Churches can be measured and compared in several ways. These include area, volume, length, width, height, or capacity. Several churches individually claim to be "the largest church", which may be due to any one of these criteria.
Criteria for inclusion
- The reason the edifice was built was for Christian religious services (see Church (building) for more detail)
- Entries are included even if they currently do not function as a church. For example, the Hagia Sophia is included; it was originally built as a church but currently operates as a mosque.
- Buildings that were not originally constructed as churches are generally not included; for example, the Lakewood Church building, which was initially built as the Compaq Center. An exception is made for buildings that have been substantially modified for use as a church; for example, the Mosque–Cathedral of Córdoba.
- The building must still be standing.
- The building has a known floor area of more than 2,000 square metres (22,000 sq ft).
- Internal floor area is measured to the internal face of the external walls.
- External floor area is measured to the external face of the external walls.
- A reliable source is present that states the building's area.
- Not a shrine, tabernacle, temple, or any other structure that functions separately from a church.
List
Converted buildings included due to substantial transformation into churches
| Name | Area (m2) | Gross volume (m3) | Capacity | Built | City | Country | Denomination | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Interior | Exterior | ||||||||
| St. Peter's Basilica | 25,616 | 76,800 | 1,600,000 | 60,000 standing, or 20,000 seated | 1506–1626 | Vatican City | Vatican City | Catholic (Latin) | Largest church in the world. |
| Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady Aparecida | 25,000 | 142,865 | 1,200,000 | 45,000 standing, 30,000 seated, or 300,000 in open air celebrations | 1955–1980 | Aparecida | Brazil | Catholic (Latin) | Largest cathedral in the world. |
| Mosque–Cathedral of Córdoba | 13,000 | 23,400 | 40,000 standing. | 785–1607 | Córdoba | Spain | Catholic (Latin) | Much of its original mosque architecture has been preserved, and it serves as the Catholic cathedral of the Diocese of Córdoba. | |
| Seville Cathedral | 11,520+ | 23,500 | 80,000 standing, or 20,000 seated | 1401–1528 | Seville | Spain | Catholic (Latin) | Largest church by total exterior area and the largest Gothic cathedral. Originally built as a mosque, it was later converted into a Catholic cathedral. | |
| Milan Cathedral | 10.186 – 11.700 | 12,000 | 440,000 | 40,000 | 1386–1965 | Milan | Italy | Catholic (Latin) | |
| Cathedral of St. John the Divine | 11,241 | 480,000 | 8,600 | 1892–present | New York City | United States | Anglican (Episcopal Church in the U.S.) | Unfinished. | |
| Basilica of Our Lady of Licheń | 10,090[citation needed] | 300,000 | 7,000 | 1994–2004 | Licheń Stary | Poland | Catholic (Latin) | 9,240 m2 or 10,090 m2 | |
| Liverpool Cathedral | 9,687 | 450,000 + | 3,500 | 1904–1978 | Liverpool | United Kingdom | Anglican (Church of England) | Longest cathedral in the world. | |
| Basilica of the Holy Trinity | 8,700 | 130,000 | 9,000 | 2004–2007 | Fátima | Portugal | Catholic (Latin) | Area given as 12,000 m2 | |
| Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls | 8,515[citation needed] | 4th–5th century; rebuilt 1825–1929 | Rome | Italy | Catholic (Latin) | ||||
| People's Salvation Cathedral | 8,400 | 13,668.55 | 478,857 | 7,000 | 2010–2025 (estimated) Consecrated 2018. | Bucharest | Romania | Eastern Orthodox (Romanian) | Tallest and largest (by volume) Orthodox church building in the world. |
| Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar | 8,318 | 1681–1872 | Saragossa | Spain | Catholic (Latin) | ||||
| Florence Cathedral | 8,300[citation needed] | 1296–1436 | Florence | Italy | Catholic (Latin) | ||||
| Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe | 8,167[citation needed] | 10,000 | 1974–1976 | Mexico City | Mexico | Catholic (Latin) | Circular base of 102 m in diameter | ||
| Cathedral of Our Lady | 8,000 | 1352–1521 | Antwerp | Belgium | Catholic (Latin) | ||||
| Rio de Janeiro Cathedral | 8,000 | 20,000 | 1964–1976 | Rio de Janeiro | Brazil | Catholic (Latin) | |||
| Basilica of the Sacred Heart | 8,000[citation needed] | 1905–1970 | Koekelberg (Brussels) | Belgium | Catholic (Latin) | ||||
| Basilica of Our Lady of Peace | 7,989 | 30,000 | 18,000 | 1985–1989 | Yamoussoukro | Ivory Coast | Catholic (Latin) | Largest Catholic church by exterior area. Exterior area includes rectory and a villa. | |
| Hagia Sophia | 7,960[citation needed] | 255,800 | 532–537 | Istanbul | Turkey | Eastern Orthodox (Greek) | Byzantine church constructed in 537; converted to a mosque. | ||
| San Petronio Basilica | 7,920[citation needed] | 258,000 | 28,000 | 1390–1479 | Bologna | Italy | Catholic (Latin) | ||
| Cologne Cathedral | 7,914[citation needed] | 407,000 | 1248–1880 | Cologne | Germany | Catholic (Latin) | |||
| St Paul's Cathedral | 7,875 | 1677–1708 | London | United Kingdom | Anglican (Church of England) | ||||
| Washington National Cathedral | 7,712 | 1907–1990 | Washington, DC | United States | Anglican (Episcopal Church in the U.S.) | ||||
| Amiens Cathedral | 7,700 | 200,000 (interior only) | 1220–1270 | Amiens | France | Catholic (Latin) | Gross volume slightly below 400,000[citation needed] | ||
| Abbey of Santa Giustina | 7,700[citation needed] | 1501–1606 | Padua | Italy | Catholic (Latin) | ||||
| Cathedral of the Nativity | 7,500 | 135,000 | 8,200 | 2017–2019 | Cairo | Egypt | Oriental Orthodox (Coptic) | Largest Oriental Orthodox church in the world | |
| Yoido Full Gospel | 7,450 (estimated) | 44,000+ | 12,000 | 1973 | Seoul | South Korea | Protestant (Pentecostal) | Largest Pentecostal church | |
| St. Vitus Cathedral | 7,440[citation needed] | 1344–1929 | Prague | Czech Republic | Catholic (Latin) | ||||
| Basilica of the Immaculate Conception | 7,097 | 10,234 | 10,000 | 1920–2017 | Washington, DC | United States | Catholic (Latin) | Interior area only for the upper church / upper floor. | |
| Cathedral of La Plata | 6,968[citation needed] | 1884–1932 | La Plata | Argentina | Catholic (Latin) | Largest church in Argentina[citation needed] | |||
| Saint Joseph's Oratory | 6,825[citation needed] | 1904–1967 | Montreal | Canada | Catholic (Latin) | The largest church in Canada | |||
| Shrine of St. Paulina | 6,740 | 9,000 | 6,000 | 2003–2006 | Nova Trento | Brazil | Catholic (Latin) | ||
| Mexico City Metropolitan Cathedral | 6,732[citation needed] | 1573–1813 | Mexico City | Mexico | Catholic (Latin) | ||||
| Chartres Cathedral | 6,700[citation needed] | 10,875[citation needed] | 1145–1220 | Chartres | France | Catholic (Latin) | |||
| Berlin Cathedral | 6,270 | 2,000+ | 1451–1905 | Berlin | Germany | Protestant (Lutheran) | 116 meters high & 73 meters wide; city landmark. | ||
| Cathedral of Saint Paul (Minnesota) | 6,200 (estimated) | 1906–1915 | St Paul, Minnesota | United States | Catholic (Latin) | ||||
| Immaculata Church | 6,169 | 1,580 | 2020-2023 | St. Marys, Kansas | United States | Catholic (Latin) | The largest SSPX Catholic church in the world | ||
| Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels | 6,038[citation needed] | 1998–2002 | Los Angeles | United States | Catholic (Latin) | ||||
| De Hoeksteen | 6,020 | 43,300 | 2,531 | 2007–2008 | Barneveld | Netherlands | Protestant (Calvinist) | ||
| Padre Pio Pilgrimage Church | 6,000[citation needed] | 6,500 | 1991–2004 | San Giovanni Rotondo | Italy | Catholic (Latin) | Vaulted church holding 6,500 seats[citation needed] | ||
| Ulm Minster | 5,950[citation needed] | 190,000 | 2,000 | 1377–1890 | Ulm | Germany | Protestant (Lutheran) | Tallest church in the world | |
| York Minster | 5,927 | 1230–1472 | York | United Kingdom | Anglican (Church of England) | Largest Gothic cathedral in Northern Europe. | |||
| Bourges Cathedral | 5,900[citation needed] | 6,200[citation needed] | 1195–1230 | Bourges | France | Catholic (Latin) | |||
| Reims Cathedral | 5,800[citation needed] | 6,650[citation needed] | 1211–1275 | Reims | France | Catholic (Latin) | The longest church in France at 149.17m[citation needed] | ||
| São Paulo Cathedral | 5,700 | 8,000 | 1913–1954 | São Paulo | Brazil | Catholic (Latin) | |||
| Esztergom Basilica | 5,660[citation needed] | 1822–1869 | Esztergom | Hungary | Catholic (Latin) | ||||
| Diocesan Sanctuary of Our Lady of Guadalupe | 5,414.58[citation needed] | 1898–2008 | Zamora, Michoacán | Mexico | Catholic (Latin) | Co-cathedral church of the diocese of Zamora. | |||
| Basilica de la Sagrada Familia | 5,400[citation needed] | 9,000 | 1882–present | Barcelona | Spain | Catholic (Latin) | Unfinished; expected complete sometime after 2026. | ||
| Strasbourg Cathedral | 5,300[citation needed] | 6,044 | 1015–1439 | Strasbourg | France | Catholic (Latin) | World's tallest building from 1647 to 1874[citation needed] | ||
| Primate Cathedral of Bogotá | 5,300[citation needed] | 1807–1823 | Bogotá | Colombia | Catholic (Latin) | Largest church in Colombia | |||
| Palma Cathedral | 5,200[citation needed] | 160,000 (interior) | 1220–1346 | Palma, Majorca | Spain | Catholic (Latin) | |||
| New Cathedral, Linz | 5,170[citation needed] | 20,000 | 1862–1924 | Linz | Austria | Catholic (Latin) | |||
| Speyer Cathedral | 5,038 | 1030–1103 | Speyer | Germany | Catholic (Latin) | Added to the UNESCO World Heritage List | |||
| Provo ward conference center | 5,038 | 2012 | Provo, Utah | United States | The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints | ||||
| Metropolitan Cathedral of Lima | 5,020 | 1535–1797 | Lima | Peru | Catholic (Latin) | Largest church in Peru | |||
| Westminster Cathedral | 5,017[citation needed] | 2,000 | 1895–1910 | London | United Kingdom | Catholic (Latin) | Largest Roman Catholic Church in the UK. | ||
| Medak Cathedral | 5,000 | 1914–1926 | Medak | India | Protestant (Church of South India) | ||||
| Morning Star Church; under the collective churches of Basilica of Our Lady of Good Health | 5,574 | 10,000 seated inside, 40,000 seated outside | 2013 | Velankanni, Tamil Nadu | India | Catholic (Latin) | The church has been built without pillars. It is ranked among the largest Christian worship places in Asia. | ||
| Lincoln Cathedral | 5,000 (estimated) | 1185–1311 | Lincoln, England | United Kingdom | Anglican (Church of England) | ||||
| St. Mary's Church | 5,000[citation needed] | 155,000 | 1343–1502 | Gdańsk | Poland | Catholic (Latin) | Largest brick church in the world | ||
| Holy Trinity Cathedral | 5,000[citation needed] | 137,000[citation needed] | 1995–2004 | Tbilisi | Georgia | Eastern Orthodox (Georgian) | |||
| Winchester Cathedral | 4,968 | 1079–1525 | Winchester | United Kingdom | Anglican (Church of England) | The longest Gothic cathedral in Europe | |||
| Notre Dame de Paris | 4,800[citation needed] | 5,500 | 9,000 | 1163–1345; 2019–present (reconstruction) | Paris | France | Catholic (Latin) | ||
| Almudena Cathedral | 4,800[citation needed] | 1883–1993 | Madrid | Spain | Catholic (Latin) | It has a north–south orientation instead of east–west. | |||
| Dresden Cathedral | 4,800[citation needed] | 1739–1755 | Dresden | Germany | Catholic (Latin) | Largest church in all of Saxony[citation needed] | |||
| Turku Cathedral | 4,745 | 10,429 | 900 | 1300–1773 | Turku | Finland | Protestant (Lutheran) | ||
| Basilica Cathedral of Arequipa | 4,608 | 1540–1656 | Arequipa | Peru | Catholic (Latin) | ||||
| Santiago Metropolitan Cathedral | 4,500 | 1748–1906 | Santiago de Chile | Chile | Catholic (Latin) | ||||
| Basilica of St. Thérèse, Lisieux | 4,500[citation needed] | 1929–1954 | Lisieux | France | Catholic (Latin) | ||||
| Basilica de San Martin de Tours (Taal) | 4,320 | 1856–1878 | Taal, Batangas | Philippines | Catholic (Latin) | Largest Catholic church in Asia | |||
| Ely Cathedral, Cambridgeshire | 4,273 | 1083–1375 | Ely | United Kingdom | Anglican (Church of England) | ||||
| Frauenkirche | 4,188[citation needed] | 185,000–190,000 | 1468–1525 | Munich | Germany | Catholic (Latin) | |||
| Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart | 4,181 | 2,000 | 1898–1954 | Newark, New Jersey | United States | Catholic (Latin) | |||
| Se Cathedral | 4,180 | 1619–1640 | Goa, India | India | Catholic (Latin) | ||||
| St. Stephen's Basilica | 4,147 | 1851–1906 | Budapest | Hungary | Catholic (Latin) | ||||
| Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis (St. Louis) | 4,130[citation needed] | 1907–1914 | St. Louis | United States | Catholic (Latin) | Mosaics 7,700 square meters[citation needed] | |||
| Saint Isaac's Cathedral | 4,000 + | 7,000 | 260,000 | 1818–1858 | Saint Petersburg | Russia | Eastern Orthodox (Russian) | Built as a cathedral, now a museum | |
| Cathedral of Christ the Saviour | 3,980 | 6,829.3 | 101,992 | 9,500 | 1839–1883 | Moscow | Russia | Eastern Orthodox (Russian) | Rebuilt from 1995 to 2000 |
| Saint Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral, Yerevan | 3,822[citation needed] | 1997–2001 | Yerevan | Armenia | Oriental Orthodox (Armenian) | ||||
| Holy Name of Jesus Cathedral | 3,820[citation needed] | 2015–2018 | Raleigh | United States | Catholic (Latin) | ||||
| Catedral Evangelica de Chile or Jotabeche Cathedral | 3,714.91 | 7,000 | 1967–1974 | Santiago de Chile | Chile | Protestant (Pentecostal) | Largest capacity in Chile; national historic monument since 2013. | ||
| Church of Saint Sava | 3,650 | 4,830 | 170,000 | 1935–1989 | Belgrade | Serbia | Eastern Orthodox (Serbian) | Largest church in the Balkans[citation needed] | |
| Blessed Stanley Rother Shrine | 3,512 | 1,859 | 2021–2022 | Oklahoma City | United States | Catholic (Latin) | |||
| Nieuwe Kerk (Amsterdam) | 3,500 | 1385 | Amsterdam | Netherlands | Protestant (Calvinist) | Second oldest parish church in Amsterdam. | |||
| Uppsala Cathedral | 3,439 | 4,077 | 50,000 excluding towers | 2,200 | 1273-1435 | Uppsala | Sweden | Church of Sweden | Largest Cathedral in northern Europe. Height 118,7m, Length 118,95 m. |
| Yeonmudae Catholic Church | 3,360[citation needed] | 2008–2009 | Korea Army Training Center | South Korea | Catholic (Latin) | The largest church in East Asia[citation needed] | |||
| Grace Cathedral | 3,357 | 1910–1964 | San Francisco | United States | Anglican (Episcopal Church in the U.S.) | ||||
| Oude Kerk (Amsterdam) | 3,300 | 1213 –1306 | Amsterdam | Netherlands | Protestant (Calvinist) | Oldest parish church in Amsterdam. | |||
| Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul (Lewiston, Maine) | 3,264 | 2,200 | 1906–1936 | Lewiston, Maine | United States | Catholic (Latin) | Largest church in the State of Maine, still serves mass in French. | ||
| Alexander Nevsky Cathedral | 3,170 | 86,000 | 1882–1912 | Sofia | Bulgaria | Eastern Orthodox (Bulgaria) | |||
| St. Charles Borromeo (Visalia) | 3,159 | 3,148 seated | 2011–2023 | Visalia, California | United States | Catholic (Latin) | Largest Catholic parish church in North America. | ||
| Christ Cathedral | 3,030 | 1977–1980 | Garden Grove, California | United States | Catholic (Latin) | Formerly known as the Crystal Cathedral. Consecrated as the Christ Cathedral | |||
| Westminster Abbey | 2,972 | 2,200 | 960–c. 18 cent. | London | United Kingdom | Anglican (Church of England) | |||
| St Patrick's Cathedral, Melbourne | 2,621 | 1858-1939 | Melbourne | Australia | Catholic (Latin) | ||||
| Sümi Baptist Church, Zünheboto | 2,885 | 8,500 | 2007–2017 | Zunheboto, Nagaland | India | Protestant (Baptist) | |||
| Bern Minster | 2,835 | 1421–1893 | Bern | Switzerland | Protestant (Calvinist) | Tallest church in Switzerland. | |||
| St Andrew's Cathedral, Patras | 2,600 | 1908–1974 | Patras | Greece | Eastern Orthodox (Greek) | 1,900 m2 on the ground floor and additionally 700 m2 on the first level (used as a gynaeconitis) | |||
| St Mary's Cathedral, Sydney | 2,600 | 1868–2000 | Sydney | Australia | Catholic (Latin) | ||||
| St. Patrick's Cathedral (Manhattan) | 2,500 | 2,400 | 1858–1878 | New York City, New York | United States | Catholic (Latin) | |||
| Beomeo Cathedral | 2,463[citation needed] | 2013–2016 | Daegu | South Korea | Catholic (Latin) | ||||
| Helsinki Cathedral | 2,400 | 1,300 | 1869–1887 | Helsinki | Finland | Protestant (Lutheran) | |||
| Basel Minster | 2,400 | 1019–1500 | Basel | Switzerland | Protestant (Calvinist) | ||||
| Lausanne Cathedral | 2,390 | 1170–1235 | Lausanne | Switzerland | Protestant (Calvinist) | ||||
| Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi (Santa Fe) | 2,322[citation needed] | 1869–1887 | Santa Fe, New Mexico | United States | Catholic (Latin) | ||||
| Basilica of Our Lady of Dolours, Thrissur | 2,300[citation needed] | 1929–2005 | Thrissur | India | Catholic (Syro-Malabar) | It has the third tallest tower in Asia[citation needed] | |||
| St. John's Church, Seongnam | 2,260[citation needed] | 1994–2002 | Seongnam | South Korea | Catholic (Latin) | Until 2009, largest church in East Asia[citation needed] | |||
| Sacred Heart Cathedral, Bendigo | 2,191 [citation needed] | 3,350 | 4,000 + | 1897-1977 | Bendigo | Australia | Catholic (Latin) | One of Australia's largest churches and the third tallest after St Patrick's Cathedral and St Paul's Cathedral. 75 metres (246 ft) long and has a ceiling height of 24 metres (79 ft). The main spire is 87 metres (285 ft) high. [citation needed] | |
| Basilica of St. John the Baptist | 2,135[citation needed] | 64,040 | 1839–1855 | St. John's | Canada | Catholic (Latin) | |||
| St. Joseph Cathedral | 2,125 | 1941 | San Diego | United States | Catholic (Latin) | ||||
| St. Pierre Cathedral | 2,080 | 1,000 | 1160–1898 | Geneva | Switzerland | Protestant (Calvinist) | It is closely associated with John Calvin, who preached there during his leadership of the Reformed movement. | ||
See also
- List of the largest evangelical church auditoriums
- List of Christian denominations by number of members
- List of tallest church buildings
- List of largest Eastern Orthodox church buildings
- List of tallest Eastern Orthodox church buildings
- List of tallest domes
- List of highest church naves
- Monumental crosses
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