| The Church was illuminated by gas lighting
and heated by coal stoves, one at each end of the Nave, when in 1888
an appeal was made to raise £500 to install a new heating
system. clean the windows, provide proper ventilation, lengthen the
pews, supply kneelers where required, repair the bell-frame and clean
the Church.
It was in 1893 that the Church was re-decorated and alterations to the
gallery were made, allowing for seating there of 214. There was some
delay in completing the work but on 5th April 1894 the re-opening
ceremony took place and it was a gala day for the parish. Flags and
bunting were hung in the streets and a peal of bells was rung. All
the neighbouring nobility, clergy and gentry were present and the
Mayor and Corporation of Nottingham attended. The preacher was the
Bishop of Southwell, Reverend George Riddings D.D., and an organ
recital was given by Dr. Belcher.
Lighting by electricity was first installed in the Church in 1922.
Re-wiring of the electrical system and the present lighting fixtures
on the pillars took place in 1974. It was in the January of that year
that the Church was struck by lightning resulting in the fuse-boxes
being blown from their fixtures in the North Porch. The Church was
without electrical power and lighting for some weeks.
It was at a Sunday morning service early in 1959, during the sermon,
being preached by the Vicar the Reverend R.P. Neill M.A., that members
of the choir and the organist, Mr. W.H. Bland, began to feel the
effects of the fumes which were escaping from the coke fuelled heating
system, and contaminating the air in the Church. it was not long
before we were all almost unconscious and ambulances conveyed us
quickly to the Nottingham General Hospital.
As a result of this it was decided to heat the Church by oil, later to
be changed to gas. The tragedy of the escaping coke-fumes not only
affected the choir but ruined much of the newly decorated Church,
which had been completed in December 1958, the greater part of the
expense being covered by a legacy of £731.10s.Od by Miss Trist, a
former member of the Parish and Priory Churches. (A similar amount was
also left for the Priory Church.)
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