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 churches that are still extant and 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 even though it does not currently function as a church; 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) Built City Country Denomination Notes
St. Peter's Basilica 15,160 (interior)[1][2]
21,095 (exterior)[1] 		1506–1626 Vatican City   Vatican City Catholic (Latin)
Basilica of the National Shrine of Our Lady of Aparecida 12,000[citation needed] 1,200,000[3] 1955–80 Aparecida  Brazil Catholic (Latin)
Seville Cathedral 11,520[4] (It may be larger, the size remains a subject of debate) 500,000 + 1401–1528 Seville  Spain Catholic (Latin) According to UNESCO, the largest Gothic religious building.[5]
Milan Cathedral 11,700 (interior) [6] 440,000 [7] 1386–1965 Milan  Italy Catholic (Ambrosian Rite)
Cathedral of Saint John the Divine 11,200[8] 480,000[9] 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[10] 1994–2004 Licheń Stary  Poland Catholic (Latin) 9,240 m²[10] or 10,090 m²
Liverpool Cathedral 9,687[11] 450,000 + 1904–78 Liverpool  United Kingdom Anglican (Church of England)
Church of the Most Holy Trinity 8,700[12] 130,000 2004-07 Fátima  Portugal Catholic (Latin) Area given as 12,000m²[3]
Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls 8,515[citation needed] IV–1823 Rome  Italy Catholic (Latin)
Cathedral of the Nativity 8,500[citation needed] 185,000 2017-2019 Cairo  Egypt Oriental Orthodox (Coptic) Largest Oriental Orthodox church in the world by area[citation needed]
Basilica-Cathedral of Our Lady of the Pillar 8,318[13] 1681–1872 Zaragoza  Spain Catholic (Latin)
Florence Cathedral 8,300[citation needed] 1296–1436 Florence  Italy Catholic (Latin)
Ulm Minster 8,260 (6,029 interior)[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[14]
Basilica of the Sacred Heart 8,000[citation needed] 1905-70 Koekelberg (Brussels)  Belgium Catholic (Latin)
Cathedral of Our Lady 8,000[15] 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 (interior)
30,000 (exterior)[16] 		1985–89 Yamoussoukro  Ivory Coast Catholic (Latin) The enclosed area approximately 8,000 m²[17]
Hagia Sophia 7,960[citation needed] 255,800 [18] 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[19] 1248–1880 Cologne  Germany Catholic (Latin)
St Paul's Cathedral 7,875[2] 1677–1708 London  United Kingdom Anglican (Church of England)
Washington National Cathedral 7,712[20] 1907–90 Washington, DC  United States Anglican (Episcopal Church in the U.S.)
Amiens Cathedral 7,700[21] 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[22] Padua  Italy Catholic (Latin)
St. Vitus Cathedral 7,440[citation needed] 1344-1929 Prague  Czech Catholic (Latin)
Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception 7,097 (interior)
12,069 (exterior)[23] 		1919–61 Washington, DC  United States Catholic (Latin)
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[24] Hyderabad, India  India Calvary Temple
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] 660,000 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]
Romanian People's Salvation Cathedral 6,100 [25] 323,000 2010 - 2018 Bucharest  Romania Eastern Orthodox (Romanian) Tallest and largest Eastern Orthodox church in the world by volume[citation needed]
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[26] 43,300 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]
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)
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]
Church of Saint Sava 3,650[27] 170,000[27] 1935–89 Belgrade  Serbia Eastern Orthodox (Serbian) Largest church in the Balkans[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[28] 2012 Provo, Utah  United States The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints [29]
Westminster Cathedral 5,017[citation needed] 1895–1910 London  United Kingdom Catholic (Latin)
St. Mary's Church 5,000[citation needed] 155,000[30] 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[31] 1079–1525 Winchester  United Kingdom Anglican (Church of England) The longest Gothic Cathedral in Europe[citation needed]
Cathedral of Christ the Saviour 4,900[citation needed] 195,000 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[32] 1856–78 Taal, Batangas  Philippines Catholic (Latin) Largest Catholic church in Asia
Ely Cathedral, Cambridgeshire 4,273[33] 1083–1375 Ely  United Kingdom Anglican (Church of England)
Frauenkirche 4,188[citation needed] 185,000–190,000[34] 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) 7,700 square meters[citation needed]
Lincoln Cathedral 4,000 (Estimated)[citation needed] 1185-1311 Lincoln, England  United Kingdom Anglican
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)
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]
Alexander Nevsky Cathedral 3,170[35] 86,000[36] 1882–1912 Sofia  Bulgaria Eastern Orthodox (Bulgaria)
Crystal Cathedral 3,165 (estimated)[citation needed] 1977-1980 Garden Grove, California  United States Catholic (Latin) Planned to be consecrated as The Christ Cathedral.[37]
Westminster Abbey 2,972[citation needed] 960-18c London  United Kingdom Anglican (Church of England)
Medak Cathedral 2,800[38] 1914–26 Medak  India Anglican (Church of South India)
St Andrew's Cathedral, Patras 2,600[citation needed] 2013-2016 Patras  Greece Eastern Orthodox (Greek)
Nashville Stake Center 2,500[39] [40] 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 3rd 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[41] 1839–55 St. John's  Canada Catholic (Latin) The largest church in eastern Canada[citation needed]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "St. Peter's - The Nave". Saintpetersbasilica.org. Archived from the original on 16 July 2012. Retrieved 2012-09-05.
  2. ^ a b Wikisource-logo.svg Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "Basilica of St. Peter" . Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.
  3. ^ a b "Faith". The Times. 13 March 2012. Archived from the original on 30 August 2008. Retrieved 2012-09-05.
  4. ^ Quintero, Josephine. "Seville Cathedral, The City of Seville main sights, Andalucia, Southern Spain". Andalucia.com. Retrieved 2012-09-05.
  5. ^ "Patrimonio de La Humanidad – Catedral de Sevilla".
  6. ^ "I NUMERI DEL DUOMO DI MILANO - Duomo Patrons Italiano". www.duomopatrons.org.
  7. ^ http://www.ticketone.it, TICKETONE. "Duomo di Milano". Duomo di Milano - Biglietti.
  8. ^ Ellis, Edward Robb (21 December 2004). The Epic of New York City: A Narrative History. Basic Books. p. 413. ISBN 978-0786714360. (Subscription required (help)).
  9. ^ Ellis, Edward Robb Edgewood Apartments p. 413
  10. ^ 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". Lichen.pl. Retrieved 2012-09-05.
  11. ^ "Cathedral". Liverpool Cathedral. Retrieved 2012-09-05.
  12. ^ Carvalho, António P. O.; 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 2015-05-29.
  13. ^ "La Basílica de Nuestra Señora del Pilar" (in Spanish). Goya.unizar.es. Retrieved 2012-09-05.
  14. ^ "Basílica de Guadalupe | Santuario". Virgendeguadalupe.org.mx. Retrieved 2012-09-05.
  15. ^ "Art & Architecture: Facts and Figures". Dekathedraal.be. Retrieved 2015-05-29.
  16. ^ "The world's most extreme structures". The Guardian. 17 June 2004. Retrieved 2015-05-29.
  17. ^ "Basilica of Our Lady of Peace Yamoussoukro". Emporis: Buildings. Retrieved 2012-09-05.
  18. ^ Wieslaw Woszczyk (27 January 2014). "Aural Architecture: Music, Acoustics, and Ritual" (PDF). Onassis Seminar on music acoustics and ritual. Stanford University. Retrieved 2015-05-29.
  19. ^ "The Cathedral's dimensions". Dierk's page. 7 January 2015. Retrieved 2015-05-29.
  20. ^ "Architectural History". Washington National Cathedral. Retrieved 2015-05-29.
  21. ^ Structurae. "Structurae - International Database and Gallery of Structures". En.structurae.de. Retrieved 2012-09-05.
  22. ^ "D Padova - Basilica e Abbazia di Santa Giustina". www.dpadova.com.
  23. ^ "Histsory: Architecture". National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. Retrieved 2015-06-08.
  24. ^ "About Calvary Temple - Biggest church in India".
  25. ^ "Cathedral's official website (Romanian only)". Romanian Orthodox Church. Retrieved 2018-11-23.
  26. ^ "GGiN Barneveld - Van Beijnum Architecten". www.vanbeijnumarch.nl.
  27. ^ a b "Храм у простору и бројевима" [Temple in space and numbers]. hramsvetogsave.rs (in Serbian). Храм Светог Саве. Retrieved 10 February 2019.
  28. ^ Herald, Genelle Pugmire-Daily. "BYU 48-ward conference center ready for fall". Daily Herald.
  29. ^ Taylor, Scott (13 April 2011). "New LDS Church facility in Provo to house 48 wards, 4 stakes". DeseretNews.com.
  30. ^ "Saint Mary's Church (Gdansk, 1502)". Structurae. Retrieved 2019-02-09.
  31. ^ Sergeant, Philip W. (1899). Bell's Cathedrals: The Cathedral Church of Winchester. London: George Bell & Sons.
  32. ^ Basilica de San Martin de Tours (Taal)
  33. ^ "Facts & Figures". Ely Cathedral. Retrieved 2015-05-29.
  34. ^ "Volumen (Kubatur) der Münchener Frauenkirche". www.gebaut.eu.
  35. ^ "I love early morning Sofia". Archived from the original on 30 March 2010. The church occupies an area of 3170 m² and can accommodate up to 5,000 worshippers inside, which makes it the second biggest cathedral on the Balkan Peninsula after the Temple of Saint Sava in Serbia.
  36. ^ 15 Century Bulgaria Foundation (15 века БЪЛГАРИЯ) website, article with title Patriarchal cathedral stauropigial memorial church St. Alexander Nevsky (pdf in English)
  37. ^ https://christcathedralcalifornia.org/explore/about-christ-cathedral/. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  38. ^ "Welcome to Medak Diocese | Church of South India". Csimedakdiocese.in. Retrieved 2012-09-05.
  39. ^ "Mormon church expands reach in Williamson County". The Tennessean.
  40. ^ "New Mormon Stake Center opens on Sunset Road". 26 August 2015.
  41. ^ "Geology of the Catholic Basilica of St. John the Baptist, St. John's, Newfoundland" (PDF). Geoscience Canada. Geological Association of Canada. 31 (1): 1–10. March 2004. Retrieved 2015-05-29.
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