The Project
St John the Divine Church in Richmond sought to upgrade its AV provision as part of a wider programme to enhance worship and broaden community engagement. The goal was to implement a system that could deliver clear speech reinforcement, flexible AV presentation, reliable live streaming, and ensure all systems were neatly integrated into a custom-built rack and console.
This project balanced high performance with discreet design, ensuring the church’s heritage interior was respected while delivering professional-grade results.
DM Music worked closely with the church from initial consultation through system design, installation, user training and final handover, delivering a complete AV solution that respected the aesthetics of the building while upgrading its technical capabilities.
Challenges & Objectives
- Outdated PA system, with uneven audio coverage
- Local mute switches on lectern/pulpit mics risked accidental muting
- Insufficient antenna for expanded wireless coverage
- Requirement for a future-ready mic charging and docking system
- Need for a live-streaming camera setup with multi-view angles and simple operation
Solution
DM Music delivered a comprehensive upgrade that enhanced flexibility for clergy, musicians, and technical volunteers. By converting lectern and pulpit mics to wireless, simplifying muting, and introducing a fully integrated antenna distribution system, the audio infrastructure was made both more robust and user-friendly.
The loudspeaker system, custom-painted to blend with the architecture, ensured even coverage throughout the nave, chancel, balcony, and ancillary spaces. The new Allen & Heath processor provided reliable system management with easy-to-use tablet and wall-panel controls.
The live-streaming system was significantly enhanced with PTZ cameras, a simple video mixer, and a dedicated streaming encoder, enabling professional-quality broadcasts to reach a wider congregation.
The result is a future-proof, seamlessly integrated AV system that supports worship, music, and outreach with simplicity, reliability, and discretion.