Churches & Houses of Worship
Electrical testing, heating, lighting and rewires for churches and places of worship
We carry out electrical work in parish churches, chapels and other places of worship across the South East including London.
Our work includes EICRs and electrical testing, heated pews, electric heating, LED lighting upgrades, emergency lighting, rewires, power distribution and data cabling. Where work needs church or diocesan approval, we can work alongside your architect and other advisers from the planning stage.
An NICEIC Approved Contractor, SafeContractor accredited, with DBS-checked engineers, trading since 2008.
Electrical contractors for churches and places of worship
We are based in Battle, East Sussex, and carry out electrical work in churches and other places of worship across Kent, East Sussex, Surrey and the wider South East.
A lot of our church work starts with one of three things. An old or expensive heating system, lighting that needs upgrading, or an electrical installation that is due for inspection or remedial work.
We install electric heating and heated pews, carry out free surveys for LED lighting upgrades and provide EICRs and electrical testing. We can also carry out rewires, distribution upgrades, data cabling and other work covered across our wider electrical services.
Understanding the electrics already in the building
Church electrical installations have often been added to and altered over many years.
Before recommending major work, we need to understand what is already there. That can mean tracing circuits, checking distribution boards and looking at previous additions before deciding what can stay and what needs attention.
Where we carry out an EICR, we record what has been inspected and explain the observations clearly. This gives the PCC, trustees or building team a better basis for deciding what needs dealing with first and what can be planned for later.
If remedial work is required, we quote for it separately and can plan the work around services, events and other regular use of the building.
Heating and lighting that suit the way the building is used
Churches can be difficult and expensive buildings to heat and light, particularly when they are only occupied at certain times of the week. We look at how the building is actually used before recommending an upgrade.
For heating, that may mean warming the people or occupied areas rather than trying to bring the whole building up to temperature.
For lighting, it may mean improving light levels and controls while reducing energy use and ongoing maintenance.
The aim is to give the church better control over its running costs without installing more than the building needs.
What we do in a church
Working with the faculty process and your church architect
Electrical work in a Church of England church may need to go through the faculty process, particularly where the building is listed or the work affects historic fabric.
Where this applies, we can work alongside your church architect and the other people involved in the approval process.
We can provide the technical information needed for the proposed electrical work, including equipment positions, cable routes and how the installation will affect the existing building.
We also plan the programme around the time needed for approvals, as well as services, weddings, funerals, Easter, Christmas and other important dates in the church calendar.
For sound systems, hearing assistance, audio visual systems and related work, we work alongside our sister company OBAV, so the electrical and audio visual requirements can be considered together.
Experienced electrical contractors for church buildings
We are an NICEIC Approved Contractor and SafeContractor accredited. Our engineers are DBS checked and we have been trading since 2008. We are used to working in many types of older building, where cable routes, access and existing finishes need careful consideration.
We have a team of experienced engineers and wherever possible you will deal with the same people throughout the work.
Recent work
Why clients choose the Lake Electrical team
We are a family-run, owner-led business and we stay involved in the work. From the first site visit through to installation and handover, you can speak directly to someone in our team who knows the building and the project.
Our engineers have all been with us for at least two years, so wherever possible you will deal with the same people throughout the work.
We understand that church projects often need to be agreed by several people before work can go ahead. We therefore explain what needs doing, what can wait and what the options are so the PCC, trustees or building team have clear information to work from.
We also plan the electrical work around the building itself, particularly where existing fabric, historic features or approval requirements affect how the installation can be carried out.
Church electrical FAQs
Do you visit the church before providing a quotation?
Yes.
Church buildings vary considerably in age, construction, electrical condition and access, so we visit before pricing larger work.
We look at the existing installation, what you want to change and any access or building constraints that may affect the project.
We can then provide a quotation based on the work required, with separate items shown clearly where appropriate.
Can you help with the faculty process?
Where electrical work in a Church of England church requires faculty approval, we can provide technical information for the electrical installation and work alongside your church architect and other advisers.
We do not provide the approval ourselves, but we can make sure the proposed cable routes, equipment positions and electrical requirements are considered early enough to support the application.
How often should a church have an EICR?
The appropriate inspection interval depends on the condition and use of the electrical installation, as well as any requirements from the insurer, diocese or other responsible body.
The recommended date for the next inspection should be stated on the EICR itself.
If you are unsure when the church was last inspected or what previous reports mean, we can review the installation and advise on the next step.
Can electrical work be carried out in a listed church?
Yes, but the work may need additional consideration and approval before installation starts.
We look at existing cable routes, fixings and the areas affected by the work and coordinate with the church architect where required.
The aim is to install what the building needs while keeping unnecessary changes to historic fabric to a minimum.
Request a quote for electrical work in your church
If you are planning an EICR, heating or lighting upgrade, rewire or other electrical work in a church or place of worship, we can visit the building and talk through what is needed.
Request a quote. Get in touch, or call the team on 01732 758 985, Mon to Fri, 8am to 5pm.
We carry out electrical work in churches and places of worship across Kent, East Sussex, Surrey and the wider South East.