Prayers answered as Lichfield Cathedral completes £1.2m revamp

The 800-year-old Gothic structure's 1950s lighting and wiring system was so archaic that the Lichfield Diocese was told it would have to close its doors unless urgent work was taken.

An £800,000 government grant went towards the project which is now in its final stages.

All the electrics have been replaced with a new wiring system and three mains electricity systems have been combined into one.

A new LED lighting system has been installed with new outside lighting put in place around The Close.

Jason Dyer, development director at the cathedral, said: "The cathedral has had to be completely rewired because the last time the electrics were renewed was in the 1950s.

"We had to embark on this major work because it was potentially unsafe and we would have had to close which would have been disastrous.

"The lighting is now much better.

"The old lighting was quite harsh and over the years we were unable to replace the bulbs because they were no longer manufactured and the cathedral was getting progressively darker which is why there were pools of darkness.

"The new lighting is sympathetic to the cathedral's architecture so is much more impressive.

"LEDs have also been used so they will last for longer and are more efficient and environmentally-friendly."

The £800,000 grant was the biggest awarded by the First World War Centenary Cathedral Repairs Fund launched by Chancellor George Osborne.

The last time the cathedral closed was during a Civil War siege in the 1600s.

"The work has been a huge task, " said Mr Dyer.

"I think the biggest thing that visitors will notice is the new lighting that has gone in around The Close.

"It has often been said that the lighting outside was poor so this will make it that much better for people."

The Very Reverend Adrian Dorber, Dean of Lichfield, says: "Lichfield Cathedral is hundreds of years old, and the last time it had to close its doors to the public was during a Civil War siege. The possibility of closure was heart-breaking."

This week the cathedral has been taking part on a stunning illumination display.

The 40-minute spectacular, combining the work of Peter Walker, artist in residence at the cathedral and composer David Harper, brought in crowds of more than 2,000.

Stunning projections of Santa Claus, snowmen and holy figures lit up the front of Lichfield Cathedral during the A Cathedral Illuminated Christmas show.