Rochester Cathedral: now bathed in light

“Light is beautiful in itself, for its nature is simple…Wherefore it is integrated in the highest degree and most harmoniously proportioned and equal to itself: for beauty is a harmony of proportions”

Robert Grosseteste – scholastic philosopher, theologian, scientist and Bishop of Lincoln (1235-53).

[ROCHESTER CATHEDRAL – England’s second oldest – recently underwent a transformative lighting upgrade: 21st-century lighting engineering gave the Grade One-listed building a renewed spark.

Repairs, renovations and revitalising have not been unheard of throughout the cathedral’s life. Founded in 604 by Bishop Justus with the permission of King Æthelberht I of Kent, Rochester Cathedral has more than 1,400 years of history – and plenty of scars to prove it!

The Romanesque cathedral faced its first injury in 1066 with the Norman invasion. Being ransacked and left to decay for 20 years took a toll on the grand structure, until the Norman bishop Gundulf oversaw the reconstruction of the current building in 1083. A century later the building was rebuilt in the Gothic style after a major fire destroyed much of the premises.

Fire and pilfering weren’t the only threats to lay siege to the grand architecture. The building has also been used on occasion as a military base. The most notable were in 1215 under King John, under Simon de Montfort when opposing Henry III and by Oliver Cromwell’s troops during the English Civil War.

Over the years, countless repairs and upgrade projects have added to the fascinating character and charm of a building where no corner is like any other. Today, Rochester Cathedral continues to play an essential role in the community. Among a plethora of secular activities and traditional liturgical services you might also find exhibitions, organ festivals and even jazz concerts.

Such an important structure deserves a lighting system of equal stature. With no serious upgrades since the 1960s, Rochester Cathedral’s lighting design could not meet the day-to-day needs, let alone magnify the grand Gothic building.

As the next in a long line of architects, builders and engineers to add their touch to the historic building, CES Light & Electrical Specialists LLP wanted to pay homage to the Gothic design while providing functional lighting.

Traditionally, in ecclesiastical Gothic buildings, light represented architecture as a reflection of Heaven: think of large stained glass windows between ribbed vaults and the external flying buttresses of Notre Dame in Paris. Throughout history architects have devised innovative ways to create revering natural light designs.

Following in their footsteps, CES opted for discrete lighting, while emphasising Rochester Cathedral’s impressive architecture. CES was commissioned to overhaul the existing lighting and electrical system and replace it with a design that captures the cathedral’s historical nature and caters for its 21st-century needs.

The new lighting eclipses the old. Where there was no lighting CES installed fixtures to highlight the detailed features and monuments. Where there was poor lighting there is now flexibility for bright functions or subdued moments of reflection. When it comes to cost savings, there is an estimated yearly saving of over £4,000.

The design involved intricate details for every cable route, fixing, custom bracket and innovative mounting to avoid disrupting or damaging priceless historic features. To the west of the nave are the engineer’s plaques. CES designed a bespoke shelf to sit within each reveal to hide

the lighting and wiring. Each of the gritty dogtooth arcades, triforium and clerestory elements were illuminated to emphasise the perceived height of the cathedral. That draws the viewer up to the details in the roof structure that are otherwise neglected.

A single integrated lighting control system now covers the entire cathedral, so there is no more running to 100 different switch positions upon leaving. The lighting can also all be controlled via a DMX desk when external hires or concerts take over the building.

The design process took over two years, impacted by COVID-19 delays. The installation began in mid-2021 and has recently been completed. After nearly one-and-a-half thousand years of continual restorations and renovations, it’s doubtful the new lighting design will be the last touch-up the cathedral faces. However, as a testament to the cathedral’s ancient architecture and mismatched history, it will surely stand the test of time. q