Houston, TX
For more than 60 years, St. Thomas’ Episcopal Church has served its congregation and community in Houston, Texas. Alongside the church, a private pre-K through 12th grade school has grown to serve approximately 600 students. As the campus expanded and ministry needs evolved, church leadership recognized the need to modernize the sanctuary audio system and add video technology capable of supporting live production and online worship.
After Hurricane Harvey caused severe flooding in 2017, St. Thomas’ began a major rebuilding effort. As part of the sanctuary renovation, the church partnered with Ford AV to design and install a modern church sound system and video streaming solution that would support worship services, school events, and online ministry for years to come.
“You can buy equipment from anybody, but what’s hard to buy is the personal service the entire installation team provided.”
— John, Board Member, St. Thomas Episcopal Church & School
Replacing an Outdated Sanctuary Sound System to Improve Speech Intelligibility
Prior to the upgrade, the sanctuary relied on a decades-old audio system that struggled to deliver clear speech throughout the space. The system depended on a single horn speaker that provided inconsistent coverage and often resulted in muddy or unintelligible sound.
The sanctuary’s natural acoustics also presented challenges. Designed to support choir and musical performances, the space naturally produced strong reverberation. Following the flood damage, carpeting and other soft materials were removed during reconstruction, increasing the room’s reverberant characteristics.
While this created a beautiful acoustic environment for music, it made it difficult for congregants to clearly understand spoken words during sermons, readings, and announcements. Church leadership needed a modern church audio system capable of maintaining musical richness while dramatically improving speech clarity throughout the sanctuary.
Designing a Steerable Line Array Church Sound System
Ford AV worked closely with church leadership, facilities staff, and architects to design a sanctuary audio solution that could overcome the building’s challenging acoustics.
The new church sound system includes four custom-colored steerable line array loudspeakers positioned near the choir area. These advanced speakers use microprocessor-controlled technology to direct sound precisely to specific seating areas throughout the sanctuary.
By carefully shaping the sound coverage and introducing small timing delays, the system ensures spoken audio arrives clearly to listeners across the room, even in a highly reverberant space. This approach dramatically improves intelligibility for sermons and spoken presentations while preserving the natural musical resonance that supports choir and worship music.
Additional microphones were installed at key locations throughout the sanctuary, including the four pulpits, above the choir, and at the altar. These inputs feed into a digital audio mixer located in a newly constructed production and technology room, giving church staff and volunteers full control over the sanctuary’s audio environment.
Integrating PTZ Cameras and Church Livestreaming Technology
As part of the sanctuary technology upgrade, St. Thomas’ also wanted to expand its ability to record and livestream services. Ford AV implemented a video system built around three PTZ cameras positioned to capture multiple perspectives throughout the sanctuary. These cameras allow operators to remotely adjust framing and camera angles, providing dynamic coverage without requiring multiple camera operators.
The system also includes media recording equipment and monitoring stations in the church’s new control room. From this centralized production space, volunteers can manage audio mixing, camera switching, and recording while preparing services for livestream distribution. This integrated church livestreaming system allows St. Thomas’ to broadcast weekly services and special events to members who are unable to attend in person.
Overcoming Installation Challenges in a Historic Sanctuary
Installing modern worship technology in an existing sanctuary required careful planning and creative problem-solving. Much of the installation work above the sanctuary ceiling had to be completed using extremely tall lifts or by accessing tight crawl spaces above the nave. Despite these logistical challenges, the Ford AV team successfully positioned each loudspeaker and microphone to achieve the precise coverage required for the system design.
Another unique challenge emerged during the COVID-19 pandemic. The church needed livestreaming capabilities before the sanctuary’s permanent production room was complete. To support immediate streaming needs, Ford AV temporarily installed the video equipment in an interim control space so services could continue during the pandemic. Once the sanctuary renovation was finished, the system was relocated and fully integrated into the permanent production environment.
A Modern Church AV System Supporting Worship, Education, and Community Events
Today, St. Thomas’ Episcopal Church benefits from a fully modernized sanctuary audio and video system that supports both in-person worship and digital ministry. The new steerable line array church sound system ensures sermons, scripture readings, and announcements can be heard clearly throughout the sanctuary. At the same time, the system preserves the rich musical acoustics that enhance choir performances and worship music.
The integrated church livestreaming system with PTZ cameras allows the church to broadcast services and special events to viewers beyond the sanctuary walls. The system also supports school chapel services, graduations, and other campus events, making it a valuable resource for the entire St. Thomas’ community.
Through thoughtful system design, careful installation, and dedicated support, Ford AV helped St. Thomas’ Episcopal Church transform its sanctuary into a modern worship environment equipped with professional church audio, video, and livestreaming technology.
Partner with America’s Leading AV Technology Company
- Church AV Expertise – Experience designing and integrating professional church sound systems, sanctuary audio solutions, and livestreaming technology.
- Clear Sound for Every Seat – Loudspeaker systems improve speech intelligibility in reverberant worship spaces while preserving acoustics.
- Integrated Worship Technology – PTZ cameras, digital audio mixers, and production control systems that support church livestreaming, recording, and live event production.
- Expert Installation in Complex Spaces – Proven experience installing AV systems in sanctuaries, historic buildings, and architecturally unique worship environments.
Ready to upgrade your church sound system or worship technology? Fill out the form below to connect with Ford AV professionals and transform your sanctuary with expertly designed AV solutions.
