Light upgrades shipped nationwide
Due to the unique architectural challenges a church presents during its design and construction – a large open room with a high ceiling that needs just enough light but not too much – many churches are inadequately lit. Also, many churches are historical landmarks and were built before electric lights were available, as a result the church’s electrical wiring cannot handle additional bulbs or increased wattage.
Most churches have lighting needs that can’t be met by standard residential or commercial fixtures.
- Perhaps your church’s ceiling characteristics limit your lighting options.
- You may have an artistic motif, that needs to be reflected in the lighting.
Update Your Church Lighting
- Improved illumination
- Direct lighting to all areas of the sanctuary
- Reduce operating costs
- lower maintenance costs
Church lighting is an art. The shape of the fixtures and the bulbs, the height and distribution of the lights and the type of lighting mount used can all contribute greatly to the available light in a room. The key is not to double the number of bulbs or increase the wattage size of the bulbs, since this can cause electrical bills to skyrocket and the structural wiring in many older churches simply cannot handle that much additional wattage, but to direct and channel the available light where it is needed. Artech considers several factors when recommending lighting solutions for your church or temple.
First, the solution must brighten your sanctuary.
Second, the new or refurbished fixtures must match and complement existing décor.
Third, we think about your budget and match upgrades to your building’s existing electrical capabilities while ensuring the light fixtures are friendly to your maintenance budget.
Download Artech’s Lighting Questionnaire
Contemporary Church Lighting
Over the years many religious establishments have enjoyed our lighting pendants and their decorative appeal. We felt that the decor got lost in black silhouette, as many contemporary fixtures display. After long research we discovered a beautiful altarnative in using mica translucent material. Now we are able to efficiently illuminate your space while preserving the pristine appeal of the pendents inherent decor.
Contemporary Church Lighting Fixtures
These acrylic mica strips illuminate showing vibrant patterns which blend with colors that become complimentary to church interiors.
Specs
These round or hexagon (12″dia.x 24″-30″long) white acrylic cylinders with illuminated mica strips are outfitted with a seven light cluster; accepting energy efficient LED light sources.
Standard accessories include: 2′ – 6′ pendant stems/chains with canopy. Satin gold or antique bronze finish.
Contemporary Church Lighting Chandeliers
The 3 arm & 6 arm chandeliers were designed to provide maximum amount of general overall illumination for applications with limited fixture locations. This omni directional illumination creates an even distribution of light so the entire interior, walls, ceilings & seating area’s are properly lit.
These fixtures especially work well in church interiors with only recessed downlighting which illuminate the seating area’s and not the rest of the space. Since these chandeliers are high output, fewer fixtures are required to illuminate the church.
Specs
The 3 arm chandelier & 6 arm chandeliers consist of a 8″ dia. x 14″ long white acrylic cylindrical or hexagon lanterns and 18″ dia. x 9″ tall white acrylic bowl. The overall diameter for the 3 arm is 40″ and accepts a 9 light cluster of energy efficient LED light sources. The overall diameter of the 6 arm chandelier is 50″ and accepts a 15 light cluster of energy efficient LED light sources.
Standard accessories include: 3′-6′ pendant stem with canopy, concentric louvers or baffles & choice of six different finishes.
Request a Contemporary Lighting Catalog
Traditional Church Lighting
If style of your church is more appropriate to maintain the traditional lighting fixture look, we can custom create lighting fixtures to match the overall church style using beautiful mica translucent material and a variety of metal colors for the fixture frame. Now we are able to efficiently illuminate your space while preserving the pristine appeal of the pendents inherent decor. Our church lighting specialist, John McNicholas, can also design new fixtures to match your originals and the unique architecture of your building. Even when all the lighting is replaced, it will fit within your sanctuary’s design.
Traditional Church Lighting Fixtures
The below designs are examples of past work we have performed. Fixtures may be customized to the appropriate scale for your building & can incorporate accents to compliment your design, colors, and/or architectural features.
Chandeliers, Ceiling Mounted Fixtures and Wall Sconces in matching style are also available.
Specs
These hexagon (12″dia.x 24″-30″long) white acrylic cylinders with metal frames are outfitted with a seven light cluster, accepting energy efficient LED light sources.
Standard accessories include: 2′ – 6′ pendant stems/chains with canopy. A variety of metal finishes are available.
Traditional Church Lighting Chandeliers
The 3 arm & 6 arm chandeliers were designed to provide maximum amount of general overall illumination for applications with limited fixture locations. This omni directional illumination creates an even distribution of light so the entire interior, walls, ceilings & seating area’s are properly lit.
These fixtures especially work well in church interiors with only recessed downlighting which illuminate the seating area’s and not the rest of the space. Since these chandeliers are high output, fewer fixtures are required to illuminate the church.
Specs
The 3 arm chandelier & 6 arm chandeliers consist of a 8″ dia. x 14″ long white acrylic hexagon lanterns and 18″ dia. x 9″ tall white acrylic bowl. The overall diameter for the 3 arm is 40″ and accepts a 9 light cluster of energy efficient LED light sources. The overall diameter of the 6 arm chandelier is 50″ and accepts a 15 light cluster of energy efficient LED light sources.
Standard accessories include: 3′-6′ pendant stem with canopy, concentric louvers or baffles & choice of six different finishes.
Artech Standard Metal Colors for Lighting Fixtures
Please note: Colors above are approximate and may vary depending on the monitor and/or printer used We will provide samples for approval upon request
Request a Traditional Lighting Fixture Catalog
Restoration, Retrofits and Updates of Light Fixtures
When your existing lighting fixtures just cannot do the job, but there is a history and style that you want to save, updating to new fixtures may not be the answer. Artech can clean, restore and update your existing fixtures including replace glass shades, repaint metal frames, update the bulb array to LEDs, or custom design replacement fixtures to match existing styles.
Restoration of Church Light Fixtures
Artech’s experience regarding the production, fabrication and design of decorative lighting fixtures gives a rare opportunity to restore your existing lighting fixtures. Whether traditional or modern repairs or updates, Artech Church Interiors can take care of all your lighting needs.
Energy Savings: Retrofitting Church Lighting Fixtures
With today’s fast rising energy costs and reduced church budgets, one of the main reasons to update to more efficient lighting fixtures is to reduce costs. LED lights use about one fourth of the energy to provide the same illumination as incandescent lights. While in the past, LED lamps were bright white light, today’s LED lamps provide warm balanced light that match the feel of incandescent, but have a rated life of 20,000 hours or approximately 20 times longer than incandescent. In addition to the energy savings of LED lights, when you consider the difficulty and costs of replacing light fixtures, in hard to reach locations, like above pews or in high ceiling spaces, the maintenance savings is considerable. Updating to LED lights with one quarter of the energy cost and twenty times the life expectancy of incandescent bulbs makes a lot of sense!
By utilizing Artech’s exclusive lighting layout and bulbing recommendations, replacing existing light fixtures is a cost effective solution to Worship lighting inadequacies and the costly utility expenses of operating outdated fixtures. Understanding that every Worship space has different architectural features and requirements of their lighting, a customized layout and bulbing are formulated to maximize light distribution versus typical catalog fixtures that fit only general applications.
Six light cluster
For a 12″ x 18″ acrylic cylinder.
LED wattage: 120 watts
Equivalent wattage: 600 watts
Lumens: 9,600 Dimmable w/compatible dimmers
Color Temperature: 2700k soft white/3000k bright white
Seven light cluster
For 12″ x 24″ acrylic cylinder
LED wattage: 140 watts
Equivalent wattage: 720 watts
Lumens: 10,900 Dimmable w/compatible dimmers
Color Temperature: 2700k soft white/3000k bright white
Ten light cluster
For 12″ x 30″ acrylic cylinder
LED wattage: 200 watts
Equivalent wattage: 1020 watts
Lumens: 15,700 Dimmable w/compatible dimmers
Color Temperature: 2700k soft white/3000k bright white
Up Lighting (Optional):
Add LED uplights, when applicable, for soft ambient illumination of art or accenting architectural details.
General Lighting:
Position a cluster of porcelain sockets up & down in the center of the fixture for an even distribution of light and overall illumination when using highly-efficient LED bulbs.
Acrylic Diffusers:
Install non-fading white acrylic side-panels or cylinders, which increase light transmission overexisting yellowed, brittle,or closed-in fixtures.Acrylic also makes the fixtures lighter weight than a traditional unit.
Down Lighting:
Locate downlight socket near the bottom aperture. Specify a LED flood for a wide spread of light over the seating area.
Louver:
Install a low profile louver for optimum illumination and spread of light, glare control, and a finished appearance to the fixture
Note: We specify self-ballasted bulbs for easy replacement and maintenance
Cut-away example using LED bulbs for up, down, and general illumination shown; LED uplights are optional We use new porcelain sockets, hi-temp wire, non-fading acrylic, and apply a decorative finish to all metal parts
Request to speak with a Custom Light Fixture Restoration Specialist
About our Church Lighting Specialist – John McNicholas
John began his career at a large lighting design firm in New York City, as a mechanic in the lighting department. He was promoted, to Production Manager, before setting out in 1990 to found his own company.
In 2006 John joined Artech’s team as our lighting specialist, bringing his vast experience with production, fabrication, design and restoration of church lighting fixtures.
Artech’s lighting engineer, John McNicholas, considers several factors when recommending lighting solutions for your church or temple.
First, the solution must brighten your sanctuary. John will analyze your entire space and increase illumination from ceiling to floor. He will recommend spotlights where needed and broad lighting to shine into every corner.
Second, the new or refurbished fixtures must match and complement existing décor. If your fixtures are antique or original we can, in most cases, refurbish them to look like new while replacing the wiring and bulbs. John will also design new fixtures to match your originals and the unique architecture of your building. Even when all the lighting is replaced, it will fit within your sanctuary’s design.
Third, we think about your budget. To avoid extra expense, John matches upgrades to your building’s existing electrical capabilities while ensuring the light fixtures are friendly to your maintenance budget. Even when solutions include replacement of a single light with three- four- or six-light chandeliers, modern LED light bulbs use less energy and will not bust your electricity bill. LED lights also last longer than previous types of bulbs so they will not have to be replaced as often.
John has more than 25 years of lighting experience. Our clients benefit from John’s vast experience with production, fabrication, design and restoration of liturgical lighting.
History of Church Lighting
In the 1800’s, many churches were equipped with kerosene lamps to provide more light for worshipers. The lamps were state-of-the art in the 1860s. They included brass fonts to house the oil, tall chimneys, and etched-glass shades designed to diffuse the light and minimize glare. Spring systems were installed to allow the lamps to be raised and lowered for refueling and cleaning. During the turn of the last century, electricity was added. Sometimes churches adapted the original glass fixtures to the new power, even utilizing the old hooks from the kerosene lamps. Many of these same fixtures are still in use, as church lighting.
