Casting more light, on the lights…

Last Wednesday Canon Elly wrote of the decision to switch off the cathedral floodlighting at night. Since the news has been published, we have received many messages of support and concern. Some of those supportive of the change may not be apparent on social media but have told us directly. News platforms have picked up the story too, asking their audiences what people think.

Much of the concerned feedback talks about cost as the driving factor for this decision and as Canon Elly quite rightly says, this decision is one that has been taken primarily from an environmental ‘Creation Care’ stance. The supportive feedback clearly sees the importance of this step not just as a practical, responsible one but also as a clear sign to others of the importance of acting on climate change.

We’re aware of the many impassioned local people who are saddened or dismayed to hear of the lights switch off and of the petition to keep the lights on. Others compare the carbon output to the amount of joy generated and whilst we’re not ignorant of these we must take action to address our own carbon footprint.

It is true that switching off the lights will save the cathedral some cost each year, money that can be better applied taking practical steps to other carbon-reducing initiatives as part of the Church of England’s commitment to achieving net-zero by 2030, something we’re taking seriously. To address a misconception in the public domain, the full cost of maintaining and operating the lights at the cathedral is borne by the Chapter of Truro Cathedral, not the diocese, local authority, or city council.

Truro Cathedral relies on the generosity of visitors and congregations. We are delighted that so many choose to support us. However, existing income is barely sufficient to maintain the building leaving little if anything to address large projects, even in a normal year, let alone after the debilitating effects of a pandemic.

Some have commented saying that we should install LED or low-energy lighting. Whilst installing low energy or LED lighting would be fabulous, we’d love nothing more (and yes, we’d already thought of that) we must in our position as custodians of this iconic building take responsible steps. Any change to a Grade 1 listed building must follow a strict process; there are multiple factors to consider, which makes change take time and often come at a significant cost. It sadly isn’t as straightforward as adding solar panels or plugging in an LED lamp to replace the existing ones.

And at a time when we have water literally streaming through the roof into St Mary’s Aisle (the most historic part of the cathedral) and requiring urgent repairs costing £404,000 we cannot justify spending tens of thousands of pounds on a new flood-lighting system. There are also many other priorities that need our time, attention, and expenditure more urgently than the lighting.

Although the original news piece omitted to mention it it is our intention to continue to illuminate the cathedral at night for notable occasions throughout the year.

We do, however, still need to begin to make an important impact now and so will shorten the duration of the lighting from 31st January. However, hearing feedback from our stakeholders is important to us and we will defer the decision to switch off the lights until the end of March 2022 giving us time to hear further feedback from our stakeholders and better understand the community impact and the possible capital cost of replacing the lighting system.

One thing that has resounded through much of the commentary is the impact the night-time lighting of the cathedral makes on the community, from those both in favour and against. However, there is also a powerful and important message to be heard from the absence of light; a message of hope for the natural world in which we live and a message of support for those people across the world whose lives are, even now, being disastrously impacted by the effects of climate change.  We all need to reduce our energy use as the technology will only take us part of the way to zero-carbon, energy efficiency and reduction are also vital.  Every step, large or small by individuals and by organisations, makes a difference.

Thank you for your time

Sean O’Neill

Chief Operating Officer