Sir, The Church of England is right in asking its members to cut back on illuminating churches, but to the best of my knowledge very few, if any, illuminate their church seven days a week (report, Aug 26).

When the project was launched in August 1996 the 400 successful applicants were encouraged to consider carefully how they should use this facility. The project was essentially planned to celebrate the new millennium by switching them on together at midnight on December 31, 1999.

Thereafter we recommended that they be switched on over Christmas and to celebrate successive new years. In addition, in order to help to pay the cost of the energy involved, a charge should be made to celebrate the births of babies, engagements, weddings and so on.

Michael D. Lippold
Chairman, Church Floodlighting Trust, 1996-2001

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