Lighting of cathedrals and churches

Interest in the lighting of cathedrals and churches has been growing since about 1950 owing to the increasing need to renew installations which have become unsafe and/or unsuitable for modern-day usage. Problems are often encountered owing to the age and style of the building to be illuminated and these are discussed in the paper. A description of the architecture of churches and cathedrals is included, along with the appropriate lighting conditions necessary to emphasise certain architechural points. The paper covers the illumination of churches and cathedrals of medieval times to those of the 20th century by discussion of the correct materials to use, the type of light fitment required (and how to obtain the optimum illuminance from it) and the economical aspects of design and maintenance.