BURLINGTON — Work has begun on a lighting project in downtown Burlington that will illuminate six church steeples and a wedding venue.
Gretchen Miller, chairwoman of the Downtown Lighting Committee said church steeples will be lit with LED lights mounted on bronze-colored posts.
“Everyone is very excited,” Miller said. “It’s going to be a beautiful additional to Burlington, which is already a beautiful town.”
The committee raised nearly $300,000 for the project over the past five years. Further donations would pay for maintenance and light replacement. The lights being used have a 10-year warranty, so they shouldn’t require replacement soon.
Churches are expected to pay for the lights’ electricity bills, which are expected to cost about $20 per month.
Zion United Church of Christ withdrew from the project last week. The church’s pastor, The Rev. Brice Hughes, cited financial concerns.
“The amounts could not be specifically known in advance, and even though they were expected to be small, they still amounted to money taken away from other projects,” he said in an email. “Twenty dollars a month is not a lot of money, but it does amount to a bag of groceries for a hungry family.”
He also said the church leadership was worried it would obstruct the view of its largest stained glass window.
“Also, the effect of the light shining onto the outside of the building would eliminate the effect of our lighting of the stained glass windows from inside,” he said.
Miller said she respected the church’s decision to withdraw from the project, though the committee wishes it had learned sooner.
The Rev. Marty Goetz of St. Paul Church said everyone at his parish was excited for the finished project.
“They will shine out to give God’s glory and show where God is worshipped,” he said.