Christianity is the most followed religion around the world with many different sects. Throughout its history, churches have stood as the main symbol of faith, architectural prowess, and human devotion. These magnificent structures not only serve as places of worship but also as reminders of the creativity and dedication of previous generations. Here, we look at the top ten largest churches in the world, each with its own history, design, and spiritual significance, based on their capacity to hold worshipers:
Largest Churches In The World
1. St. Peter’s Basilica, Vatican City (Interior Area: 15,160 m2 (163,181 ft2)
St. Peter’s Basilica, also known as the Papal Basilica of St. Peter, is the world’s largest church by land area, with an internal size of 15160 square meters and a length of 186 meters. The dome of St. Peter’s Basilica is also one of the largest in the world, measuring 42 meters in circumference and reaching up to 132.5 meters in height. The building began in the 320s with an order from Constantine the Great; however, the current basilica, which replaced the ancient one, began in the 4th century on 18 April 1506 and was completed on 18 November 1626. St. Peter’s, one of the world’s greatest churches, was primarily designed by Donato Bramante, Michelangelo, Carlo Maderno, and Gian Lorenzo Bernini and is the most recognized work of Renaissance architecture.
Image Source: Wikipedia
2. Basilica of the National Shrine of Our Lady of Aparecida, Aparecida, Brazil (Interior Area: 12,000 m2 (129,167 ft2)
The Cathedral Basilica of the National Shrine of Our Lady Aparecida has been consecrated to Our Lady of Aparecida as Brazil’s primary patroness. This huge church is greater than St. Peter’s Basilica in several ways. Although its interior area (7,989 m2) and guest capacity (18,000) are less, its outside area of 30,000 m2 is significantly larger (albeit it contains a rectory and other structures that are arguably not part of the church). Yamoussoukro Basilica’s dome is likewise larger and taller than St. Peter’s.
Image Source: Wikimedia
3. Milan Cathedral, Milan, Italy (Interior Area: 11,700 m2 (125,938 ft2)
Milan Cathedral, also known as Duomo di Milano, is an Italian cathedral church. The church is dedicated to St. Mary of the Nativity and serves as the residence of the Archbishop of Milan. The second-largest church in Italy is also the world’s third-largest catholic church. It is said that the building took six centuries and that several architects worked on the Duomo. It is believed that the last details of construction were completed in the twentieth century, with the last gate inaugurated on January 6, 1965. The Church was mostly constructed with sculpted figures and towers.
Also Read: Top 10 Biggest States In The USA In Terms Of Total Area
Image Source: Wikimedia
4. Seville Cathedral, Seville, Spain (11,500 m2 (123,785 ft2)
Seville Cathedral is one of the most well-known Catholic cathedrals that was built between the years 1401 and 1506 in Spain. After its completion, Seville Cathedral surpassed Hagia Sophia as the world’s largest cathedral. It has a massive area of 11,520 square meters, making it one of the world’s largest churches. The world’s largest Gothic church was built as a tower between 1184 and 1198 during the Moorish period, and a Renaissance-style top was later added by Spanish conquistadors in the 16th century. The interior of the cathedral is particularly famous for having the longest nave of any cathedral in Spain.
Image Source: Paul
5. Cathedral of Saint John the Divine, New York City, USA (11,241 m2 (120,997 ft2)
The Cathedral of San Juan el Divino, located in New York City, popularly known as San Juan el Interminable since it is currently under construction, is one of the largest churches in the world with a capacity of 10,000 people. Despite this, it is the world’s largest Anglican church, dedicated to St. John the Evangelist. The cathedral’s grand architecture is a blend of various styles, including Neo-Romanesque and Neo-Gothic architecture and Byzantine. The construction of the cathedral began in 1892 but was halted twice due to warlike conflicts caused by the World Wars. On the other hand, the infrastructure is not yet complete and is constantly being modified.
Also Read: 15 Most Popular African Tribes
Image Source: Wikimedia
6. Basilica of Our Lady of Lichen, Lichen Stary, Poland (10,090 m2 (108,608 ft2)
The Basilica of Our Lady of Lichen is a Roman Catholic church in Poland’s Shrine of Our Lady of Sorrows, Queen of Poland. The church was designed by Barbara Bielecka and constructed between 1994 and 2004. The church’s tower is roughly 141.5 meters tall, making it one of the world’s tallest and largest churches. The largest church in Poland is dedicated to Our Lady of Sorrows and is hence one of Poland’s most popular pilgrimage attractions. In 1999, Pope John Paul II visited the church, and in 2007, parts of the Polish museum in Fawley Court were moved to the shrine by the Marian Fathers.
Image Source: Wikimedia
7. Liverpool Cathedral, Liverpool, UK (9,687 m2 (104,270 ft2)
Liverpool Cathedral, located on St James’s Mount in Liverpool, is the largest ecclesiastical structure in the United Kingdom. The church was constructed between 1904 and 1978 based on the design by Giles Gilbert Scott, showcasing an imposing neo-Gothic architecture. It serves as the seat of the Bishop of Liverpool and is commonly known as the Cathedral Church of Christ in Liverpool, as stated in the Document of Consecration.
The same is stated in the Consecration Document. The cathedral church was dedicated to Christ “in special commemoration of his most glorious Resurrection.” This towering neo-Gothic structure was constructed in the twentieth century. The cathedral was built to commemorate the glorious resurrection of Jesus Christ and has remained undamaged despite being subject to attacks and conflicts during the First and Second World Wars.
Also Read: 14 Types Of Buddhism Symbols With Meanings
Image Source: Wikimedia
8. Basilica of the Holy Trinity, Portugal (8,700 m2 (93,646 ft2)
The Basilica of the Holy Trinity is one of the largest churches in the world situated in Portugal. The monument received the Outstanding Structure Award from the International Association for Bridge and Structural Engineering in the year 2009. The church was inaugurated in 2007 but had been planned since 1973. It is also known as the “white of the sea” since it is a round, white building and the color of the stone that covers it. The diameter of the building is 125 m and has a volume of 130,000 m3 and 8,633 seats and can be divided into two areas by a moving partition.
Image Source: Wikimedia
9. Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Wall, Rome, Italy (8,515 m2 (91,655 ft2)
The Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls, also known as the Papal Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls and colloquially as Saint Paul’s Outside the Walls, is one of Rome’s four important basilicas, along with St. John in the Lateran, St. Peter’s, and St. Mary Major. The Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls covers an area of 5,000 square meters and has a length of 131 meters. The basilica was built on Saint Paul’s burial site by Roman Emperor Constantine I, and the first basilica was dedicated by Pope Sylvester in 324. In 2012, James Michael Harvey was appointed as the Archpriest of the Basilica. In 2012, James Michael Harvey was appointed Archpriest of the Basilica.
Also Read: Top 10 Most Famous Walls In The World
Image Source: Wikimedia
10. Basilica Cathedral of Our Lady of the Pillar (8,318 m2 (89,534 ft2)
The Basilica-Cathedral of Our Lady of the Pillar is a Roman Catholic cathedral in Zaragoza, Aragon. According to the website, this is the first church dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary, who is known as Our Lady of the Pillar. The church is among the largest in the world, covering an area of 8,318 square meters, and is recognized as one of the 12 Treasures of Spain. In terms of architecture, the Church includes four large towers and eleven vaults. The statue of the Virgin Mary stands 15 inches tall and is located in the Church’s hallowed prayer chapel. It is one of the largest churches in the world.
Image Source: Wikimedia
These are the largest churches in the world. Kindly share and post your comments.
