Nestled beside the iconic St. Paul’s Cathedral, Temple Bar, Christopher Wren’s masterpiece in its third incarnation with 80% of the original stone used in its construction, served as the perfect setting for the 2025 Lightmongers’ William Wright Lecture on February 26th.

Temple Bar on the right hand side, with floodlit St. Paul’s Cathedral in the background.

Renowned lighting designer Mark Sutton-Vane, alongside his son, Max, captivated a full house of 40 Lightmongers and guests, taking them on a breath-taking journey across cathedrals, galleries, museums, and exhibitions worldwide. Through expert storytelling and great visual examples, they demonstrated how light can transform spaces, enhancing both the visibility and preservation of priceless artifacts while respecting the integrity of their architectural surroundings.

Mark Sutton Vane and the Master, Tony Ginman, during the Q&A session

The Lightmongers were honoured to welcome distinguished guests, including Master Architect, Giles Murphy, who shared insights into the hall’s storied history, Master Deborah Pullen MBE and Consort Stephen Bleay and Stephanie Wright, widow of the late William Wright, the Past Master for whom this prestigious lecture is named.

The lecture attendees

The evening concluded with lively networking and refreshments in the intimate Wren Room, the smallest of all Livery Dining Halls, where conversations about design and innovation continued long after the final words were spoken.

The Lecture has been recorded and will soon be available to view on www.Lightmongers.co.uk