One of Scotland’s religious landmarks, St Giles’ Cathedral in Edinburgh has struck an ongoing maintenance contract with specialist company Whitwam AVI.
An leader in specialist A/V integration, Whitwam AVI has worked with many UK ecclesiastical sites, including Winchester, Canterbury and Peterborough Cathedrals. The relationship between the Grade 1 listed St Giles’ Cathedral and its technical partner began with the installation of Tannoy column loudspeakers in 2016, and remains vital to the smooth running of the Cathedral’s services, broadcasts and events.
In addition to being a working parish church, St Giles’ is a major visitor attraction on the Edinburgh scene and is frequently used as a performance venue, hosting international musicians, spoken word events and candlelit orchestral concerts. Therefore, ensuring the ongoing functionality of all elements of the cathedral’s audio, broadcast and video infrastructure is critical.
‘We see first-hand the value our clients find from an ongoing maintenance relationship,’ says Jack Baker, Maintenance Manager at Whitwam AVI. ‘Through a managed services collaboration, St Giles is investing in the future and longevity of their technology.’
The partnership quickly evolved into a comprehensive A/V transformation, including a speech reinforcement system, advanced video solutions and an organist’s video relay, later transitioning the system to be used for livestreaming of Sunday services to a dedicated YouTube channel. Today, Whitwam AVI is responsible for maintaining a technical ecosystem that supports St Giles’ daily activities, both in-person and remotely via the Demotz RMM system.
The A/V system at St Giles’ Cathedral is expansive, comprising dozens of microphones, cameras, amplifiers, audio processors and control systems. Regular, proactive maintenance by the Whitwam team ensures the reliability and longevity of this investment, from full equipment inspections and testing to firmware updates and specialist cleaning.
‘We are thankful for the hard work and significant efforts of the Whitwam AVI team during recent maintenance visits,’ says Chief Steward, John Andrew. ‘It is a real team effort, and I appreciate the positive relationship that makes the maintenance visits and all the efforts to resolve any faults so meaningful. Having Whitwam as our ongoing partners gives us tremendous peace of mind.’
The core A/V system at the cathedral includes a Sennheiser wireless microphone system, a comprehensive network of Panasonic and Marshall cameras for streaming of worship and recording for security, along with the 47 Tannoy column loudspeakers. The system is powered and managed from equipment in custom racks, with Apple iPad touchscreens for easy day-to-day user control of the Crestron-based system to support live services, streaming and recording.
The agreement with Whitwam AVI ensures all components, from amplifiers and video matrices to wall mounts and mixing desks, function as intended. It also allows for early identification of potential issues, significantly reducing the risk of operational disruptions.
‘St Giles has a customised maintenance contract in place, with training for their users on the systems included in this,’ Baker says. ‘Their SLA covers remote monitoring and a 72-hour response guarantee, alongside the crucial preventative maintenance visits.
‘Maintaining a system of this scale and importance takes more than just technical skill; it takes trust, familiarity and an eye for detail,’ he says. ‘We’re proud to continue supporting St Giles’ and to be able to help organisations get the most out of their investments over the long term.’
‘It’s not just about fixing things when they break, it’s about having trusted advisors who consistently ensure our A/V systems are operational, in the best condition and stand the test of time and regular use,’ Andrew adds.
More: https://whitwamavi.co.uk