All Saints’ Church in Oakham to close for two months

Plans are in place for a congregation to continue worshipping together while their church is closed for two months.

A new lighting system will be installed at All Saints’ Church in Oakham in the new year following a £110,000 fundraising appeal.

For years parishioners have been forced to read hymnbooks by torchlight because of the church’s ageing lights.

The building will be closed during the installation work, which is due to begin on January 2 and likely to be completed in March.

In the meantime Sunday services will be held at Oakham School’s chapel and those wishing to hold a church funeral will be directed to a village church within the Oakham ministry area.

The Rev Stephen Griffiths said: “Thanks to the generosity of our congregation, the community and grant-making charities we are able to upgrade the church's lighting to the latest specification.

“This will vastly improve the light level for the congregation and choir, and for the many groups which use All Saints’. The new system will reduce our energy consumption as we work towards a more sustainable future and will be much more flexible for lighting different parts of the church for smaller or larger gatherings.”

The congregation has raised £100,000 towards the project so far and will host two music events early next year to meet the shortfall.

The Sunday services will move to Oakham School from January 5 and it is hoped the building in Church Street will fully reopen on March 9.

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