Let There Be Light That's Right
If your church is still in the dark ages, it's time for an upgrade

By Andy Manning

Manning Contemporary pendandts brighten church interiors with comfortable illumination

Are your hymnals a bit harder to read lately? Pastor look a little fuzzy? The problem may not be with your eyesight but with your lighting. Evaluating your church lighting is one of the most important decisions of any building or remodeling project. Church lighting should not only provide adequate illumination, it should also complement your architecture and be efficient and easy to maintain.

Fortunately, lighting upgrades don't have to be expensive "all or nothing" projects. In fact, you should analyze your current lighting before deciding to add fixtures or do a complete upgrade. Here's what to look for:

1. Make sure your fixtures are lamped properly--if too little light is reaching the pews, the culprit may not be the light fixture, but the lamps inside. Our sales consultants routinely find dark churches using woefully inadequate household light bulbs, and even infrared heat lamps instead of reflector flood or PAR downlights. Most manufacturers list the proper lamp and wattage on an interior fixture label. Once you find the proper lamps, it's best to stock up on them so you can make sure the lamp you're taking out of each fixture is the same as the lamp you're putting in.

2. Clean 'em up---Dust, dirt and soot are attracted to light fixtures like magnets. A thorough cleaning of your lamps, diffusers, louvers or lenses can make a big difference in the light output. The lighting industry calls this "Lumenaire Dirt Depreciation" and it can rob you of up to 25 percent of the light each fixture produces.

3. Relamp---Over time all light bulbs, whether they're incandescent, fluorescent or metal halide, become less efficient, and light output declines. Doing a clean sweep and replacing all lamps at the same time (whether they are burned out or not) can increase light levels. By replacing all lamps at once, you'll also save on labor costs to do the work.

4. Go fluorescent---Fluorescent lamp technology has come a long way in the last 10 years. Use it to your advantage! Compact fluorescents can screw into standard incandescent sockets and offer light output equal to or better than standard incandescent bulbs. They're also available in many sizes and wattages, offer pleasing incandescent-like color, and much longer life.

If the above steps fail to give you the light you need, it may be time to think about purchasing new fixtures. It's best to contact a manufacturer's sales rep, electrical engineer, lighting designer or architect to help you. Because churches have special requirements, it's best to find a professional who has some church lighting experience. Ask for references and jobs you can visit to see the lighting for yourself. Here are some of the things you'll need to know before starting a lighting upgrade:

There are two basic ways to light your church:

• Direct fixtures use downlights that light the pew areas from above, and
• Indirect lighting fixtures that bounce light up off the ceiling to light the area.

Some fixtures combine both indirect and direct lighting for the advantages of both. Direct lighting is better suited for churches with dark interiors. A reflector flood or PAR lamp is typically used to spread an even amount of light below.

Indirect fixtures work best with white or light wood ceilings---the brighter the ceiling, the greater the light at pew level. Indirect lighting has become more popular because of the even, glare-free illumination it provides. In addition, a well-lit ceiling makes the entire room feel brighter by "opening up" the space.

Whether you choose direct or indirect lighting, proper location of each fixture and electrical box is important not only to ensure a uniform level of illumination, but also to fit into the architectural design and pew layout of your church. No matter how pews are arranged, fixtures should be centered over pew areas to ensure enough light for comfortable reading. The mounting height of each fixture should be based on the lighting level desired, the appearance of the fixtures in relation to architectural elements, and uniform distribution of light at the reading plane.

Pendant lighting using reflector flood downlights should be suspended so that the distance from floor to bottom of fixture is approximately 1.2 times the distance between fixtures longitudinally. Generally, the higher a fixture is mounted, the more even the light distribution will be below. However, the higher a fixture is mounted the more the wattage of the downlight must be increased to compensate for the higher mounting height.

The light level at the reading plane of your church depends largely on the architecture, the denomination, and the tastes of the congregation. Today, a level of anywhere from 15 to 40 footcandles is recommended at the reading plane for comfortable seeing. Most churches prefer a level of about 20 to 30 footcandles.

A dimming system will allow you greater flexibility and control of the lighting. Control systems range from basic to what you see at rock concerts and theatres, so it's best to seek advice from a professional in this area. Dimming fluorescent lamps is also possible, but the dimming ballasts add considerable expense to the light fixture cost.

Since the altar or chancel is the focal point of most churches, it requires special lighting consideration. It is recommended that the light levels be two to three times greater than above the pews. Lighting for this area should also be concealed from the congregation to avoid any distractions and provide an unobstructed view. Adjustable flood and spotlighting units mounted behind an arch or beam can be used to light the general area and spotlight the altar, pulpit, or other areas.

Lighting the pulpit or lectern is best accomplished by two units to minimize shadows. Light on the speaker should be directed from an angle of 30 to 45 degrees forward from the speaker and spaced so that the angle is 45 degrees or more above where the speaker stands.

Improving your church's lighting isn't as difficult (or expensive) as it sounds. Starting with these guidelines, you can be on your way to a brighter, happier congregation before your next service.

Andy Manning is president of Manning Lighting in Sheboygan, WI. For more information, a free Guide to Church Lighting that covers the above steps in greater detail is available from Manning Lighting.