‘The building is stunning, but it’s also an acoustical challenge,’ says Robert Bullington of Front Row Seat Productions, referring to the Ewing Covenant Church’s return to its original, historic, building. Called the 1867 Sanctuary, the space is known known as much for its acoustic complexity as its beauty, with the congregation seeking sound and livestreaming systems with the help of audio consultant/integrator Bullington.
‘They wanted to capture everything that makes their services special – the choir, pipe organ and congregational singing – while ensuring speech clarity and a natural-sounding livestream,’ he says. ‘It all needed to happen without disrupting the aesthetics of the 150-year-old sanctuary.’
Founded in the 18th Century as First Presbyterian Church of Ewing in New Jersey, the congregation had returned to its original space after leasing it to a local historical trust for use as a performance venue. Now, under the leadership of Pastor Morgan King, the church has experienced a revitalisation, becoming younger, more multi-generational and eager to reinvest in the worship experience. As part of that effort, a comprehensive audio overhaul became essential.
To meet these needs, Bullington looked to DPA Microphones. ‘I recommend DPA when there’s a real problem to solve,’ he explains. ‘The company’s mics make difficult rooms sound great, and this sanctuary is a perfect example. We worked closely with [DPA Global Support Manager] Gabriel Antonini to ensure that the microphone choice and placement would meet Ewing Covenant’s needs.’
At the heart of the new set-upo are two DPA 4015 Wide Cardioid Microphones, suspended from the high ceiling to capture the chancel, choir, organ and congregational singing for the livestream. ‘The 4015s behave almost like omnis but with just enough rear rejection to avoid picking up unwanted audience sound,’ Bullington says. ‘They provide a beautifully full stereo image. The livestream sounds better than you’d think possible with just two microphones.’
For spoken word reinforcement, the church installed a set of DPA 4080 Cardioid Lavaliers, giving clergy and worship leaders the freedom to move throughout the sanctuary without the risk of feedback. A DPA 2061 Omnidirectional Lavalier supports ceremonies such as weddings, where a single microphone can capture multiple voices, and 2028 Vocal Microphones are used in both wired and wireless configurations for the pulpit.
The DPA mics are paired with a Sennheiser EW-D digital wireless system and an Allen & Heath QU-5D mixer with Dante. This allowed Bullington to configure dedicated mixes for the sanctuary PA and the livestream with ease. ‘One of the great things about DPA is that its microphones adapt smoothly to any wireless platform,’ he says.
The reaction to the upgrade at the first services back in the 1867 Sanctuary was unequivocal: ‘The congregation was blown away by the clarity,’ Bullington reports. ‘The room finally sounds as good as it looks.’
The restored 1867 Sanctuary stands as both a tribute to Ewing Covenant’s legacy and a showcase of what modern technology can achieve in historic spaces. ‘The congregation is over the moon about how everything sounds,’ Bullington adds. ‘DPA helped bring new life and new clarity into a space that means so much to them.’