Brooke Martin
Church candles are used in a variety of Christian denominations, including Anglican, Lutheran, and Roman Catholic churches. They are often made of beeswax, which symbolizes the pure flesh of Christ, with the wick representing his soul and the flame his divinity. The process of making church candles involves suspending wicks in a mold and pouring liquid tallow repeatedly until the desired thickness is achieved. Over time, alternative materials such as whale fat, insect wax, and vegetable wax have also been used in candle-making. Today, church candles continue to hold symbolic significance and are used in various religious ceremonies and traditions.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Materials | Beeswax, paraffin, soy wax, stearine, whale fat, insect wax, rice paper, yak butter, cinnamon tree wax, tallow |
| Colours | White, yellow |
| Sizes | Votive candles: 2 inches tall by 1.5 inches in diameter. Altar candles: tall and thin. |
| Wick material | Cotton, cotton-paper, zinc, tin |
| Placement | On or near altars, in front of statues or stained glass images of saints, on altar rails, in front of altar crosses, in crypts and mausoleums, at home |
| Religious denominations | Anglican, Lutheran, Roman Catholic, Methodist, Eastern Orthodox, Episcopal, Nordic Lutheran |
| Symbolism | Prayers, worship, devotion, remembrance of the dead, festivity, solemnity, honour of patron saints, promise of Jesus' return |
| Burning time | Some candles burn for seven days |
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What You'll Learn
Candle composition and materials
The composition and materials of church candles have varied throughout history and across different cultures. In ancient times, candles were made from beeswax, whale fat, insect wax, seed wax, yak butter, and cinnamon fruit wax. During the Middle Ages, tallow from cows and sheep became the standard material for candles in Europe, despite the unpleasant smell it produced.
In the Roman Rite of the Catholic Church, candles used to be required to be made primarily or to a significant extent of pure beeswax, with the exact percentage determined by the diocesan bishop. Beeswax symbolized the pure flesh Christ received from his Virgin Mother, the wick his soul, and the flame his divinity. However, the current legislation is less specific, and the General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM) does not address the composition of altar candles.
Today, church candles are typically made from wax, including paraffin, soy wax, or beeswax. The National Candle Association, which accounts for more than 90% of candles made in the US, uses wicks made of cotton, cotton-paper, zinc, or tin, as these materials are known to be safe.
Church candles come in various types and sizes, including votive or prayer candles, altar candles, taper candles, tealight candles, patron saint candles, sanctuary candles, vigil candles, and seven-day candles. The size of a votive candle is often two inches tall by one and a half inches in diameter, while altar candles are tall and thin, and taper candles are long-burning.
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Candle-making methods
Beeswax candles were first created by the Egyptians and Cretans around 3000 BC. During the Middle Ages, priests made their own beeswax candles by pouring melted beeswax over a wick, a method that was also used by the Romans. These candles were considered a luxury item due to their high cost, and only churches and the wealthy could afford them. The use of beeswax candles in churches also held symbolic value: the beeswax represented the pure flesh of Christ, the wick his soul, and the flame his divinity.
Another traditional method of candle-making involved suspending wicks in a mould and repeatedly dipping them in liquid tallow until they were thick enough. Colonial women in America innovated by boiling bayberry bush berries to produce sweet-smelling, clean-burning wax, though this method was tedious and fell out of fashion. The whaling industry in the late 18th century brought about a major change with the introduction of spermaceti, a wax derived from sperm whale oil.
Today, candle-making methods have become more standardised, with reputable manufacturers using safe materials for wicks, such as cotton, cotton-paper, zinc-core, or tin-core. While the specific methods may vary, the basic process involves melting wax, adding colour or scent if desired, pouring the liquid wax into a mould or container, and allowing it to cool and harden around the wick.
Church candles come in various types, including altar candles, votive or prayer candles, devotional candles, patron saint candles, and sanctuary candles, each with its own specific purpose and significance within Christian worship.
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Types of church candles
Church candles are used in many different types of Christian worship, including Anglican, Lutheran, Methodist, Orthodox, and Roman Catholic denominations. They are often used as a symbol of Jesus' presence and hold deep religious significance.
Votive Candles
Votive candles, also known as prayer candles, are small candles, typically white or beeswax yellow. They are used in acts of Christian prayer and are commonplace in churches and home altars. They are often two inches tall and one and a half inches in diameter, though they can vary in size. In Orthodox churches, votive candles are usually long and thin and placed in round containers with sockets or in a container filled with sand. Lutheran churches also use votive candles, which may be lit at home or in church, often on altar rails or in front of the altar cross.
Altar Candles
Altar candles are tall, thin candles made of beeswax and stearine. They are placed on or near altars for religious ceremonies and are often topped with a candle follower to prevent wax from dripping onto the altar linens. In the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States, it is typical to use two altar candles, which are lit and extinguished in a particular order. Anglican churches also typically use two candles, while Methodist churches may use two or more.
Advent Candles
Advent candles are used in the weeks leading up to Christmas as part of an Advent wreath, which consists of intertwined evergreen branches and four candles: the Candle of the Prophet, the Candle of Hope, the Candle of Bethlehem, and the Candle of the Universal Call to Salvation. A fifth candle may be lit on Christmas day.
Easter Candles
The Easter candle is used during Easter Vigil to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus. It is also used to symbolise Christ as the light of the world during baptism ceremonies.
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Religious and symbolic meanings
The use of candles in churches has a long and varied history, with religious and symbolic meanings that have evolved over time. Candles are often used as a sign of festivity and solemnity in Christian worship. In Christianity, votive or prayer candles are commonplace in many churches, as well as home altars, and symbolize the "prayers the worshipper is offering for himself or herself, or for other people". To “light a candle for someone” indicates an intention to pray for that person, and the candle symbolizes that prayer.
In the Eastern Orthodox Church, candles are lit before icons, usually of Jesus Christ or the Theotokos (Mother of God). Orthodox churches usually have a separate place to put candles lit for the departed, which is not the case in Lutheran, Anglican, and Roman Catholic churches. In the Roman Catholic Church, candles are sometimes placed before a statue of Jesus, the Virgin Mary, or another saint. The lighting of the candle is done in fulfillment of a vow (votum in Latin), to give honour, and to seek help from the saint before whose image the candle is lit.
The composition of candles also holds symbolic meaning. For example, in the Roman Rite of the Catholic Church, candles for the Mass were traditionally required to be made of beeswax, which symbolises the pure flesh Christ received from his Virgin Mother. The wick symbolises his soul, and the flame symbolises his divinity.
The number and type of candles used, as well as when they are lit or extinguished, also hold religious significance. In the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States, for instance, two candles are typically used on the altar, representing that Jesus was both a human being and God. These candles are lit and extinguished in a particular order, with the Gospel side candle never burning alone. At the end of the service, the light is carried out to show that Jesus Christ is for all people.
In addition to votive and altar candles, there are other types of candles used in religious contexts, such as Christmas candles, devotional candles, patron saint candles, and vigil candles. These candles are used for various purposes, including decoration, blessing, worship, and prayer.
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Placement and usage
The placement and usage of church candles varies across different Christian denominations. In general, candles are used as a sign of festivity and solemnity in Christian worship.
Altar Candles
Altar candles are placed on or near altars for religious ceremonies. They may sit directly on the altar or be placed in tall stands to the side of or behind the altar. In the Roman Rite of the Catholic Church, candles are required to be placed on or beside the altar during the celebration of Mass. In Anglicanism, Percy Dearmer, author of The Parson's Handbook, states that English use supports no more than two lights on the altar. However, some Anglican churches may use a row of six candlesticks on the altar or on a shelf behind it. In the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States, churches typically use two tall, thin altar candles made of beeswax and stearine. These candles are lit and extinguished in a particular order: from right to left when lit, and from left to right when extinguished.
Votive Candles
Votive candles are small candles, typically white or beeswax yellow, used as votive offerings in Christian prayer. They are commonplace in many churches, especially within Anglican, Lutheran, and Roman Catholic Christian denominations. In the Eastern Orthodox Church, votive candles are lit before icons, usually of Jesus Christ or the Theotokos. These candles are usually long and thin, placed in round containers with sockets or in a container filled with sand. Orthodox churches often have a separate place to put votive candles lit for the departed, while Lutheran, Anglican, and Roman Catholic churches do not make this distinction. In Roman Catholic churches, votive candles are often placed before a statue of Jesus, the Blessed Virgin Mary, or another saint. In Lutheran churches, votive candles are lit on altar rails or in front of the altar cross.
Other Types of Candles
In addition to altar and votive candles, churches also use various other types of candles for different purposes. These include Christmas candles, used by church leaders to decorate parishes during the Christmas season; cemetery or memorial service candles, used to decorate chapels and memorial service rooms; devotional candles, blessed by priests and lit by congregants at home as an expression of worship or in honour of the dead; patron saint candles, blessed by priests and used by Catholics to honour particular saints; sanctuary candles, small candles placed in coloured glass holders to add ambiance to cathedrals and sanctuaries; vigil candles, small candles held by those attending special services; and seven-day candles, designed to burn continuously for seven days in conjunction with specific prayer requests.
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Frequently asked questions
Church candles are typically made of wax, with beeswax being a common choice due to its association with purity and its use in religious ceremonies. Other types of wax used include paraffin, soy wax, and stearine. The wick is usually made of cotton, cotton-paper, zinc, or tin.
The process of making church candles involves suspending wicks in a mold and pouring melted wax into the mold. This can be done through dipping, where the wick is dipped repeatedly into the wax until the desired thickness is achieved, or by pouring the wax into a mold with a wick suspended in it.
There are several types of church candles, including altar candles, votive or prayer candles, devotional candles, patron saint candles, sanctuary candles, and vigil candles. Altar candles are placed on or near altars and are used in religious ceremonies. Votive or prayer candles are small candles that symbolize the prayers of the worshippers. Devotional candles are blessed by priests and used by congregants at home for worship or to honor the dead. Patron saint candles are also blessed by priests and used by Catholics to honor specific saints. Sanctuary candles are small candles placed in colored glass holders to create a sacred ambiance in cathedrals and sanctuaries. Vigil candles are used in special services such as memorials or prayer services.
