Current Issue
What is a new audio-visual system going to cost me?
Stephen Neath of APi Communications, addresses a thorny question.
Church and heritage buildings require constant maintenance and upkeep, which can make it hard to budget for a new audio-visual system.
Part of the reason it can be so hard to prepare for the outlay is that pricing information is not readily available. So, as we celebrate the 21st anniversary of the beginning of our journey in providing bespoke AV systems for all our customers, we will try to answer the question: what does a new AV system cost?
Read more: What is a new audio-visual system going to cost me?
Christmas services need great music!
Finding good, reliable organists or musicians for church services is becoming increasingly difficult for churches of all denominations. The Hymnal Plus is the ultimate worship music solution - an ideal digital hymnal system to fill the gap for those who have no instrument or simply want good traditional digital church music.
‘Martyn’s Law’: planning for success
By Stephen O’Connell, Commercial Manager, Netgenium
The Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025, commonly known as ‘Martyn's Law’, received Royal Assent on 3 April 2025. The legislation intends to improve safety in places of worship if a terrorist attack strikes and organisations currently have a minimum 24-month implementation period, expected to run until around April 2027, to prepare for compliance.
Government analysis indicates that well over 150,000 or more public-facing venues, which include primary and secondary schools through to places of worship and retail and hospitality venues across the UK, are expected to be covered by the law. Other estimates place this figure even higher at 250,000.
All change at CRE: the UK's 'ideal church show'
The Christian Resources Exhibition (CRE), the UK’s largest church-related show, has changed hands in its 40th year and has been taken over by Quartz Business Media.
Quartz Business Media, based in Redhill, Surrey, is a distant relative of Argus Specialist Events, the company which originally launched CRE under the direction of Gospatric and Diana Home.
New owners Quartz take over stewardship of the event from former journalist Steve Goddard and Dr. Allison Goddard who have owned the event since 2016.
Read all about it! York firm restores historic railway kiosk as part of £11m NRM initiative
Decades of local craftsmanship expertise has been behind the restoration of a 1920s railway kiosk which is now one of the centrepieces of the new £11million revamp at York’s National Railway Museum.
The WH Smith news kiosk and bookstall which once graced Waterloo Station has undergone a two-year restoration programme in the capable hands of York furniture restorers and french polishers, Andrew G Podmore & Son. The result has won praise from the museum and from HRH The Princess Royal (pictured), who performed the official opening of the new display in September this year.
Award-winning project completed in the face of testing weather
The winner of this year’s Murdoch Sponsors Award was M Marchant Specialist Lead Roofing Contractors Ltd for a private residence in Southern England. Once again Marchant worked with architect Charles Knowles Design Ltd, with whom they have had past success in the Murdoch Awards, and the main contractor was Pilbeam Construction.
For the winning project they used Code 6 milled lead. The project was carried out over a very cold and wet October last year – the bad weather making the job last the whole month.
Read more: Award-winning project completed in the face of testing weather
Craftsmanship and collaboration shine at LCA’s Annual Seminar and Murdoch Awards 2025
The enduring tradition of craftsmanship took centre stage as members of the Lead Contractors Association (LCA) gathered for their annual Technical Seminar and Murdoch Awards. Hosted by LCA Chairman Alasdair White, the event attracted more than 190 delegates - a record turnout - at its new Kenilworth venue.
Opening the day, Holmes & Hills Solicitors presented an interactive exploration of “A Journey Through a Payment Dispute,” offering attendees a practical view of contractual challenges that can affect their projects. Historic England followed with a presentation celebrating its ongoing work to protect historic buildings, while inviting feedback from LCA members on areas where additional technical guidance would strengthen the sector.
Read more: Craftsmanship and collaboration shine at LCA’s Annual Seminar and Murdoch Awards 2025
Community donates £33,403 to Bath Abbey’s Saint Alphege Window Appeal
Supporters of Bath Abbey’s Saint Alphege Window Appeal have generously donated £33,403 since the Appeal launched in July. With £56,597 remaining to reach the £90,000 fundraising target, Bath Abbey is delighted to share an updated design of the Saint Alphege stained glass window by Bath-based artist, Neil Ireson, and invites the community to help shine new light on Bath-born Saint Alphege by donating to their Appeal.
Read more: Community donates £33,403 to Bath Abbey’s Saint Alphege Window Appeal
Cutting corners costs more: lessons from ECO4 for the conservation retrofit sector
When the government launched its latest wave of retrofit initiatives, from the Energy Company Obligation (ECO4) to the Great British Insulation Scheme, the goal was admirable: improve the energy efficiency of the nation’s housing stock and accelerate progress towards net zero. Yet, the recently published audit findings paint a very different picture. Paul Trace, director of Stella Rooflight, explains.
According to data analysed by Refurb & Retrofit, an astonishing 92% of external wall insulation installations inspected under ECO4 were found to have major technical non-compliance issues, with 27% of internal wall insulation projects suffering similar failings. In some cases, poor workmanship or inappropriate materials have left homeowners facing damp problems, trapped moisture, and damaged building fabric, the very issues these schemes were meant to prevent.
Read more: Cutting corners costs more: lessons from ECO4 for the conservation retrofit sector
Heritage floors restored to former glory with skill and dedication
National Churches Trust members BAF Flooring Services were honoured to be entrusted with the refurbishment of two original floor finishes at St Faith’s Church in Brentford Parish, London. They were two of the most distinctive floors at the church: the pine block flooring and the striking combination of Calcutta Gold marble and slate.
A distinctive historySt Faith’s Church, with its rich heritage and fine craftsmanship, has stood as a place of worship and community for generations. The pine block flooring, probably installed in the early 20th century, was chosen for its durability, warmth and ability to withstand years of footfall while complementing the ecclesiastical interior.
Read more: Heritage floors restored to former glory with skill and dedication
Lighting project awakens hidden gem
The Roman Catholic Sacred Heart Church in Exeter is part of the Plymouth Diocese and was completed in1884 to cater for the growing Catholic population in the city at that time.
The church, in South Street, sits close to the Anglican Cathedral. It is Grade Two-listed and was built in the Gothic Revival style, designed by Leonard Stokes who was one of the leading figures of the freer interpretation of Gothic in the late 19th century.
As the oldest remaining architectural work by Stokes, it is fortunate to survive, as this part of Exeter was heavily targeted and hit during the Second World War.
New AV facility enhances North Wales cathedral’s appeal
The Cathedral Church of Saints Asaph and Cyndeyrn, commonly known as St Asaph Cathedral (Welsh: Eglwys Gadeiriol Llanelwy), is a cathedral in St Asaph, North Wales. It is the episcopal seat of the Bishop of St Asaph. The cathedral is part of the Church in Wales and part of the Anglican Communion of Wales.
According to legend, a church and monastery were founded in St Asaph in the 6th century by St Kentigern, bishop of Strathclyde. His successor as abbot-bishop was Asaph, a local saint whose name is found in neighbouring places including Llanasa.
Read more: New AV facility enhances North Wales cathedral’s appeal
Re…Order of the Day
Towards the end of last year Creative Audio-Visual Solutions were commissioned to install and optimise a new audio-visual system as part of the substantial re-ordering of St Cadoc’s Church in Caerleon, South Wales. The renowned church, with parts dating back to the 12th century, needed a system to both fit aesthetically within the church’s updated interior and also provide a high level of audio-visual quality for both in-house and online production.
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