Top 10 Largest Churches In The World 2024

Milan Cathedral, Milan, Italy, 11,700 square metres
Milan Cathedral, Milan, Italy, 11,700 square metres

There are many largest churches in the world located all over the world. Churches are known for their religious activities and they used to receive a number of tourists per year. In simple words, A church is a holy place for Christianity and primarily used to worship Christianity. Here is a list of the largest churches in the world by land area,

Largest Churches In The World

1.St. Peter’s Basilica, Vatican City, 15160 square metres

St. Peter’s Basilica also known as the Papal Basilica of St. Peter is the largest church in the world by land area with an internal area of 15160 square meters and stretches over 186 meters in length. The construction has been started in the 320s with an order of Constantine the Great, Howvever, the construction of the present basilica that replaced the old one has been started in the 4th century on 18 April 1506 and was completed on 18 November 1626. One of the largest churches in the world has been principally designed by Donato Bramante, Michelangelo, Carlo Maderno and Gian Lorenzo Bernini, St. Peter’s is the most renowned work of Renaissance architecture. The dome of St. Peter’s Basilica is also one of the world’s largest measuring 42 meters in diameter and can reach upto 132.5 meters high.

St. Peter's Basilica
St. Peter’s Basilica

Image Source: Wikimedia

2.Basilica of the National Shrine of Our Lady of Aparecida, Aparecida, Brazil, 12000 square metres

The Cathedral Basilica of the National Shrine of Our Lady Aparecida has been dedicated to Our Lady of Aparecida as the principal Patroness of Brazil. The Seville Cathedral is the largest cathedral in the world because St. Peter’s Basilica and the Basilica of the National Shrine of Our Lady of Aparecida is not the seats of bishops. The church is located in the city of Aperidica, Brazil and has the capacity of 45000 people at once. It is belived to have built between 1834 to 1888 and there are many recent developments made in the churches so far. The tower of the church stands at 102meters.

Basilica of the National Shrine of Our Lady of Aparecida, Aparecida, Brazil, 12000 square metres
Basilica of the National Shrine of Our Lady of Aparecida, Aparecida, Brazil, 12000 square metres

Image Source: Wikimedia

3.Milan Cathedral, Milan, Italy, 11,700 square metres

Milan Cathedral also known as Duomo di Milano is a cathedral church located in Italy. The church has been dedicated to St Mary of the Nativity and it is also the seat of the Archbishop of Milan. The second-largest church in Italy is also listed as the third-largest catholic church in the world. It is belived that the construction completed in a span of six centuries a d multiple architects worked at the Duomo. It is belived that the last details that construction has been completed is till 20th century and the last gate was inaugurated on January 6, 1965. The Church has been built primarily with sculpted statues and spires.

Milan Cathedral, Milan, Italy, 11,700 square metres
Milan Cathedral, Milan, Italy, 11,700 square metres

Image Source: Wikimedia

4.Seville Cathedral, Seville, Spain, 11,520 square metres

Seville Cathedral is one of the most famous Catholic cathedrals situated in Spain. The construction has been constructed over a span of 1401 to 1506. After the completion of Seville Cathedral, it has overtaken Hagia Sophia as the largest cathedral in the world.It covers a span of 11,520 square meters making it one of the largest churches in the world. The largest Gothic church in the world was originally built as a minaret between 1184 and 1198 during the Moorish period and later a Renaissance-style top has been added by Spanish conquistadors in the 16th century. The interior is known for the longest nave of any cathedral in Spain.

Seville Cathedral, Seville, Spain, 11,520 square metres
Seville Cathedral, Seville, Spain, 11,520 square metres

Image Source: Wikimedia

5.Cathedral of St. John the Divine, New York City, United States, 11,200 square metres

Cathedral of St. John the Divine officially known as the Cathedral Church of Saint John situated at 1047 Amsterdam Avenue between West 110th Street and 113th Street in New York City. The construction has been started by laying the cornerstone on December 27, 1892, St. John’s Day. Even the construction was in progress, the first service was held in 1899. The church has been originally designed in the Byzantine Revival-Romanesque Revival styles, however, the plan was changed after 1909 to a Gothic Revival design. The construction has been stopped during the world wars but later continued. The church nicknamed St. John the Unfinished.

Cathedral of St. John the Divine, New York City, United States, 11,200 square metres
Cathedral of St. John the Divine, New York City, United States, 11,200 square metres

Image Source: Wikimedia

6.Basilica of Our Lady of Lichen, Lichen Stary, Poland, 10,090 square metres

The Basilica of Our Lady of Lichen is a Roman Catholic church situated in the Shrine of Our Lady of Sorrows, Queen of Poland. The church was designed by Barbara Bielecka and construction has been completed in the span of 1994 to 2004. The tower of the church is approximately 141.5 meters in height making it one of the tallest and largest churches in the world. The largest church in Poland has been dedicated to our Lady of Sorrows and hence considered as one of the most popular pilgrimage sites in Poland. Pope John Paul II visited here in 1999 and in 2007 parts of the Polish museum in Fawley Court were translocated to the shrine by the Marian Fathers.

Basilica of Our Lady of Lichen, Lichen Stary, Poland, 10,090 square metres
Basilica of Our Lady of Lichen, Lichen Stary, Poland, 10,090 square metres

Image Source: Wikimedia

7.Liverpool Cathedral, Liverpool, United Kingdom,9,687 square metres

Liverpool Cathedral is the largest religious building in the United Kingdom that is built on St James’s Mount in Liverpool. The church is the seat of the Bishop of Liverpool and hence referred to as the Cathedral Church of Christ in Liverpool. The same has been recorded in the Document of Consecration. The cathedral church has been dedicated to Christ ‘in special remembrance of his most glorious Resurrection. The cathedral was based on the design of Giles Gilbert Scott and was constructed between 1904 and 1978.

Liverpool Cathedral, Liverpool, United Kingdom,9,687 square metres
Liverpool Cathedral, Liverpool, United Kingdom,9,687 square metres

Image Source: Wikimedia

8.Church of the Most Holy Trinity, Fatima, Portugal,8,700 square metres

Church of the Most Holy Trinity is the oldest wooden church in Newfoundland that was built in the year 1833. The tower has been added in 1880 and in the same year, it was opened to the public. The church has been constructed in a span of 8,700 square metres making it one of the largest churches in the world. The largest churches in the world by attendance can hold 9k devotees at an instance and it has been dedicated to Virgin Mary. The construction has been completed in a span of 2004 to 2007 and it was well designed by Mr Alexandros Tombazis.

Church of the Most Holy Trinity, Fatima,Portugal,8,700 square metres
Church of the Most Holy Trinity, Fatima,Portugal,8,700 square metres

Image Source: Wikimedia

9.Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls, Rome, Italy,8,515 square metres

The Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls also known as the Papal Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls and commonly known as Saint Paul’s Outside the Walls is one of the four major basilicas in Rome followed by Saint John in the Lateran, Saint Peter’s, and Saint Mary Major. The basilica was founded by the Roman Emperor Constantine I over the burial place of Saint Paul and the first basilica was consecrated by Pope Sylvester in 324. James Michael Harvey was named Archpriest of the basilica in 2012.

Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls, Rome, Italy,8,515 square metres
Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls, Rome, Italy,8,515 square metres

Image Source: Wikimedia

10.Basilica-Cathedral of Our Lady of the Pillar, Zaragoza, Spain, 8,318 square metres

The Basilica-Cathedral of Our Lady of the Pillar is a Roman Catholic church situated in the city of Zaragoza, Aragon. The church worships Blessed Virgin Mary, under her title Our Lady of the Pillar and according to the website, this is the first church dedicated to Mary. With a span of 8,318 square metres, it is also listed as one of the largest churches in the world and the building is also ne of the 12 Treasures of Spain. Talking about the premises, It has four great towers and eleven vaults in the Church. The statue of the Virgin Mary is 15 inches tall and situated in the sacred house of prayer of the Church.

Basilica-Cathedral of Our Lady of the Pillar, Zaragoza, Spain, 8,318 square metres

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