William Sugg & Co. lights up the entrance of Marylebone Church

St Marylebone Parish Church, an architectural jewel of London, stands as the fourth church built on or near its historic site, with the present structure completed in 1817. The Grade I listed building within the Regent’s Park Conservation Area recently underwent a significant restoration to remove it from Historic England’s ‘At Risk Register’. Designed by Thomas Hardwick in 1814 as a chapel-of-ease, the building was altered upon completion of construction to serve as the parish church. Throughout its history, the church gained a vaulted crypt, a neoclassical and pre-Raphaelite transformation and narrowly survived a bombing during World War II. As part of the St Marylebone Changing Lives campaign, heritage lighting specialist William Sugg & Co. was commissioned to restore four distinctive pedestals and three lanterns, as well as create two replica bespoke lanterns that would honour the church’s legacy.

Beyond its architectural significance, the church plays a vital role in the life of the community. It hosts a wide range of services, concerts, exhibitions and outreach programmes. The church is also home to the Marylebone Health Centre and the Marylebone Project, which supports vulnerable women. The recent restoration project sought not only to preserve the church’s historic fabric but to enhance its accessibility and relevance as a vibrant, inclusive hub for all.

Specialist restoration

Beginning in 2013, Caroe Architecture was chosen to undergo the intensive conservation of the building, a project that called for a sensitive approach that respected the church’s architectural heritage. In early 2022, William Sugg & Co. was entrusted with the restoration of the two lanterns and pedestals at the main South Entrance, and the bracket and cradle-hung lantern that guides parishioners to the doorway. By 2024, the project expanded to include repairs and the replacement of missing decorative elements, including the ram heads and laurel swags on the north side pedestals, as well as the creation of exact replicas of the original front lanterns for the North Entrance

“Being part of the St Marylebone Parish Church restoration offered our team an incredible opportunity to revive cherished heritage features and ensure their preservation for future generations. The unique challenges of the project allowed us to utilise traditional skills together with innovative tools to restore and craft solutions that support the aims of the Changing Lives campaign,” commented Lucy Bubb, MD of William Sugg & Co.

History meets technology

The original lanterns on the north side of the church had been lost to time, with only historic references and surviving examples at the South Entrance to guide the restoration. The original restored lanterns could not be removed without disrupting church activities, so William Sugg & Co. enlisted Darren Bennet of Benetex to undertake detailed 3D scans of the lanterns in situ. Over successive site visits and collaboration with the William Sugg & Co. team, these scans were transformed into precise 3D models, forming the blueprint for restoration and replication. Many ornate lantern components originally cast in iron were rendered in aluminium, where casting would have been prohibitively slow and expensive.

Restoring and designing the lantern and pedestal parts from external 3D scan data posed unique difficulties, as the scans captured only outer surfaces. The process required careful internal design assumptions and hands-on problem-solving, with the absence of internal geometry leading to thoughtful discussions and live adjustments throughout the manufacturing process. This modern approach allowed the team to recreate intricate historical details and modernise the fixtures in line with current standards.

Andy Jones, Fabricator at William Sugg & Co., commented, “We needed to produce replicas that were visually identical to the historic lanterns at the church’s main entrance. The hands-on process evolved as we went, with 3D scanning giving us a solid starting point. From there, we used our experience to resolve functional issues, such as water ingress, until they perfectly replicated the originals. There’s a real sense of pride in seeing the finished lanterns light up the church, knowing every detail was considered, crafted and improved along the way.”

Illuminating a lasting legacy

The newly restored lanterns feature a top-mounted LED light source, complemented by frosted glass, creating a warm, authentic glow reminiscent of the original gas lighting. The project culminated in four beautifully restored and striking pedestals, three restored lanterns and two replicas using modern techniques outside St Marylebone Parish Church, ensuring that every aspect of the church’s historic lighting remains true to the original Neoclassical vision. William Sugg & Co.’s lighting solutions now illuminate the church’s facade and create a welcoming atmosphere at the newly restored entrance, symbolising the church’s renewed role as a beacon of hope and opportunity through the St Marylebone Changing Lives campaign.