year. Operatives are advised to access the relevant Anchors for Steeplejacks and/or Working at Height for Lightning Conductor Engineers courses as soon as they become available. They can be used for CSCS card renewals for up to two years following the course date.

Any operatives who managed to attend the training courses, prior to the latest restrictions, will be able to obtain five-year CSCS cards as normal as long as the certificates are dated no more than two years before the renewal. q

Where there’s a window there’s a way: scaffolders’ ingenuity gets the job done [LONG-ESTABLISHED Hertfordshire company Rodells has been providing

steeplejacking, lightning protection and other specialist access services since 1898.

The company now encompasses a large scaffolding department, fully equipped to gain access to buildings of all sizes and functions, together with a specialist church and conservation department.

A joint venture between those two departments carried out a notable project at Holy Innocents Church at Kingsbury in the London Borough of Brent. An internal birdcage was constructed in order to gain access to the areas that needed repairing.

Meanwhile, the company’s rope access team boarded up one of the windows to enable the poles to be carried inside.

The main issue the scaffolding department had to contend with was that, unlike on most sites, the majority of the materials had to be passed through small windows.

That meant standard techniques of offloading could not be used. The team managed to get around that by passing the beams piecemeal through the windows and they managed to erect the entire scaffold in a remarkably small space (pictured).

Rodells was founded in Luton in 1898 by Leonard Rodell as a steeplejacking company. The end of the 19th century and the early 1900s saw many engineering and textile firms operating in Luton and throughout Hertfordshire, and Rodells drew many of its early clients from those firms.

The advent of the Clean Air Acts and other environmental legislation during the second half of the 20th century led to a reduction in the number of boiler chimneys across the country and to Rodells expanding their own operations into scaffolding and other specialist access works – a trend that has continued into the present century. q • For further information visit www.rodells.uk www.ecclesiasticalandheritageworld.co.uk

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Steeplejacks: the traditional craftsmen that are thriving in the 21st century

Courtesy of Proteq (Northern)

Courtesy of Stone Technical Services Group

Courtesy of Balmore Specialist Contracts

[WHEN YOU THINK of a steeplejack, what do you picture? If

steeplejacks and lightning conductor engineers in the UK. ATLAS steeplejacks take the multi-disciplined skill set of a steeplejack to the you envision black and white photographs of men in flat caps scaling next level, by assuring clients of both quality service and workmanship. chimneys or church steeples without safety harnesses, then the reality of Contractor members undergo a stringent application process in order to the 21st-century steeplejack may quite surprise you. The Association of enter into ATLAS membership, and are then audited Technical Lightning and Access Specialists (ATLAS) annually to ensure continuing compliance with a is currently celebrating its 75th anniversary, which strict set of criteria. Choosing an ATLAS member provides a perfect opportunity to reflect on how assures you of: traditional access methods have evolved through to • High standards of competence and the present day.

• workmanship Modern steeplejacks do not operate within the • Financial stability confines of one access method – the ladder; they • Compliance with the relevant legislation and use every trick in the book to offer the best solution • standards to their clients. Whether that be rope access, • A commitment to health, safety and training. industrial drones, designed modular scaffolding, When you choose an ATLAS steeplejack, you are mobile elevated work platforms (MEWPs) or bosun’s not dealing with an independent contractor alone; seats, you can be assured that the steeplejack has you are welcome to liaise with ATLAS in the unlikely consulted the hierarchy of control to offer the access event of needing to get any issues resolved – giving method which is the safest, most appropriate and you added peace of mind. ATLAS also loves to hear cost-effective for the work involved. from satisfied clients on the work its steeplejacks Not only do modern steeplejacks employ a have undertaken. diverse range of access methods, but they also offer ATLAS steeplejacks work on ecclesiastical buildings a variety of services – making them a ‘one-stopHistoric photo courtesy of Dawson Steeplejacks and heritage structures across the UK and abroad. shop’ for all your specialist work-at-height needs.

A poster has been created to demonstrate a sample From cladding to pointing, and roofing to lightning of access methods and services available at those sites, which can protection, the 21st-century steeplejack is the ultimate ‘steeplejack of all be ordered from the ATLAS website. Next time you are choosing a trades’. To simplify your maintenance works, consult a steeplejack for specialist contractor for all your work at height needs, don’t just choose an unbiased, end-to-end, hassle-free process. The benefits of using a a steeplejack; choose an ATLAS steeplejack. q comprehensive service include limiting the number of contractors on site, minimising the potential for logistical issues, minimising the potential for • To find an ATLAS member visit atlas.org.uk, email info@atlas.org.uk or safety issues and saving both time and money. tel 0844 249 0026.

ATLAS was established in 1946 and is the trade association for

Courtesy of Darren Robinson Photography/Dawson Steeplejacks

Courtesy of Proteq (Northern)

Courtesy of Darren Robinson Photography/ Stone Technical Services Group

www.ecclesiasticalandheritageworld.co.uk

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The following companies are all specialists in Lightning Protection Systems: Direct Strike Ltd

Lightning Protection and Earthing Solutions • Lightning Protection • Inspection & Maintenance • BSEN 62305:2011 • Consultancy & Design Services • Supply & Installation • Earthing Systems • Height Safety & Fall Arrest Systems • Surge Protection

Head Office: 01461 337951 Rep of Ireland: +353 45 913 129

E: enquiries@directstrike.co.uk W: www.directstrike.co.uk 18 Canberra Road, Gretna, Dumfriesshire, Scotland DG16 5DP

Harrison Lightning Protection & Earthing Ltd T: 01325 464464 E: contact@harrisonlp.co.uk W: www.harrisonlp.co.uk

2 Lakeland Estate, Faverdale North, Darlington, County Durham DL3 0PX

Rafferty Lightning Protection 70 years experience in the steeplejack and lightning protection industries • Surveys • Risk Assessments • Design and Installation to BSEN 62305 • Specialist Earthing • Annual Testing, Inspection & Maintenance • Surge Protection

Wiltshire Steeplejacks

and Lightning Conductor Engineers Trading for over 40 years, we specialise in: • Lightning protection systems • BS EN 62305 & BS 6651 • Earthing and resistivity testing • High maintenance work • Flagpoles • All rope access work • Full architectural surveys & cover meter surveys T: 01225 761330 M: 07973 397770 E: wiltssteeplejack@aol.com W: www.wiltshiresteeplejacks.co.uk The Coach House, 5 Court Street, Trowbridge, Wiltshire BA14 8BR

A C Wallbridge & Co Ltd Steeplejacks and Lightning Conductor Engineers

Providing lightning protection services since 1978 Installation, maintenance and testing of lightning protection systems, utilising rope access systems for safe access.

• Cathedrals • Churches • Towers • Sports Centres

• High Rise Office Blocks • High Rise Residential Blocks • Schools • Hospitals

T: 01722 322750 E: mail@wallbridge.co.uk W: www.wallbridge.co.uk Unit 7, Centre One, Lysander Way, Old Sarum, Salisbury SP4 6BU

Horizon Specialist Contracting Ltd

With over 25 years experience our in-house design team are trained and certified to the current British & European Standards BS EN 62305:2011 for Lightning Protection Systems and BS 7430:2011 for Earthing.

• Lightning Protection Systems and Surge Protection Design • Testing and Inspection surveys • Steeplejack maintenance • Fall arrest safety systems

T: 01782 834567 E: enquiries@rafferty1949.com W: www.rafferty-steeplejacks.com

T: 0115 965 7400 E: sales@horizonsc.co.uk W: www.horizonsc.co.uk

South West Lightning Protection

Lightning Protection Services

Nash Peake Works, Tunstall, Stoke-on-Trent ST6 5BT

Unit 7, Burma Road, Blidworth, Nottinghamshire NG21 0RT

Airport Business Centre, 10 Thornbury Road, Estover, Plymouth PL6 7PP

North(Head office): 01461 800323 South: 01582 511036 N.E: 01914 661145 E: info@lightningconductor.co.uk W: www.lightningconductor.co.uk

Lightning Strike Ltd

Cuttings

T: 07807 334441 E: south@lightningconductor.org W: www.lightningconductor.org

Lightning Protection and Earthing Specialist for Churches and Historic Properties • Lightning Conductor Testing • Earthing Systems • Earthing System Testing • Surge Protection • Safe Strike ESE Systems • Soil Resistivity Testing

T: 01158 752686 M: 07581 266493 E: info@lightningstrikeltd.co.uk W: www.lightningstrikeltd.co.uk 11 Bedford Grove, Bulwell, Nottingham NG6 9DE

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The UK’s largest independent Lightning Protection & Earthing contractor Design, installation and maintenance • Lightning Protection • Earthing Services • Surge Protection

• Height Safety Services

Offices in London, Manchester, Sussex, Essex and Bristol.

T: 020 8371 0001 E: info@cuttings.co.uk W: cuttings.co.uk

10-12 Arcadia Avenue, Finchley Central, London N3 2JU

For inspection and rectification, highlevel expertise is the order of the day [THE CONNECTION between steeplejacks

and lightning conductor engineers goes a long way back – and is not confined to the fact that the tops of steeples are traditionally the location for fixing lightning rods.

Once a lightning system is installed that is not the end of the need for high-level access.

Regular maintenance and inspection is required.

Dumfriesshire-based specialists Lightning Protection Services point out that: “For a lightning protection system to function as designed in the event of a lightning strike, it is essential that the lightning conductor system is maintained and kept in good order.”

Section 5 of the Electricity at Work Act 1989 states that all lightning protection systems should be maintained and tested at regular intervals, preferably not exceeding 12 months.

However, Lightning Protection Services recommend an inspection interval of 11 rather than 12 months, thus ensuring the inspection is done in each month over time, saying: “This gradually builds up a full picture of the earthing system and allows for seasonal variation.”

Their advice is echoed by near-neighbours Direct Strike: “Professionals offer this advice because earth resistance ratings don’t merely grow yearly. They also rise during the summer as the earth dries out.”

All parts of the system need to be inspected, including the points at which they meet the fabric of the building.

Direct Strike explain: “Besides examining the earth resistance, it is also vital for an engineer to assess the bonds and joints. They need to

make certain there is no corrosion and that both still possess electrical continuity. In some cases it will also be wise to do a complete survey of the roof.”

The need for inspection goes beyond the actual system itself. As the guidance from Historic England states: “There is some evidence that lightning damage is more extensive on towers or spires where the masonry or jointing is in poor condition. The damage is possibly caused by the sonic boom effect created by the rapid vaporisation of the moisture in the air. This stresses the need for regular building maintenance and repair.”

Once there has been a strike, there is almost always a need for high-level access. Historic England again: “Most direct damage caused by lightning is usually minor: the weakening of copings, pinnacles and roof tiles, for instance.

However, even minor damage can be costly to

repair if high-level access is required.”

Whether it is routine maintenance or restoration work after a strike, the job should be carried out by a specialist contractor. ATLAS is aware of an alarming trend emerging of facilities management companies providing limited training to their own employees and then using them to test the lightning protection systems on the buildings that they manage.

As ATLAS points out: “This is a high-risk strategy, as these employees will often have limited experience of testing procedures and no practical knowledge on the design and installation aspects of the system.

“The consequences of inadequate lightning protection can be serious and only qualified specialist contractors have the knowledge and skills to test and inspect the system properly and prepare an accurate report identifying any noncompliance issues.” q

Students to benefit from lightning protection at former nurses’ home [ A BRAND NEW BSEN 62305

lightning protection system has been installed at a Grade Twolisted former hospital complex in Coventry, which is being converted into student accommodation. Stokeon-Trent company Rafferty Lightning Protection were appointed to deliver the system.

The site, which has stood empty for more than a decade, now has permission to be built on. The hospital closed 11 years ago and has been left empty ever since. All other post-war buildings on the site have since been demolished and the area has been used as a car park; however, the former

nurses’ home and outpatients clinic remain because they are listed.

The former nurses’ accommodation building – the larger of the two listed buildings – will be renovated, extended and converted. The former outpatients clinic will be renovated and converted, with modern extensions demolished and new extensions built. There will be a common room, gym and study areas located centrally within the building.

Rafferty Lightning Protection were responsible for the design, supply, installation and testing of a new lightning protection system throughout the development. q www.ecclesiasticalandheritageworld.co.uk

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Ironwork webinar programme continues [THE National Heritage Ironwork Group (NHIG) is taking bookings for

two upcoming CPD webinars, led by experts in their fields. Both take place on Wednesdays and run from noon to 1.30pm.

On 12 May the subject will be Site Dismantling and Fixing, led by David James (right) – a highly-skilled blacksmith with extensive experience of conservation work at many of the country’s most important heritage sites. The day is aimed at anyone wanting to get a better understanding of the ironwork in their care, be they owner/custodian, specifier or practitioner.

Removing and reinstating ironwork will always have an impact, the course preamble says, but how can we minimise that impact, act responsibly and safely and avoid further complications? The webinar will look at the issues involved in dismantling ironwork on site and fixing it back in again, giving an overview of potential approaches, tackling typical problems and offering some solutions, including: • Methods of removing iron from stonework • Options for fixing ironwork into stone • Safe practice working with lead • Using heat on site The webinar on 9 June will examine Traditional Joining and Repair Techniques and will help those attending to identify and understand the

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various types of joining techniques found in historic ironwork.

They include: • Different types of fire-weld • Rivets: cold-set, hot-set and pneumatic • Mortises, tenons and sockets • Halving joints • Collars: wrapped, screwed and fire-welded • Nuts and bolts – with a focus on threads • Square-headed fixings from the period 1850s-1920s • Appropriate use of replica fixings The webinar is aimed mainly at general conservation professionals, for whom ironwork falls within their remit but is not a specialism. It will also be suitable for blacksmith students and metalworkers unfamiliar with historic material or keen to learn more. By the end of the session, they should be able to appreciate what is involved in construction and how best to approach repair.

The presentation will include case studies and short video clips demonstrating key techniques.

The session will be led by conservation blacksmith Rowan Taylor (right). Rowan completed the NHIG Bursary scheme in 2013 and has since established a strong reputation in conservation and restoration work, specialising in bridges and canal-side ironwork.

To book for these webinars, review past webinars on a pay-per-view basis or to view free conversation events visit nhig.org.uk. q

Historic lantern now lights the way to a healthy lifestyle [THE ‘Ye Olde Wine Shoppe’

before being carefully removed and set aside for repair or replacement. building in the centre of Swansea Paint samples were taken from the is now a Holland & Barrett store. lantern frame, tent, decorative hearts The building has been undergoing and ball feet. Analysis identified refurbishment works, undertaken by that the lantern had originally been QI Refurb and Contracts Ltd based painted black and that the current in Telford. They contracted Historic green colour was more recent. It also Metalwork Conservation Company, revealed that the ball feet and two initially to carry out a condition report repoussé hearts had been gilded. As on the decorative lantern suspended the paint layers were failing, they were outside the front of the store, along removed by hand back to a sound with recommendations for its repair. surface on all parts.

The necessary repairs were approved The remaining iron lantern frame by the local conservation officer, so the The lantern before (left) and after the refurbishment was heavily corroded, as water had client, Holland & Barrett, instructed the been able to sit in the lantern over works to be carried out. many years. Wasted sections were removed back to sound metal before The building, at 10 Union Street, was originally The Tavern pub. It was renew sections were welded in. The bent feet were straightened and a new modelled in Arts and Crafts style at the end of the 19th century before being heart piece made from copper sheet. reopened as Ye Olde Wine Shoppe by the famous diva Madame Adina Patti, The tent was also heavily corroded. Damaged areas were cut back an Italian opera singer, in 1897. The Wine Shoppe was perhaps best known to sound metal and new repair pieces fitted by welding. That included for Boris the Bear – a stuffed bear on display in the pub’s entrance. Boris had a piece to close in the hole in the top. Research had been unable to been a well-known dancing bear who travelled to Swansea in the 1920s and reveal what had originally sat on the top of the tent so it was agreed 30s as part of a Russian circus. He was photographed with Jimi Hendrix in that this hole would be filled. the 1960s. The Wine Shoppe closed its doors in the late 1980s and was listed Each glass pane was cleaned with de-ionised Grade II in 1987. water and non-ionic detergent after the white The large lantern was suspended above the front backing panes to the decorative glass pieces had of the pub building by two forged iron tie bars and been removed. A small number of the decorative fixed with a steel tube back onto the façade. It was panes had cracks present. Those were repaired originally a gas lantern and would have had a vent/ using a conservation-grade epoxy resin adhesive, chimney on top; but that had been lost many years Sylmasta Hxtal epoxy resin – a water-white resin ago, leaving a hole in the shaped iron top covering, that resists UV damage. The cracked orange or tent. It was around three feet high, with a gently and green panes were repaired where they were tapering hexagonal frame and gilded ball feet at cracked or replaced where sections were missing, each bottom corner. The lantern was glazed with using the same cathedral glass. coloured glass panes, alternate green and orange The repaired lantern parts were repainted using on the bottom and top rows and decorative red One of the lantern’s glass panes an alkyd oil paint system, Sherwin-Williams Kempanes on the centre two rows.

Kromik, and finished in the original carbon black.

The decoration was left in clear glass with a The repoussé heart was repaired by fixing the new section to the original second white glass pane secured behind each to reveal the details. The using a structural epoxy resin adhesive. The painted hearts and ball feet bottom of the lantern had a decorative hexagonal pane fitted with ‘No 10’ were oil gilded using 23.5 carat gold leaf. highlighted on the same red background. There was a hinged door on the The glass panes were re-fitted using Hodgson’s Flexistrip tape and right side of the lantern that allowed access to later incandescent bulbs.

Heritage sealant on the inside, to make sure the lantern frame was The lantern was in a very poor condition. Before removal it was sitting fully water tight. The outside was filled using a butryl putty that could be precariously on the building façade, having been struck by a vehicle in the overpainted. New hinges were fitted to the repaired original door. The door past. It was taken down carefully by QI Refurb & Contracts and transferred was held closed via a threaded stud and wing nut of stainless steel and to Historic Metalwork Conservation Company’s workshop in Shropshire sealed with a weather strip. New brackets were for conservation. The inside of the lantern was very made to replace those that had heavily corroded dirty, having been open to the weather for many and to allow the tent to be re-fitted. An insect mesh years due to the hole in the tent. Some of the glass was also added around the gap between the frame panes were cracked and others were missing, and tent to prevent moths from entering when the having fallen into the lantern. Two of the decorative light was on. ball feet were bent out of alignment and the side of The original gas pipe arrangement inside the one of the originally gilded hearts, set out from the lantern frame was replaced as it had corroded front of the lantern, was missing. heavily. New galvanized pipes were fitted with a ‘T’ After being recorded photographically, the section to allow for the fitting of an updated lighting remains of the iron tent on the top of the lantern system. The hollow pipe allowed the electric cable was carefully removed by drilling out the old fixing to feed back to the inside of the shop façade. bolts on the top brackets. That gave access to the The refurbished lantern was returned to QI inside of the lantern and revealed the original Refurb & Contracts for re-fixing to the front of gas pipe that helped support the frame. The old the Holland & Barrett building as part of their incandescent light bulbs and holder were removed The refurbished lantern back in place renovation works. q and set aside. Each glass pane was then labelled www.ecclesiasticalandheritageworld.co.uk

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Trust aims to pass on the passion for our war memorials to the next generation [

THERE ARE ESTIMATED to be trialled in schools and develop pupils’ 100,000 war memorials in the UK. Nearly understanding of what war memorials are, every community has at least one which why they are important and what we can remembers its members who were affected learn from them about the people and by conflict. Community can take many conflicts they commemorate. different forms including geographical, One primary school head of history religious, military, workplace or in many wrote: “The website gives all you need to cases schools and youth groups. All these teach about the topic of Remembrance.” should be cherished and preserved for and The trusts’ education and learning by future generations. are not confined to schools. A separate For this to happen today’s young people page carries materials for Scouts, Cubs, need to understand the significance Guides, Cadets, Duke of Edinburgh Award of our war memorial heritage. The participants, history clubs and other extraWar Memorials Trust – the charity that curricular programmes. works to protect and conserve all war Many of those groups already carry out memorials within the UK – has developed educational resources that some outstanding work linked to their local war memorials and the seek to engage young people, the next generation of war memorial War Memorials Trust aims to support that. q custodians, with the history and significance of war memorials alongside the practicalities of their maintenance.

The trust’s educational work takes as its reference point a quote from the Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard at the unveiling of the Crudwell war memorial on 6 November 1920: “… where is the safeguard, or the assurance that the memorial placed therein with the best of intentions shall remain there in perpetuity?”

THE Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) has committed itself to By educating young people about war implementing the recommendations in the report of its own Special Committee formed memorials: their function, history and to review historical cases of non-commemoration of non-European fallen in the two significance to communities, the War world wars.

Memorials Trust aims to give young people The commission established the Special Committee in December 2019, following a an understanding of war memorial heritage Channel 4 documentary, Unremembered – Britain’s Forgotten War Heroes. Its mandate so they can continue to preserve them in was to produce a report on the commemoration by name of all Empire war dead of the the future. two world wars, identify gaps in that commemoration and propose how any such gaps The trust expresses that hope thus: “By could be rectified. discovering the history of their local war The report found that at least 116,000 – and potentially as many as 350,000 – of memorial, and the fascinating personal those who died while serving the forces of the then British Empire during the First World stories of those commemorated, we hope War remain unmemorialised, a century after their passing. The vast majority were of young people in schools and youth groups African, Indian or Egyptian origin. Of those who were commemorated, up to 54,000 will be inspired to continue the important individuals were deliberately commemorated differently from European combatants. work of preserving our war memorial That was in direct contravention of the core principle of equality of treatment in death, heritage as tomorrow’s custodians.” on which the original Imperial War Graves Commission (IWGC) was founded.

The resources available on its website Publishing the CWGC’s official response to the report, its director general Claire is one way it does that. For schools it is Horton CBE said: “The committee has produced an excellent report, which pulls no providing National Curriculum-linked punches. Our response today is simple: the events of a century ago were wrong then lesson plans and resources. They have been and are wrong now. We are sorry for what happened and will act to right the wrongs of the past. We welcome the committee’s findings and embrace fully its detailed recommendations.

“Many of the recommendations can be acted on at once, others will require further work and investigation. We are already prioritising several areas simultaneously for immediate Professionals in Cleaning Stone Monuments action, building on activities already put in train over recent All works undertaken to the standards and methods years to tell the stories of those who died. As we do, we will required by English Heritage and The War Memorial Trust. No use of chemicals, none damaging cleaning continue in our mission to live up to a promise made more than methods and current conservation methods used. a century ago and inscribed in stone at CWGC sites around the T: 07870 984556 E: i.m.i@ntlworld.com W: www.imi-cenotaph.co.uk globe: THEIR NAME LIVETH FOR EVERMORE.” q

War graves commission apologises for discrimination and promises redress [

81 Main Road, Watnall, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire NG16 1HE

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Memorial cleaning reveals need for further work

[THE WORK OF cleaning and restoring the country’s war

memorials has carried on throughout the past year, despite the restrictions of the pandemic. Hertfordshire-based P&S Property Management have carried out a number of cleaning projects, including that of the memorial at Shorne in Kent (pictured above), at the Church of St Peter and St Paul in the village.

P&S were asked to provide a quotation in early November for a deep clean: the memorial had not been cleaned since 2010. The clean was carried out on 24 March and revealed further work that needs to be carried out.

Director Henry Perales explained: “After a deep clean we usually expose any necessary repairs like re-grouting or repainting the letters. We met with the client and pointed out the exposed problems and will arrange for a quotation so the repairs can be carried out.”

The company also completed the clean back in October of the Croxley Green War Memorial in Hertfordshire, in preparation for Remembrance Sunday commemorations. They have subsequently provided a quote for the repainting of the lettering.

Similarly, the cleaning of the memorial at Hockley Heath, Solihull, in early November exposed the need to have the letters repainted. q

www.ecclesiasticalandheritageworld.co.uk

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ANTIQUE FURNITURE RESTORATION

ARCHIVE STORAGE BOXES

ARBORICULTURAL CONSULTANTS

BATHROOMS

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BELLS

BUSINESSES FOR SALE

CARVERS – MASTER CARVERS ASSOCIATION

BOOK & PAPER CONSERVATION

BUILDING CONSERVATION & RESTORATION CHURCH HEATING & INSULATION

CLOCKS

BUILDING SERVICES

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EXHUMATION SERVICES

HYMNODY

JOINERY DISABLED ACCESS

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LANDSCAPING

ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING

LEADED LIGHTS

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LECTERNS

LIGHTING

LIGHTNING PROTECTION

Wiltshire Steeplejacks

and Lightning Conductor Engineers Trading for over 40 years, we specialise in: • Lightning protection systems • BS EN 62305 & BS 6651 • Earthing and resistivity testing • High maintenance work • Flagpoles • All rope access work • Full architectural surveys & cover meter surveys T: 01225 761330 M: 07973 397770 E: wiltssteeplejack@aol.com W: www.wiltshiresteeplejacks.co.uk The Coach House, 5 Court Street, Trowbridge, Wiltshire BA14 8BR

Lightning Strike Ltd Lightning Protection and Earthing Specialist for Churches and Historic Properties • Lightning Conductor Testing • Earthing Systems • Earthing System Testing • Surge Protection • Safe Strike ESE Systems • Soil Resistivity Testing

T: 01158 752686 M: 07581 266493 E: info@lightningstrikeltd.co.uk W: www.lightningstrikeltd.co.uk 11 Bedford Grove, Bulwell, Nottingham NG6 9DE

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Lightning Protection Services

North(Head office): 01461 800323 South: 01582 511036 N.E: 01914 661145 E: info@lightningconductor.co.uk W: www.lightningconductor.co.uk

A C Wallbridge & Co Ltd Steeplejacks and Lightning Conductor Engineers

Providing lightning protection services since 1978 Installation, maintenance and testing of lightning protection systems, utilising rope access systems for safe access.

• Cathedrals • Churches • Towers • Sports Centres

• High Rise Office Blocks • High Rise Residential Blocks • Schools • Hospitals

T: 01722 322750 E: mail@wallbridge.co.uk W: www.wallbridge.co.uk Unit 7, Centre One, Lysander Way, Old Sarum, Salisbury SP4 6BU

Direct Strike Ltd

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Lightning Protection and Earthing Solutions • Lightning Protection • Inspection & Maintenance • BSEN 62305:2011 • Consultancy & Design Services • Supply & Installation • Earthing Systems • Height Safety & Fall Arrest Systems • Surge Protection

Head Office: 01461 337951 Rep of Ireland: +353 45 913 129

E: enquiries@directstrike.co.uk W: www.directstrike.co.uk 18 Canberra Road, Gretna, Dumfriesshire, Scotland DG16 5DP

South West Lightning Protection T: 07807 334441 E: south@lightningconductor.org W: www.lightningconductor.org

Airport Business Centre, 10 Thornbury Road, Estover, Plymouth PL6 7PP

Harrison Lightning Protection & Earthing Ltd T: 01325 464464 E: contact@harrisonlp.co.uk W: www.harrisonlp.co.uk

2 Lakeland Estate, Faverdale North, Darlington, County Durham DL3 0PX

MEMORIALS & MONUMENTS

LIME & LIME PLASTERERS

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METALWORK

FTMRC ORGANS

RAINWATER SYSTEMS

ROOFING

SOUND, AUDIO VISUAL & LOOP SYSTEMS

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ISCVE

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STAINED GLASS

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STONE & STONE SUPPLY

TRANSPORT & STORAGE

SURVEYING

TRAINING

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