Martinsville, Virginia ~ Pastor's Page
When I came here, over five years ago, members of council and others were talking about getting new lights for the nave. New lights were needed because it was downright dim in the nave on a cloudy day, especially in the corner where there was no window.
We had done everything we could with the lights we had. We had removed the bottom glass panel to allow more light. We had put in the highest wattage light bulbs that the wiring could carry. Still, it was dim. New lighting for the sanctuary was placed on our “wish list” of things we would like to do when we could afford it.
Then, Dru Nease Gilbreath and her brother Bill Nease came to see me to arrange for their father’s funeral. They ask if there was anything that the church needed. I took them out into the nave and showed them our lighting situation. They thought this was a good idea. It was one of the reasons they asked that gifts in memory of their father be given to Holy Trinity. They each gave generously themselves. The total amount of gifts so far is $7,060.
When I realized they were committed to this project, Ray Dietz and I met with David Price of Price’s Wholesale Lighting. He pointed out that the main area of the nave where people sat—in the back had only two lights. No wonder the windowless corner was so dark! He sent us several examples of lighting fixtures he thought would give us the light that we need and look good in our worship space.
Council selected the chandelier and matching wall sconce that you see pictured here. The chandeliers each hold NINE 100-watt florescent bulbs; the sconces each hold two. Both chandelier and wall sconce double the amount of wattage we currently have. We will replace the four existing sconces and add one additional sconce behind the choir.
The cost of the fixtures is estimated at a little over $3000. We do not anticipate that the installation will cost more than the fixtures. Because these are memorial funds, council can proceed to contract for this work without a congregational meeting.
BUT, council still wants your input. Please let us know what you think. Enlarged pictures of the fixtures are posted in the narthax for you to see. Tell us what you think.
- Pr. Lynn Bechdolt
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1527 Church Street Extension, PO Box 5184, Martinsville, VA 24115
Voice: (276)632-4677
(Fax on demand)
