*Vincent Chinedo Ononiwu, & Chidimma Berne Okoye (AUTHORS)
Department of Architecture, Imo State University, P.M.B. 2000, Owerri, Nigeria
*Corresponding Author’s Email: ononiwuvc@gmail.com
ABSTRACT: Lighting is a critical component of ecclesiastical architecture, influencing not only visual performance but also the comfort and overall worship experience of building users. Despite the growing recognition of indoor environmental quality in public buildings, limited empirical attention has been given to the relationship between lighting design standards and worshippers’ comfort in church buildings within the Nigerian context. This study critically assessed lighting design standards and worshippers’ comfort in selected ecclesiastical buildings in Owerri Metropolis, Nigeria. A cross-sectional mixed-methods approach was adopted, combining field measurements, building observations, and questionnaire surveys. Data were collected from 150 worshippers across selected churches using a structured questionnaire, while lighting performance was evaluated through illuminance measurements and assessment of key lighting parameters. Descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and multiple regression analyses were employed for data analysis. The findings revealed that the existing lighting conditions in the selected churches were generally satisfactory, with a grand mean score of 4.04. The assessed buildings demonstrated a relatively high level of compliance with lighting design standards, achieving a compliance index of 79.8%. Worshippers reported positive levels of visual comfort, reflected in a Visual Comfort Index of 4.14. Correlation analysis indicated significant positive relationships between lighting quality and worshippers’ comfort (r = 0.692–0.784, p < .001). Regression results further showed that illuminance adequacy, daylight quality, and glare control were significant predictors of worshippers’ comfort, explaining 67.4% of the observed variation. The study concludes that compliance with lighting design standards significantly enhances worshippers’ comfort and overall worship experience. It underscores the need for occupant-centered lighting strategies that integrate adequate illumination, daylight management, and glare control in the design and management of ecclesiastical buildings
Keywords: Ecclesiastical buildings; lighting design; visual comfort; worshippers’ comfort; indoor quality; Owerri