Church Stage Lighting A To Z Guide: Tips, Gear & Examples

The importance of church stage lighting cannot be underestimated whether you’re contemplating a music performance or you want to put the focus on your pastor. This is not an easy task to perform, so we’ve gathered all the information you may need to make a well-educated decision.

By the way… choosing a sanctuary lighting setup goes hand in hand with live streaming your church services. If you are planning to do that, you might want to check our ultimate church live streaming guide to get the best possible results.

Types of lights

Although there’s a lot of variety when it comes to the kinds of lighting, most of them are grouped into three distinct categories:

Hard-edged lights
Soft-edged lights
Beam lights

Hard-Edged lights

Hard-edged lights are used primarily for profile lights because they are incredibly versatile and have tremendous focusing capabilities. These lights are also called spotlights and can produce crisp shadows. Profile lights are the easiest to control and operate. They are often used with one soft-edged shutter and one hard-edged shutter, combined with one lens, which creates bifocal profiles. Some of the standard hard-edged lights are:

Ellipsoidal lights
These lights utilize an ellipsoidal reflector that collects and relays the light through a barrel.
Follow spotlights
As the name suggests, follow spotlights create a strong beam of light that can be controlled remotely by an operator.
Moving head spotlights
The difference between the moving head and follow spotlights lies in the fact that moving head spotlights have a bit more versatility, due to the specific area where the movement of the lights is being performed.

Soft-Edged lights

Soft-edged lights provide us with a rather smooth field of light. However, they are not that easy to conceal within screens, curtains, or other materials on the set. When you find yourself working on a small stage set, you will quickly become aware of how important it is to have lighting systems that can be seamlessly added to the stage, without ruining the stage composition. Some of the commonly used soft-edged lights are:

Scoops
Yes, these are a lot like giant ice cream scoops. The dome-like reflector produces a wide, soft-edged pool of light. This makes this type of lighting fixture perfect for general stage lighting. Keep in mind that scoops aren’t very energy efficient
PAR lights (PAR cans)
If you’ve ever been to a theater, you’ve probably seen PARs (short for Parabolic Aluminized Reflector). These lamps are widely used in many stage lighting setups. They produce an intense oval pool of light with unfocused edges.
Cyc lights (Strip lights)
Cycloramas or cyc lights usually sit on the floor or hang close to the backdrop, spreading a sheet of light up and down. You can use them to create the illusion of a sky onstage.
Blinders
This equipment produces a broad, high-intensity light which is often used to illuminate big indoor or outdoor open spaces. You’ll typically need to connect a blinder to a single-switch wiring system or a DMX controller.

Beam Lights

Beam lights play a vital role in virtually any church lighting setup, as they produce a large straight ray of light, which can be used to visually enhance the message you are trying to convey. The two most common beam lights are:

Moving head beams
This is a versatile lighting equipment that, depending on your needs and budget, could be an economical addition. The only downside to moving heads is that they have to be programmed upfront or controlled live by an experienced operator.
Pin Spots
Pin spots can be the finishing touch to your stage lighting design. The beam they produce is highly concentrated. Today, you can opt for the conventional pin spots that produce a small spot of light but have no defined edge or you can try the LED lights that have a very sharp edge of light.

Church lighting design basics

The church’s lighting design can enhance and assist you with the act of worship. While you can certainly have a considerable amount of creativity and flexibility with the lighting design, there are some things that you will find in almost every church lighting guide out there. This means that there are some ground rules to follow when setting up any lighting to achieve what’s needed and expected out of church light sources.

Church Stage Lighting

Stage lighting has a distinct ability to add both to the atmosphere of your worship space and the overall visibility of the critical elements. It is usually comprised out of:

Church lighting fixtures: Front lighting

Any lighting that is used to illuminate the faces on the scene can be rightfully dubbed as front-stage lighting. Ellipsoidal and PAR Can lights have often been the choice of lighting for the front of the stage.

Church lighting fixtures: Top (or back) lighting

Beam lights are often used as the top stage lighting choice. They are most commonly used to help cause a rise in dramatic intensity, as well as a tool to amplify the focus on a particular part of the stage, a speaker, or a performer.

Fixtures: Background or set lighting

Cyclorama or Cyc lights throw a broad sheet of light and have traditionally been placed on the floor or near the backdrop. This type of church sanctuary lighting options may not play a vital role, unless the stage is more extensive than most. That being said, some elements will undoubtedly add value to the scene, but the majority of the cyc light functionality would remain unused.

Church Lights Placement

The placement of lights plays a crucial role in the overall effectiveness of your stage lighting. Proper positioning not only highlights key areas but also ensures a balanced and visually appealing scene.

Front lights should be placed at a 45-degree angle to minimize shadows and provide clear visibility of speakers or performers. Top or back lights can add depth and dimension, creating dramatic effects or emphasizing certain moments during a service.

Using color lights in your church

Different colors can evoke various emotions and enhance the atmosphere of your worship space. Warm colors like red and yellow can create a sense of intimacy and passion, while cool colors like blue and green can evoke calmness and contemplation. Mixing colors strategically can help convey the right mood and support the message of your service.

In short, here is what you need to know about light placement:

Front Lights: Position at a 45-degree angle to reduce shadows and enhance visibility.
Top/Back Lights: Use to add depth and highlight specific moments or elements on stage.
Warm Colors (Red, Yellow, Orange): Evoke feelings of warmth, intimacy, and passion.
Cool Colors (Blue, Green, Purple): Create a calming and contemplative atmosphere.
Color Mixing: Combine different colors to set the desired mood and reinforce the service's message.
Balance and Contrast: Ensure a balanced light distribution and use contrast to focus attention where needed.
Dimensional Lighting: Employ multiple layers of lighting to add texture and visual interest to the stage.

Church lighting levels

Church Area	Recommended level of light
The Platform and The Altar	Front Lights at a 45-degree angle, optional back lights, intense level of light
Choir Area/Stage	Changeable and adjustable degree of light, downward-facing lights angle
The Cogneragiton	Soft level of light

Example: Colorful lighting for your church

Here's a table that provides recommendations on the use of lighting colors for different areas of the church, enhancing the atmosphere and supporting the overall worship experience.

Church Area	Recommended Lighting Colors	Purpose and Effect
The Platform and The Altar	Warm colors (Red, Yellow, Orange)	Creates a sense of warmth and focus, drawing attention to the central message and speakers
Choir Area/Stage	Cool colors (Blue, Green, Purple)	Evokes calmness and serenity, ideal for musical performances and contemplative moments.
Congregation	Soft, neutral colors (Soft White, Pastel Hues)	Provides a comfortable and inviting atmosphere without being distracting.
Baptismal Area	Blue with soft white accents	Symbolizes purity and tranquility, enhancing the spiritual significance of the ceremony.
Children's Area	Bright, vibrant colors (Variety of primary colors)	Creates a lively and engaging environment, keeping the children focused and entertained.
Fellowship Hall	Warm, welcoming colors (Warm White, Light Yellow)	Encourages a sense of community and warmth, ideal for social gatherings and interactions.
Entrance and Foyer	Soft, inviting colors (Soft White, Light Blue)	Creates a welcoming first impression, making visitors feel comfortable and at ease.
Prayer Room	Soft, subdued colors (Soft Blue, Pastel Green)	Promotes a peaceful and contemplative environment, ideal for prayer and meditation.

More church lighting ideas and examples

You can get creative in coming up with the perfect lighting setting for your House of worship. This is true for both the different areas of the church and the specific items in it. Some of those ideas can include church ceiling lights, with church lectern lights in the middle, as well as church platform lighting, to round things off. Below you will find pictures detailing some of the best church lighting ideas.

Contemporary church lighting

Here is an inspiring example of contemporary church lighting that showcases how you can create a brightly lit, yet cozy worship environment. Your church doesn’t have to be modern-looking itself for you to make use of contemporary lighting.

LED stage lighting for churches

This photo highlights the use of LED church lighting, demonstrating its energy efficiency and versatility in creating vibrant, atmospheric lighting for modern worship spaces.

Church cross lighting

This image illustrates the impactful use of church cross lighting, beautifully illuminating the cross to create a focal point that enhances the spiritual ambiance of the sanctuary.

Church chandelier lighting

These beautiful, ornate chandeliers hang from the high ceiling of the church, casting a warm, ambient glow throughout the sanctuary. The intricate metalwork and warm lights create an elegant and reverent atmosphere, drawing the eye upward and enhancing the spiritual ambiance of the space.

Energy Efficiency and Maintenance

Energy efficiency is an important consideration for any church looking to optimize its stage lighting. LED lights are very budget-friendly because of their low power consumption and long lifespan. They not only reduce energy costs but also require less frequent replacements, making them a cost-effective option in the long run.

In any case, even the most high-quality lighting system will need repair and maintenance to keep it in top condition. Cleaning the fixtures, checking for any wiring issues, and replacing faulty bulbs promptly can prevent disruptions and ensure consistent performance.

It’s a good idea to have a maintenance schedule that can help you stay on top of these tasks and extend the life of your lighting equipment.

10 questions to ask your church lighting supplier

When evaluating potential church lighting suppliers, asking the right questions can help ensure you choose a provider who meets your needs and delivers high-quality service. Here are 10 essential questions to ask:

What experience do you have in providing lighting solutions for churches?
Can you provide references or case studies from other churches you have worked with?
What types of lighting fixtures do you offer, and how do they cater to different church areas like the altar, stage, and congregation?
Do you offer customized lighting solutions tailored to our church’s specific requirements?
What kind of technical support and customer service do you provide during and after installation?
Can you assist with the design and planning of our lighting setup?
What training do you offer for our staff to operate and maintain the lighting system?
What warranties or guarantees do you provide on your products and services?
What is your pricing structure, and can you provide a detailed quote including all potential costs?
What kind of maintenance schedule do you recommend, and do you offer maintenance services?

The basic rule for lighting a stage is to ensure that key areas are well-lit to enhance visibility and focus. Front lights should be positioned at a 45-degree angle to minimize shadows on faces, while top or back lights can add depth and dimension. This helps highlight the performers and set, creating a balanced and visually appealing scene.

Colors on stage should be chosen based on the mood and message you want to convey. Warm colors like red, yellow, and orange create a sense of warmth and intimacy, making them great for central areas like the altar. Cool colors like blue, green, and purple evoke calmness and are ideal for background lighting or the choir area. Mixing colors strategically can enhance the atmosphere and support the service's overall message.

The 80% rule in lighting refers to using lights at no more than 80% of their maximum intensity to prolong their lifespan and reduce the risk of burnout. By not pushing lights to their full capacity, you ensure they operate more efficiently and with greater longevity, resulting in fewer replacements and maintenance issues. This practice also helps in maintaining consistent lighting quality throughout the service.

Conclusion

Church stage lighting setup is a vital component of getting the most out of your place of worship, to visualize your message and engage your parishioners. Proper lighting not only highlights the key areas and activities within your church but also sets the appropriate mood and atmosphere, supporting the message and mission of your services.

If you want to take it a step further, you might consider live streaming your worship services. Should you decide to undertake that mission, feel free to try our church live streaming service.