List of largest church buildings

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.

St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City, the largest church in the world.[1]

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. Churches are not included if no reliable sources are available for their stated sizes in the world.

List
Name Area (m²) Gross volume (m³) Capacity Built City Country Denomination Notes
Interior Exterior
St. Peter's Basilica 15,160[2] 21,095[2] 60,000[3] 1506–1626 Vatican City   Vatican City Catholic (Latin)
Basilica of the National Shrine of Our Lady of Aparecida 12,000[4][5][6] 18,331[7] 1,200,000[8] 45,000[9] 1955–80 Aparecida  Brazil Catholic (Latin) Largest Cathedral in the world.[10]
Seville Cathedral 11,520[11] 500,000 + 1401–1528 Seville  Spain Catholic (Latin) According to UNESCO, the largest Gothic religious building.[12]
Milan Cathedral 11,700[13] 440,000[14] 40,000 1386–1965 Milan  Italy Catholic (Ambrosian Rite)
Cathedral of St. John the Divine 11,200[15] 480,000[16] 8,600 1892–present New York City  United States Anglican (Episcopal Church in the U.S.) Unfinished
Basilica of Our Lady of Licheń 10,090 300,000[17] 1994–2004 Licheń Stary  Poland Catholic (Latin) 9,240 m²[17] or 10,090 m²
Liverpool Cathedral 9,687[18] 450,000 + 3,500 1904–78 Liverpool  United Kingdom Anglican (Church of England)
Church of the Most Holy Trinity 8,700[19] 130,000 9,000 2004–07 Fátima  Portugal Catholic (Latin) Area given as 12,000m²[8]
Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls 8,515 4th–5th century; rebuilt 1825–1929 Rome  Italy Catholic (Latin)
Basilica-Cathedral of Our Lady of the Pillar 8,318[20] 1681–1872 Zaragoza  Spain Catholic (Latin)
Florence Cathedral 8,300 1296–1436 Florence  Italy Catholic (Latin)
Ulm Minster 8,260 190,000 1377–1890 Ulm  Germany Lutheran World's tallest church. Also one of the largest brick churches.
Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe 8,167 1974–76 Mexico City  Mexico Catholic (Latin) Circular base of 102 m in diameter[21]
Cathedral of Our Lady 8,000[22] 1352–1521 Antwerp  Belgium Catholic (Latin)
Rio de Janeiro Cathedral 8,000[23] 20,000[24] 1964–76 Rio de Janeiro  Brazil Catholic (Latin)
Basilica of the Sacred Heart 8,000 1905–70 Koekelberg (Brussels)  Belgium Catholic (Latin)
Basilica of Our Lady of Peace 7,989 30,000[25] 18,000[26] 1985–89 Yamoussoukro  Ivory Coast Catholic (Latin) The basilica proper is 7,989 m².[27] The exterior area (footprint) also includes a rectory, a villa, and the two semicircular colonnades, which are not strictly part of the church.
Hagia Sophia 7,960 255,800[28] 532–537 Istanbul  Turkey Eastern Orthodox (Ecumenical Patriarchate) Originally built as a church, before transitioning into a mosque, then into a museum, before once again being named a mosque.
San Petronio Basilica 7,920 258,000 1390–1479 Bologna  Italy Catholic (Latin)
Cologne Cathedral 7,914 407,000[29] 1248–1880 Cologne  Germany Catholic (Latin)
St Paul's Cathedral 7,875[30] 1677–1708 London  United Kingdom Anglican (Church of England)
Washington National Cathedral 7,712[31] 1907–90 Washington, DC  United States Anglican (Episcopal Church in the U.S.)
Amiens Cathedral 7,700[32] 200,000 (interior only) 1220–70 Amiens  France Catholic (Latin) Gross volume slightly below 400,000
Abbey of Santa Giustina 7,700 1501–1606[33] Padua  Italy Catholic (Latin)
Cathedral of the Nativity 7,500[34] 135,000[35] 2017–2019 Cairo  Egypt Oriental Orthodox (Alexandria Patriarchate) Largest Oriental Orthodox church in the world
St. Vitus Cathedral 7,440 1344–1929 Prague  Czech Republic Catholic (Latin)
Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception 7,097[36] 10,000 1920–2017 Washington, DC  United States Catholic (Latin) Largest Catholic church in North America. The interior area refers to the lower floor. The area of the upper floor is 7,097 m², for a total floor area of 19,166 m².[36]
Saint Isaac's Cathedral 7,000 260,000 1818–58 Saint Petersburg  Russia Eastern Orthodox (Russian) Built as a cathedral, now a museum
Calvary Temple 7,000 (estimated) 2012[37] Hyderabad, India  India Nondenominational
Cathedral of La Plata 6,968 1884–1932 La Plata  Argentina Catholic (Latin) Largest church in Argentina
Saint Joseph's Oratory 6,825 1904–67 Montreal  Canada Catholic (Latin) The largest church in Canada
Mexico City Metropolitan Cathedral 6,732 1573–1813 Mexico City  Mexico Catholic (Latin)
Shrine of St. Paulina 6,740[38] 9,000[39] 6,000[40] 2003–2006 Nova Trento  Brazil Catholic (Latin)
Palma Cathedral 6,655 160,000 (interior) 1220–1346 Palma, Majorca  Spain Catholic (Latin)
Reims Cathedral 6,650 1211–75 Reims  France Catholic (Latin) The longest church in France at 149.17m
People's Salvation Cathedral 6,100[41] 323,000[42] 2010–2018 Bucharest  Romania Eastern Orthodox (Romanian) Tallest and largest Eastern Orthodox church in the world by volume[43]
Strasbourg Cathedral 6,044 1015–1439 Strasbourg  France Catholic (Latin) World's tallest building from 1647 to 1874
Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels 6,038 1998–2002 Los Angeles  United States Catholic (Latin)
De Hoeksteen, Barneveld 6,020[44] 43,300 2,531 2007–08 Barneveld  Netherlands Calvinist
Padre Pio Pilgrimage Church 6,000 6,500 1991–2004 San Giovanni Rotondo  Italy Catholic (Latin) Vaulted church holding 6,500 seats
York Minster 5,927[45] 1230–1472 York  United Kingdom Anglican (Church of England) Largest Gothic Cathedral in Northern Europe.
Bourges Cathedral 5,900 1195–1230 Bourges  France Catholic (Latin)
São Paulo Cathedral 5,700[46] 8,000[47] 1913–1954 São Paulo  Brazil Catholic (Latin)
Esztergom Basilica 5,660 1822–69 Esztergom  Hungary Catholic (Latin)
Notre Dame de Paris 5,500 1163–1345 Paris  France Catholic (Latin) Roof and main spire destroyed by fire on 15 April 2019
Sagrada Familia 5,400 9,000 1882–present Barcelona  Spain Catholic (Latin) Unfinished. Will be the tallest church in the world when finished (172.5m)
Primate Cathedral of Bogotá 5,300 1807–23 Bogotá  Colombia Catholic (Latin)
Chartres Cathedral 5,200 1145–1220 Chartres  France Catholic (Latin) Ground area 10,875 square meters
New Cathedral, Linz 5,170 1862–1924 Linz  Austria Catholic (Latin)
Provo ward conference center 5,038[48] 2012 Provo, Utah  United States The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints [49]
Westminster Cathedral 5,017 1895–1910 London  United Kingdom Catholic (Latin)
Lincoln Cathedral 5,000 (estimated)[50] 1185–1311 Lincoln, England  United Kingdom Anglican (Church of England)
St. Mary's Church 5,000 155,000[51] 1343–1502 Gdańsk  Poland Catholic (Latin)
Holy Trinity Cathedral 5,000 137,000 1995–2004 Tbilisi  Georgia Eastern Orthodox (Georgian)
Winchester Cathedral 4,968[52] 1079–1525 Winchester  United Kingdom Anglican (Church of England) The longest Gothic Cathedral in Europe[53]
Almudena Cathedral 4,800 1883–1993 Madrid  Spain Catholic (Latin) It has a North-South orientation instead of East-West.
Cathedral of Christ the Saviour 3,990[54] 6,829.3[54] 101 992[54] 10,000[54] 1839–83 Moscow  Russia Eastern Orthodox (Russian) Rebuilt from 1995 to 2000
Dresden Cathedral 4,800 1739–55 Dresden  Germany Catholic (Latin) Largest church in all of Saxony
Basilica of St. Thérèse, Lisieux 4,500 1929–54 Lisieux  France Catholic (Latin)
Basilica de San Martin de Tours (Taal) 4,320[55] 1856–78 Taal, Batangas  Philippines Catholic (Latin) Largest Catholic church in Asia
Ely Cathedral, Cambridgeshire 4,273[56] 1083–1375 Ely  United Kingdom Anglican (Church of England)
Frauenkirche 4,188 185,000–190,000[57] 1468–1525 Munich  Germany Catholic (Latin)
St. Stephen's Basilica 4,147 1851–1906 Budapest  Hungary Catholic (Latin)
Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis (St. Louis) 4,130 1907–14 St. Louis  United States Catholic (Latin) Mosaics 7,700 square meters
Saint Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral, Yerevan 3,822 1997–2001 Yerevan  Armenia Oriental Orthodox (Armenian)
Holy Name of Jesus Cathedral 3,820 2015–2018 Raleigh  United States Catholic (Latin)
Church of Saint Sava 3,650[58] 4,830[59] 170,000[60] 1935–89 Belgrade  Serbia Eastern Orthodox (Serbian) Largest church in the Balkans
Yeonmudae Catholic Church 3,360 2008–2009 Korea Army Training Center  South Korea Catholic (Latin) The largest church in East Asia
Grace Cathedral 3,357[61] 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[62] 86,000[63] 1882–1912 Sofia  Bulgaria Eastern Orthodox (Bulgaria)
Crystal Cathedral 3,030[64] 1977–1980 Garden Grove, California  United States Catholic (Latin) Consecrated as the Christ Cathedral[65]
Westminster Abbey 2,972[66] 960–18c London  United Kingdom Anglican (Church of England)
Medak Cathedral 5,000[67] 1914–26 Medak  India Anglican (Church of South India)
St Andrew's Cathedral, Patras 2,600[68] 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. Patrick's Cathedral (Manhattan) 2,500[69][70] 1858–1878 Manhattan, New York  United States Catholic
Beomeo Cathedral 2,463 2013–2016 Daegu  South Korea Catholic (Latin)
Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi (Santa Fe) 2,322 1869–1887 Santa Fe, New Mexico  United States Catholic
Our Lady of Dolours Syro-Malabar Catholic Basilica 2,300 1929–2005 Thrissur  India Catholic (Syro-Malabar) It has the third tallest tower in Asia
St. John's Cathedral (Seongnam) 2,260 1994–2002 Seongnam  South Korea Catholic (Latin) Until 2009, largest church in East Asia
Basilica of St. John the Baptist 2,135 64,040[71] 1839–55 St. John's  Canada Catholic (Latin)
St. Joseph Cathedral 2,125 1941 San Diego  United States Catholic (Latin)
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gollark: No, but it's not like "GPU and CPU on same die" is a new idea.
gollark: ... not really, it's still faster to have them separate right now.
gollark: 3D stacking runs into basically the same thermal/power/memory issues.
gollark: What do you mean "chiplet" exactly?

See also

References
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  2. "Rome day 3". ar-tour.com. Retrieved 12 November 2019.
  3. "Saint Peter's Basilica, Rome: History, Architecture". www.visual-arts-cork.com. Retrieved 14 May 2019.
  4. "The Biggest Churches in the World". WorldAtlas. Retrieved 12 November 2019.
  5. "Top 10 Largest Churches in the World". The Mysterious World. 26 November 2014. Retrieved 12 November 2019.
  6. "Brazil's giant basilica is backdrop for Pope visit". Reuters. 6 May 2007. Retrieved 12 November 2019.
  7. "Santuário em números - A12.com". www.a12.com. Retrieved 14 May 2019.
  8. "Faith". Times Online. 13 March 2012. Archived from the original on 30 August 2008. Retrieved 5 September 2012.
  9. "Aparecida e Basílica de S. Pedro; veja as maiores igrejas do mundo". Terra (in Portuguese). Retrieved 12 November 2019.
  10. "Papa concede ao Santuário Nacional título de Igreja-Catedral - A12.com". www.a12.com. Retrieved 17 August 2020.
  11. Quintero, Josephine. "Seville Cathedral, The City of Seville main sights, Andalucia, Southern Spain". Andalucia.com. Retrieved 5 September 2012.
  12. "Patrimonio de La Humanidad". Catedral de Sevilla.
  13. "I NUMERI DEL DUOMO DI MILANO" [The Numbers of the Duomo of Milan] (in Italian). International Patrons of Duomo of Milan.
  14. "Duomo di Milano – Biografia" [Milan Cathedral – Biography]. TicketOne (in Italian). EvenTim.
  15. Ellis, Edward Robb (21 December 2004). The Epic of New York City: A Narrative History. Basic Books. p. 413. ISBN 978-0786714360.
  16. Ellis, Edward Robb Edgewood Apartments p. 413
  17. 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.
  18. "Cathedral". Liverpool Cathedral. Retrieved 5 September 2012.
  19. 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.
  20. "La Basílica de Nuestra Señora del Pilar" [The Basilica of Our Lady of Pilar]. InfoGoya (in Spanish). Retrieved 5 September 2012.
  21. "Basílica de Guadalupe | Santuario". Virgen de Guadalupe. Archived from the original on 4 September 2012. Retrieved 5 September 2012.
  22. "Art & Architecture: Facts and Figures". De Kathedraal. Retrieved 29 May 2015.
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  27. "Basilica of Our Lady of Peace Yamoussoukro". Emporis: Buildings. Retrieved 5 September 2012.
  28. 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.
  29. "The Cathedral's dimensions". Dierk's page. 7 January 2015. Archived from the original on 30 May 2015. Retrieved 29 May 2015.
  30. Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "Basilica of St. Peter" . Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.
  31. "Architectural History". Washington National Cathedral. Archived from the original on 16 January 2015. Retrieved 29 May 2015.
  32. "Amiens Cathedral". International Database and Gallery of Structures. Nicholas Janberg. Retrieved 19 April 2019.
  33. "Basilica e Abbazia di Santa Giustina" [Basilica and Abbey of Santa Giustina]. D Padova (in Italian).
  34. "Biggest Cathedral in the Middle East to be Inaugurated in New Administrative Capital". Egyptianstreets.com. 4 January 2019.
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  36. "Architectural Details of the Basilica" (PDF). National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. Retrieved 27 February 2020.
  37. "About Calvary Temple – Biggest church in India". Calvary Temple.
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  48. Pugmire, Genelle. "BYU 48-ward conference center ready for fall". Daily Herald. Herald Communications.
  49. Taylor, Scott (13 April 2011). "New LDS Church facility in Provo to house 48 wards, 4 stakes". DeseretNews.com.
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  55. Basilica de San Martin de Tours (Taal)
  56. "Facts & Figures". Ely Cathedral. Retrieved 29 May 2015.
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  59. Official cadastre, parcel 18919/2 Church of Saint Sava
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  62. "I love early morning Sofia". Hitotoki. 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
  63. 15 Century Bulgaria Foundation Archived 25 April 2018 at the Wayback Machine (15 века БЪЛГАРИЯ) website, article with title Patriarchal cathedral stauropigial memorial church St. Alexander Nevsky (pdf)
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  67. "Welcome to Medak Diocese | Church of South India". Medak Diocese. Retrieved 5 September 2012.
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