In a project that has been almost four years in design and over two years in construction, a new lighting installation has transformed the appearance of one of the most majestic of English cathedrals.
CBG Light Perceptions consulted with the Dean and clergy, music department, events teams and operational staff to understand the many different ways in which new lighting was needed to support and elevate the life of the cathedral. The result enhances the liturgy, music and public engagement of the cathedral as well as highlighting architectural details. The design uses high-quality LED light sources with luminaires from leading manufacturers, combined with a reprogrammable preset control system that also allows for manual controls and fine-tuning. With regular setting and simple-to-use controls, the system achieves a perfect balance between energy savings and exceptional lighting performance. The result of the lighting installation is the prestigious recognition of The Gold Eco Church Award from A Rocha UK in recognition of their dedication and commitment to taking action on climate change. Ely Cathedral is part of a national community of over 7,500 churches and cathedrals addressing the environmental crisis using the scheme, becoming only the 3rd Cathedral to achieve this award.
The Cathedral’s recent Annual Report demonstrates 2023 as the lowest year in carbon emissions, a reduction of 42% from the peak in 2019. Ely Cathedral’s community environment group, RENEW, was formed in 2019 and joined forces with the Cathedral Chapter’s Environment Working Group in 2021 to use the Eco Church framework strategically and methodically to get as close as they can to ‘net zero’ by 2030.
The magnificent land and gardens around the Cathedral are being managed to respect the surrounding nature, including recently planted hedgerows, a release site for rescued hedgehogs and plans to plant an orchard. The lighting design is considerate of the impact on the wider environment, reducing unwanted light spills and pollution to be sympathetic to local wildlife and residents.
Photography – James Newton
