Church Candles

Sanctuary Candles

A sanctuary candle burns continuously before the tabernacle to mark the presence of the reserved Eucharist. It sits inside a colored globe, usually ruby red, on a standing or hanging sanctuary lamp. Products vary by burn length, from 7-day and 8-day candles to 14-day candles. Containers are glass jars or unbreakable plastic shells. Wax is paraffin or 51% beeswax, and case counts run 9, 12 or 24. Replacement globes in 8 in and 10 in heights are listed alongside.

Measure the lamp first. The globe must take the candle's width and height. The 14-day candle at 12.5 in is far taller than a standard 8 x 3 in 7-day light. Plastic shells from Cathedral and Concordia suit hanging lamps where a dropped glass would break. Glass candles from Emkay suit standing lamps. The Emkay 8-day beeswax candle suits parishes that keep beeswax throughout. A sacristan changing the light each Sunday needs 52 candles a year, so case counts matter.

8 sanctuary candles

The sanctuary candles and globes below are listed by burn length, container and case count.

Questions before you order

Does a 7-day sanctuary candle really burn for seven days?

Close to it. Concordia lists its 7-day candle at six to seven days, and drafts, wick trimming and the globe shape all affect the result. Most sacristans change the candle on a fixed day each week. The Religious Supply Center 14-day candle is listed at about two weeks of continuous burning.

Should the parish use glass or plastic sanctuary candles?

Both work in a standard lamp. Glass is the traditional choice and suits a standing lamp on a bracket or floor stand. Unbreakable plastic suits hanging lamps and lamps that are lowered on a chain, since a slip will not shatter the candle. Both are white and sit inside the colored globe.

How many sanctuary candles does a church need each year?

One lamp burning all year uses 52 7-day candles, about 46 8-day candles or 26 14-day candles. Cases of 12 cover roughly a quarter with 7-day lights; a 24-count pack covers about six months. Add a few spares for Adoration chapels or a second tabernacle.

How do I pick a replacement sanctuary globe?

Measure the old globe's height and the diameter of its base where it sits in the lamp ring. The Christian Brands globe is 8 in high. The Religious Supply Center and Needzo globes are 10 in high, and Needzo lists a 4 in inside diameter. Check that the lamp ring holds the base without rocking.