Lighting designer Graham Festenstein was tasked with developing a lighting scheme to sensitively enhance the dramatic Neo-Gothic architecture in this Grade 1 listed Anglican church. The main objective was to replace the standard pendant fittings with four new cast-iron, Gothic-syle lightoliers, based on an original design by Victorian architect William Butterfield. While these would take central position suspended above the nave, more subtle lighting was needed to illuminate the ceiling and altar areas. 

For such a unique scheme, Graham approached Commercial Lighting to help realise the lighting solution. Key was to retain the traditional style whilst utilising the latest LED technology for light quality and energy efficiency.

Collaborating with the church’s current architect and a blacksmith in Milton Keynes, the four cast-iron lightoliers were produced and developed into beautiful LED pendants, finished with ornate glass shades from Australia to match the period style. Subtly installed above the lightoliers, modified versions of our Sovereign Round Shallow Projectors provided complementary illumination, wired to DALI control gear housed within a custom sphere at the top of the fixture. Elsewhere DALI-controlled Sovereign SLM projectors were installed high up to provide additional illumination of the ceiling and wall areas.

The finished lighting scheme has dramatically enhanced the look and feel of this beautiful 19th Century building. Not only is the quality of light much improved, the sensitively developed lightoliers have a true look of authenticity, exemplifying the perfect balance between period style and modern technology.