All Saints Margaret Street.

The Restoration of All Saints Margaret Street         

What has been achieved to date?

Since 1995 at All Saints we have spent c £2,466,000 conserving our Grade I Listed William Butterfield buildings and fittings.

There have been three major projects:

The Roof: 1996–1997 – the roofing was completely renewed along with elements of brickwork and stonework conservation. Cost: £460,000.

The Organ: 2001–2002 – the great Harrison and Harrison Organ of 1910 was completely rebuilt, the plain metal facing pipework decorated in the manner of Butterfield and the chancel aisles restored. Total cost: £440,000.

The Interior Restoration: 2009-2011 – transformed the Nave to its magnificent 19th century splendour largely as left by William Butterfield in 1895; the Chancel has been very carefully cleaned and conserved to reveal the true glory of Sir Ninian Comper’s intricate decorative scheme of 1909 – 1916. Total cost £1,246,000 to which the All Saints Foundation contributed some £370,000, external trusts and grant making bodies gave £144,000, the Parochial Church Council allocated £59,000 from limited reserves but the remaining £673,000 was largely from the congregation and friends of the parish.

Other projects have included the replacement of nave seating and the introduction of new iron gates to the south chancel aisle. The floor has been conserved with some tiling renewed. The former choir school building has also been properly renovated for residential use. Together these and other smaller projects have cost: £320,000.

What next?

Following the cleaning and restoration, the interior of the church is once again wonderful with good natural light. When the sun beams in through the coloured glass the effect is even more glorious, but with the present electrical lighting switched on the effect is little short of abysmal.

In 1895, to remove the problems caused by gas lighting, Butterfield introduced electric lighting with five wrought iron fittings hanging just inside the aisles of the nave. The present light fittings in the nave were made and installed in 1958 but much modified since. The banks of flood lights in the chancel were installed in 1971. There are major problems with glare. It is visually intrusive and does not provide good functional lighting.

Much of the cabling is now 55 years old; the electrical intake in the basement may be even older. The lamps, which fail on a regular basis, are costly and difficult to replace. All this must now be removed and replaced using the best modern technology.

Lighting and Electrical Renewal (Interior Restoration Phase IV)

We have appointed a lighting designer and a consultant electrical engineer to work with our architects, Molyneux Kerr. They have designed a new lighting scheme based on Butterfield’s late nineteenth century fittings. The decorative lamps will be supplemented by low energy LED lighting to sensitively illuminate the building interior and provide good lighting to read. The surface cables are to be replaced with unobtrusive new wiring. New lighting controls will allow flexibility for differing liturgical requirements.

For further detailed information about the proposed  new lighting please see the following documents on this website:

PCC Statement of Significance and Statement of Needs for the Lighting.

ASMS Molyneux Kerr Lighting Scheme

Graham Feinstein Drawings and Provisional Specification [GFLD539]

How can you help?

Between January 2012 and late October 2013 some £46,000 had been given by the congregation and friends towards the anticipated lighting renewal. The All Saints Foundation has offered a grant of £60,000 towards this project.

These works will be tendered but it is anticipated that the project costs will be in the order of £250,000.

We are already over the first £100,000 of our target and are therefore appealing for a further £150,000 to renew the lighting and electrical installation to illuminate the wonderfully restored interior of All Saints Church. 

The good news from the Government is that, with effect from 1 October 2013, we should be able to recover all VAT paid on both electrical works and associated professional fees under the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme. This significantly reduces our total budget requirement.

PLEASE GIVE AS GENEROUSLY AS YOU ARE ABLE. 

Please make cheques payable to: All Saints Margaret Street PCC Restoration Account and send to Restoration Appeal, All Saints Church Parish Office, 7 Margaret Street, London W1W 8JG.
If you are a UK tax payer and sign a Gift Aid declaration with us, your donation to the Appeal is increased by 25%.

All Saints Parochial Church Council is a Registered Charity No. 1132895