St Thomas Church

Areas lit:
This was a full internal refurbishment of Thomas St Martyr church in Newcastle. The lighting scope covered every area of the building — including the main church space, as well as meeting rooms and offices located upstairs. A key focus of the project was to introduce high-impact feature lighting in the ground-floor worship area. Large Exenia ring pendants were installed throughout, creating a visually impressive lighting scheme that complements the building’s heritage. Particular attention was paid to finishes — new fittings were colour-matched using RAL codes to blend seamlessly with existing wall lights and architectural details.

Brief:
The church secured funding to undertake a full internal renovation, with lighting forming a core part of the transformation. While energy savings and efficiency were important, the overarching goal was to elevate the aesthetic and atmosphere of the space. The lighting had to be sympathetic to the building’s character while delivering the visual presence required in a modern worship and community setting. The entire space was stripped back and reimagined, giving the design team creative scope — but also responsibilities around architectural sensitivity and long-term practicality.

What was the most challenging aspect of the project:
Mounting positions were a major consideration. While the downstairs spaces allowed reuse of existing wall points, other areas — particularly upstairs — were more restricted. Custom RAL finishes were used to integrate the new lighting into the architecture as seamlessly as possible. In particular, a warm brown tone was selected to complement the existing woodwork, helping the fittings feel like a natural extension of the space. White finishes were also used in areas where a more minimal, discreet presence was required.

Any particular product used predominately throughout:
The project featured a range of Exenia products, including decorative rings and spotlights tailored to the space’s proportions and functional needs.

What benefits were achieved by using these products:
The result is a modern, impactful, yet sympathetic lighting scheme that transforms the space visually while remaining low-maintenance and efficient. The new fittings enhance both the architectural features and the functionality of the church for day-to-day and event use.

Any obstacles to overcome during the project:
One of the biggest logistical challenges was the lead time required for custom finishes. Timing was tight due to a fixed reopening date. However, Exenia worked closely with the team to fast-track production where possible, and Park Electrical managed phased delivery to keep everything on schedule.

Timescale of the project:
Design work began approximately 18 months before site work commenced, with a year spent on development and planning. Installation was timed to align with the reopening of the church.

Budget for this project met:
The project was delivered within budget. While there was some pressure from custom elements, the team managed this carefully without compromising on design intent or product quality. The project was entirely self-funded by the church.