New lights system being installed at All Saints’ Church, Oakham

All Saints’ Church is often packed with worshippers, but for now access is restricted to scaffolding and electricians.

New lights are being installed at Oakham parish church after more than £100,000 was raised to give the Grade I listed building a healthy new glow.

Once installed, the lights will allow parishioners to read their hymnbooks more easily, as well as showing details such as the painted ceiling in all their glory.

Work on the lighting project began earlier this month and is due to be completed by March 9.

Project manager Michael Latham, a member of the parochial church council, said the new, energy-efficient lighting system would produce more light and less heat, and a control panel would mean different areas of the church could be lit more or less brightly depending on the occasion.

“We might want to dim the lights for a concert or for a candlelit service, or turn up areas of lighting so that the congregation is able to read the words to hymns,” he said.

“The scaffold itself is an impressive structure and, having been up on it, it’s possible to see damage caused by heat from the old lights, much of which will be repaired.

“Although we’re only really at the outset of this work, we’re really looking forward to seeing the end results.”

Sunday services are being held in Oakham School’s chapel and funerals at other churches within the Oakham ministry area.

The work has been paid for by fundraising events and grants, and a couple of concerts are being organised to help meet the £115,000 total cost.

The west doors of the church remain open between 9am and 4pm most days for people to light a candle, say a prayer and collect the weekly newsletter.