List of largest church buildings

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St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City, the largest church in the world.

A church can be measured by various criteria in order to determine its size. Such measures 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.

This list includes extant churches that have a known area of more than 2,000 square metres (22,000 sq ft). 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 was later converted into a mosque and is now a museum. Churches are not included if no reliable sources are available for their stated sizes.

List[edit]

Name Area (m²) Gross volume (m³) Capacity Built City Country Denomination Notes
Interior Exterior
St. Peter's Basilica 15,160[1] 21,095[1] 60,000[2] 1506–1626 Vatican City   Vatican City Catholic (Latin)
Basilica of the National Shrine of Our Lady of Aparecida 12,000[3][4][5] 18,331[6] 1,200,000[7] 45,000[8] 1955–80 Aparecida  Brazil Catholic (Latin)
Seville Cathedral 11,520[9] 500,000 + 1401–1528 Seville  Spain Catholic (Latin) According to UNESCO, the largest Gothic religious building.[10]
Milan Cathedral 11,700[11] 440,000[12] 1386–1965 Milan  Italy Catholic (Ambrosian Rite)
Cathedral of St. John the Divine 11,200[13] 480,000[14] 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[15] 1994–2004 Licheń Stary  Poland Catholic (Latin) 9,240 m²[15] or 10,090 m²
Liverpool Cathedral 9,687[16] 450,000 + 1904–78 Liverpool  United Kingdom Anglican (Church of England)
Church of the Most Holy Trinity 8,700[17] 130,000 2004–07 Fátima  Portugal Catholic (Latin) Area given as 12,000m²[7]
Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls 8,515[citation needed] 4th-5th century; rebuilt 1825-1929 Rome  Italy Catholic (Latin)
Basilica-Cathedral of Our Lady of the Pillar 8,318[18] 1681–1872 Zaragoza  Spain Catholic (Latin)
Florence Cathedral 8,300[citation needed] 1296–1436 Florence  Italy Catholic (Latin)
Ulm Minster 8,260[citation needed] 190,000 1377–1890 Ulm  Germany Lutheran World's tallest church. Also one of the largest brick churches.[citation needed]
Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe 8,167[citation needed] 1974–76 Mexico City  Mexico Catholic (Latin) Circular base of 102 m in diameter[19]
Basilica of the Sacred Heart 8,000[citation needed] 1905–70 Koekelberg (Brussels)  Belgium Catholic (Latin)
Cathedral of Our Lady 8,000[20] 1352–1521 Antwerp  Belgium Catholic (Latin)
Rio de Janeiro Cathedral 8,000[citation needed] 1964–76 Rio de Janeiro  Brazil Catholic (Latin)
Basilica of Our Lady of Peace 7,989 30,000[21] 18,000[22] 1985–89 Yamoussoukro  Ivory Coast Catholic (Latin) The enclosed area approximately 8,000 m²[23]
Hagia Sophia 7,960[citation needed] 255,800[24] 532–537 Istanbul  Turkey Eastern Orthodox (Ecumenical Patriarchate) Originally built as a church, then converted into a mosque, now a museum
San Petronio Basilica 7,920[citation needed] 258,000 1390–1479 Bologna  Italy Catholic (Latin)
Cologne Cathedral 7,914[citation needed] 407,000[25] 1248–1880 Cologne  Germany Catholic (Latin)
St Paul's Cathedral 7,875[26] 1677–1708 London  United Kingdom Anglican (Church of England)
Washington National Cathedral 7,712[27] 1907–90 Washington, DC  United States Anglican (Episcopal Church in the U.S.)
Amiens Cathedral 7,700[28] 200,000 (interior only) 1220–70 Amiens  France Catholic (Latin) Gross volume slightly below 400,000[citation needed]
Abbey of Santa Giustina 7,700[citation needed] 1501–1606[29] Padua  Italy Catholic (Latin)
Cathedral of the Nativity 7,500 [30] 135,000 [31] 2017–2019 Cairo  Egypt Oriental Orthodox (Alexandria Patriarchate) Largest Oriental Orthodox church in the world
St. Vitus Cathedral 7,440[citation needed] 1344–1929 Prague  Czech Republic Catholic (Latin)
Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception 7,097[32] 10,000 1920-2017 Washington, DC  United States Catholic (Latin) Largest catholic church in the United States
Saint Isaac's Cathedral 7,000[citation needed] 260,000 1818–58 Saint Petersburg  Russia Eastern Orthodox (Russian) Built as a cathedral, now a museum
Calvary Temple 7,000 (estimated)[citation needed] 2012[33] Hyderabad, India  India Nondenominational
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] 1904–67 Montreal  Canada Catholic (Latin)
Mexico City Metropolitan Cathedral 6,732[citation needed] 1573–1813 Mexico City  Mexico Catholic (Latin)
Palma Cathedral 6,655[citation needed] 160,000 (interior) 1220–1346 Palma, Majorca  Spain Catholic (Latin)
Reims Cathedral 6,650[citation needed] 1211–75 Reims  France Catholic (Latin) The longest church in France at 149.17m[citation needed]
People's Salvation Cathedral 6,100[34] 323,000[35] 2010–2018 Bucharest  Romania Eastern Orthodox (Romanian) Tallest and largest Eastern Orthodox church in the world by volume[36]
Strasbourg Cathedral 6,044[citation needed] 1015–1439 Strasbourg  France Catholic (Latin) World's tallest building from 1647 to 1874[citation needed]
Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels 6,038[citation needed] 1998–2002 Los Angeles  United States Catholic (Latin)
De Hoeksteen, Barneveld 6,020[37] 43,300 2,531 2007–08 Barneveld  Netherlands Calvinist
Padre Pio Pilgrimage Church 6,000[citation needed] 1991–2004 San Giovanni Rotondo  Italy Catholic (Latin) Vaulted church holding 6,500 seats[citation needed]
York Minster 5,927 [38] 1230-1472 York  United Kingdom Anglican (Church of England) Largest Gothic Cathedral in Northern Europe.
Bourges Cathedral 5,900[citation needed] 1195–1230 Bourges  France Catholic (Latin)
Esztergom Basilica 5,660[citation needed] 1822–69 Esztergom  Hungary Catholic (Latin)
Notre Dame de Paris 5,500[citation needed] 1163–1345 Paris  France Catholic (Latin) Roof and main spire destroyed by fire on 15 April 2019
Sagrada Familia 5,400[citation needed] 1882–present Barcelona  Spain Catholic (Latin) Will be the tallest church in the world when finished (172.5m)[citation needed]
São Paulo Cathedral 5,300[citation needed] 1913–1954 São Paulo  Brazil Catholic (Latin) Capacity for 8,000 people[citation needed]
Primate Cathedral of Bogotá 5,300[citation needed] 1807–23 Bogotá  Colombia Catholic (Latin)
Chartres Cathedral 5,200[citation needed] 1145–1220 Chartres  France Catholic (Latin) Ground area 10,875 square meters[citation needed]
New Cathedral, Linz 5,170[citation needed] 1862–1924 Linz  Austria Catholic (Latin)
Provo ward conference center 5,038[39] 2012 Provo, Utah  United States The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints [40]
Westminster Cathedral 5,017[citation needed] 1895–1910 London  United Kingdom Catholic (Latin)
Lincoln Cathedral 5,000 (Estimated)[41] 1185–1311 Lincoln, England  United Kingdom Anglican
St. Mary's Church 5,000[citation needed] 155,000[42] 1343–1502 Gdańsk  Poland Catholic (Latin)
Holy Trinity Cathedral 5,000[citation needed] 137,000[citation needed] 1995–2004 Tbilisi  Georgia Eastern Orthodox (Georgian)
Winchester Cathedral 4,968[43] 1079–1525 Winchester  United Kingdom Anglican (Church of England) The longest Gothic Cathedral in Europe[citation needed]
Cathedral of Christ the Saviour 3,990[44] 6,829.3[45] 101 992[46] 1839–83 Moscow  Russia Eastern Orthodox (Russian) Rebuilt from 1995 to 2000
Dresden Cathedral 4,800[citation needed] 1739–55 Dresden  Germany Catholic (Latin) Largest church in all of Saxony[citation needed]
Basilica of St. Thérèse, Lisieux 4,500[citation needed] 1929–54 Lisieux  France Catholic (Latin)
Basilica de San Martin de Tours (Taal) 4,320[47] 1856–78 Taal, Batangas  Philippines Catholic (Latin) Largest Catholic church in Asia
Ely Cathedral, Cambridgeshire 4,273[48] 1083–1375 Ely  United Kingdom Anglican (Church of England)
Frauenkirche 4,188[citation needed] 185,000–190,000[49] 1468–1525 Munich  Germany Catholic (Latin)
Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis (St. Louis) 4,130[citation needed] 1907–14 St. Louis  United States Catholic (Latin) Mosaics 7,700 square meters[citation needed]
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)
Church of Saint Sava 3,650[50] 170,000 [51] 1935–89 Belgrade  Serbia Eastern Orthodox (Serbian) Largest church in the Balkans[citation needed]
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[52] 1910–64 San Francisco  United States Anglican (Episcopal Church in the U.S.)
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[53] 86,000[54] 1882–1912 Sofia  Bulgaria Eastern Orthodox (Bulgaria)
Crystal Cathedral 3,030[55] 1977–1980 Garden Grove, California  United States Catholic (Latin) Consecrated as the Christ Cathedral[56]
Westminster Abbey 2,972[57] 960–18c London  United Kingdom Anglican (Church of England)
Medak Cathedral 5,000[58] 1914–26 Medak  India Anglican (Church of South India)
St Andrew's Cathedral, Patras 2,500[citation needed] 1908–1974 Patras  Greece Eastern Orthodox (Greek)
Nashville Stake Center 2,500[59][60] 2015 Nashville, Tennessee  United States The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Beomeo Cathedral 2,463[citation needed] 2013–2016 Daegu  South Korea Catholic (Latin)
Roskilde Cathedral 2,322[citation needed] 1170–1985 Roskilde  Denmark Lutheran (Church of Denmark)
Our Lady of Dolours Syro-Malabar Catholic Basilica 2,300[citation needed] 1929–2005 Thrissur  India Catholic (Syro-Malabar) It has the third tallest tower in Asia[citation needed]
St. John's Cathedral (Seongnam) 2,260[citation needed] 1994–2002 Seongnam  South Korea Catholic (Latin) Until 2009, largest church in East Asia[citation needed]
Basilica of St. John the Baptist 2,135[citation needed] 64,040[61] 1839–55 St. John's  Canada Catholic (Latin) The largest church in eastern Canada[citation needed]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "Rome day 3". ar-tour.com. Retrieved 12 November 2019.
  2. ^ "Saint Peter's Basilica, Rome: History, Architecture". www.visual-arts-cork.com. Retrieved 14 May 2019.
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  4. ^ "Top 10 Largest Churches In The World". The Mysterious World. 26 November 2014. Retrieved 12 November 2019.
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  9. ^ Quintero, Josephine. "Seville Cathedral, The City of Seville main sights, Andalucia, Southern Spain". Andalucia.com. Retrieved 5 September 2012.
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  14. ^ Ellis, Edward Robb Edgewood Apartments p. 413
  15. ^ a b 9,240 m² of Lichen Basilica: enclosed main floor includes transept and apse at 290 m², enclosed tower floor at 560 m², open tower and gallery floor at 23,000 m² (which excludes the porticos at 530 m²), total area includes all floors "Sanktuarium Maryjne w Licheniu" (in Polish). Marian Sanctuary in Licheń. Retrieved 5 September 2012.
  16. ^ "Cathedral". Liverpool Cathedral. Retrieved 5 September 2012.
  17. ^ Carvalho, António PO; Freitas, Diamantino (10 July 2003). "The New Megachurch For The Sanctuary Of Fátima" (PDF). Tenth International Congress on Sound and Vibration. Stockholm: University of Porto. Retrieved 29 May 2015.
  18. ^ "La Basílica de Nuestra Señora del Pilar" [The Basilica of Our Lady of Pilar]. InfoGoya (in Spanish). Retrieved 5 September 2012.
  19. ^ "Basílica de Guadalupe | Santuario". Virgen de Guadalupe. Retrieved 5 September 2012.
  20. ^ "Art & Architecture: Facts and Figures". De Kathedraal. Retrieved 29 May 2015.
  21. ^ "The world's most extreme structures". The Guardian. 17 June 2004. Retrieved 29 May 2015.
  22. ^ "Our Lady of Peace Basilica, Yamoussoukro". 12 January 2011. Archived from the original on 12 January 2011. Retrieved 14 May 2019.
  23. ^ "Basilica of Our Lady of Peace Yamoussoukro". Emporis: Buildings. Retrieved 5 September 2012.
  24. ^ Wieslaw Woszczyk (27 January 2014). "Aural Architecture: Music, Acoustics, and Ritual" (PDF). Onassis Seminar on music acoustics and ritual. Stanford University. Retrieved 29 May 2015.
  25. ^ "The Cathedral's dimensions". Dierk's page. 7 January 2015. Archived from the original on 30 May 2015. Retrieved 29 May 2015.
  26. ^ Wikisource-logo.svg Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "Basilica of St. Peter" . Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.
  27. ^ "Architectural History". Washington National Cathedral. Retrieved 29 May 2015.
  28. ^ "Amiens Cathedral". International Database and Gallery of Structures. Nicholas Janberg. Retrieved 19 April 2019.
  29. ^ "Basilica e Abbazia di Santa Giustina" [Basilica and Abbey of Santa Giustina]. D Padova (in Italian).
  30. ^ "Biggest Cathedral in the Middle East to be Inaugurated in New Administrative Capital". Egyptianstreets.com. 4 January 2019.
  31. ^ "New Cairo's new cathedral: "Cathedral of the Nativity has opened"". Proavl-mea.com. 1 May 2019.
  32. ^ "Art & Architecture". National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. Retrieved 12 November 2019.
  33. ^ "About Calvary Temple - Biggest church in India". Calvary Temple.
  34. ^ "O Catedralâ Pentru Caputalâ" [A Capital Cathedral]. Cathedral of Salvation of the Nation (in Romanian). Romanian Orthodox Church. Retrieved 23 November 2018.
  35. ^ "FOTO Catedrala Mântuirii Neamului, faţă în faţă cu cele mai mari şi mai frumoase biserici din lume". adevarul.ro. 1543164166. Retrieved 2019-11-20. Check date values in: |date= (help)
  36. ^ "România construiește cea mai mare biserică ortodoxă din lume". www.catedralaneamului.ro. Retrieved 2 November 2019.
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  38. ^ "Project Gutenberg - York Minster plan". Project Gutenburg.
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  47. ^ Basilica de San Martin de Tours (Taal)
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