WORSHIPPERS at a village church have finally seen the light after workmen installed electricity for the first time.

Ever since it was built in the 12th century, the congregation at All Saints’ Church, at Moor Monkton, near York, have used mediaeval technology to see by. But now it has been brought fully into the 21st century with a blaze of light after it was connected to the national electricity grid.

Christine Grice, churchwarden, said: “We’re all really excited that we’ve finally connected All Saints’ Church to the National Grid. Up to now we have managed with candles, oil lamps, and calor gas heater. Our congregation is small, but the church is well loved and well supported. The difference electricity will make to the worship in All Saints’ will be immeasurable. Everyone will be able to see the words they are singing and reading, and we can use technology like CD players and overhead projectors to enhance our worship.”

The congregation mounted a public appeal for the work which included power and light circuits. Some of the money came from church reserves. Up to now the only heating has been by calor gas heater and cleaning has had to be done with brushes and other non-electric equipment. “Practical things like using a vacuum cleaner, boiling water and using electrical tools will be an enormous help in caring for the fabric. Hopefully,s the days of seeing one’s own breath in winter services will be a thing of the past!” said Mrs Grice.

York architect Stephen Parry designed the lighting scheme and the electrical work was done by Elecsolon LLP of Wakefield, which is headed by a church organist, Ken Sharp. He has many years experience doing church electrical work as well as providing music.

But the 21st century has yet to reach another church in the same parish. St John the Baptist in Hessay is not connected to the national grid.