Abstract Lighting is essential for improving the visual conditions and meeting the needs of space users. It serves both quantitative and qualitative roles in a building. Furthermore, the lighting in a house of worship fulfills visual tasks and creates atmosphere for worship. This research aims to explore the perception of the Nazarene Christian Church (GKN) Filadelfia congregation regarding to the interior lighting conditions of their church using the semantic differential method. The results show that the congregation perceives the lighting is suitable for visual tasks, but the interior design falls short in creating the atmosphere required for a place of worship. This includes aspects like identity, warmth, intimacy, mystique, hierarchy, and expansiveness. The interior lighting of the Nazarene Christian Church Filadelfia needs to be redesigned to align with the church’s purpose and meaning, in addition to meet visual requirements.