methodist central hall westminster smartstage – case study
TRANSCRIPT
The Project
Adhering to Government health and safety advice during the Covid-19 (Coronavirus) crisis, Methodist Central Hall Westminster (MCHW) took to live streaming their Sunday Morning Service via their YouTube channel. The first of these was delivered from the Church’s Chapel, however, following subsequent temporary closure of its iconic building; the ministerial team required an innovative new way to reach their vast congregation. As MCHW’s in-house technical production partner, White Light (WL), adapted its award-winning SmartStage technology to enable this.
Project Summary
Client:Methodist Central Hall Westminster
Location:SmartStage, White Light HQ
WL Core Delivery Team: James Thurlow – Venue Technical Manager
Harry Greenfield - Project Manager
Alex Loftie – Media Systems Specialist
Utilising SmartStage technology to stream Sunday Morning Service to an international congregation
Methodist Central Hall WestminsterSmartStage – Case Study
The Brief
MCHW’s Deputy Superintendent Minister Revd Tony Miles required access to a technical facility where he could deliver the live broadcast safely, while minimising physical contact with others. Additional ministerial staff and other participants would attend virtually, via remote access and a range of visual assets would be incorporated for all users and viewers to interact with. It was crucial that the service conveyed a sense of collaboration between the participants, making it feel as close to a physical connection as possible within a virtual environment.
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Contact us for more information
[email protected]+44 (0)20 8254 4800www.WhiteLight.Ltd.uk
The Results
An international congregation of over 4.5k viewed the YouTube stream, with people from as far afield as Ghana, Nigeria, Australia and USA tuning in. Revd Tony comments: “At a time when many are feeling isolated, uncertain, and even fearful, it’s wonderful that we can continue to worship and provide some comfort and hope, using this incredible technology. I was nervous before using the SmartStage, but I found it so easy to interact with the imagery and other content surrounding me, as well as my colleagues, all within this environment. I have received many personal messages of thanks from members of our congregation, who have taken great comfort from our virtual services. We are very grateful to WL for enabling us to connect with our audience in this innovative way.”
The Delivery
Prior to Revd Tony’s arrival at WL HQ, the SmartStage was thoroughly cleaned and prepared and a minimal crew of two was required to deliver the entire broadcast. On this occasion, the technical team were based onsite, working at a safe distance from each other in accordance with Government guidelines. However, the capabilities of the technology will enable future MCHW broadcasts from the SmartStage to be operated remotely if necessary. Revd Dr Martyn Atkins and other participants joined the service from the safety of their homes, conducting prayers, readings and hymns via a video conferencing platform. The multi-faceted methods of communication enabled the team delivering the service to collaborate in a natural and engaging way, through real-time interaction and eye contact. Immersive content including hymn lyrics and imagery of the Great Hall, where the Sunday morning service usually takes place, further enhanced the experience.
Methodist Central Hall WestminsterSmartStage – Case Study