Largest Church in the World, List of Top-10

For centuries, churches have served as powerful symbols of faith, architectural marvels and expressions of human accomplishment. As time has passed, these sacred structures have evolved in both size and magnificence, often emerging as iconic focal points in numerous cities across the globe. In this article, we will embark on a journey to unveil the largest church in the world, each with its own distinctive narrative, architectural design and profound cultural importance.

List of Top-10 Largest Churches in the World

St. Peter’s Basilica holds the title of largest church in the world which is located within Vatican City with the height of 137 meters (450) feet and a dome of diameter 41 meters (136 feet).

Here is the list of top-10 largest churches in the world:

S. No.	Church	Built in	City	Country
1.	St. Peter’s Basilica	1506-1626	Vatican City	Vatican City
2.	Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady Aparecida	1955-1980	Aparecida	Brazil
3.	Milan Cathedral	1386-1965	Milan	Italy
4.	Seville Cathedral	1401-1528	Seville	Spain
5.	Mosque- Cathedral of Cordoba	785-1607	Cordoba	Spain
6.	Cathedral of St. John the Divine	1892	New York City	United States
7.	Basilica of our Lady of Lichen	1994-2004	Lichen Stary	Poland
8.	Liverpool Cathedral	1904-1978	Liverpool	United Kingdom
9.	Basilica of the Holy Trinity	2004-2007	Fatima	Portugal
10.	Basilica of  Saint Paul Outside the Walls	4th-5th century, rebuilt in 1825-1929	Rome	Italy

Largest Church in the World: St. Peter’s Basilica

Area: Interior- 15,160 sq. m; Exterior: 21,095

Volume: 1,600,000 cu. m

Capacity: 60,000 standing or 20,000 seated

Built: 1506-1626

City: Vatican City

Country: Vatican City

St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City holds the title of the largest church in the world, boasting an internal area of 15,160 sq. meters (163,181 sq. feet). This iconic Roman Catholic structure, constructed by Emperor Constantine in 320 AD and redesigned by Pope Nicholas V in the 15^th century, is a pivotal site for Catholicism and a major tourist attraction in Rome. With a capacity of 60,000 people, it spans 186 meters (610 feet) in length and features a dome that soars to 136 meters (446 feet). St. Peter’s Basilica houses numerous renowned works of art, including Bernini’s Baldacchino and Michelangelo’s Pieta.

Second Largest Church in the World: Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady Aparecida

Area: Interior- 12,000 sq. m; Exterior- 18,331 sq. m

Volume: 1,200,000 cu. m

Capacity: 45,000 standing or 30,000 seated

Built: 1955-1980

City: Aparecida

Country: Brazil

The Cathedral Basilica of the National Shrine of Our Lady Aparecida is a significant Roman Catholic basilica in Aparecida, Brazil, dedicated to Our Lady Aparecida, the primary Patroness of Brazil. It is the world’s second-largest Catholic church in terms of interior area, following St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican Church.

World’s Third Largest Church: Milan Cathedral

Area: 11,700 sq. m

Volume: 440,000 cu. m

Capacity: 40,000

Built: 1386-1965

City: Milan

Country: Italy

The Milan Cathedral, or Duomo di Milano, is the cathedral church of Milan, Italy, dedicated to the Nativity of St. Mary. Construction began in 1386 and concluded in 1965, taking nearly six centuries to complete. It is the largest church in Italy and one of the world’s largest church.

Seville Cathedral

Area: Interior- 11,700 sq. m, Exterior- 23,500 sq. m

Volume: 500,000+ cu. m

Built:1401-1528

City: Seville

Country: Spain

Seville Cathedral, also known as the Cathedral of Saint Mary of the See, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Seville, Spain. It is one of the world’s largest churches and a remarkable example of architectural grandeur, accompanied by the Alcazar palace and the General Archive of the Indies.

Mosque- Cathedral of Cordoba

Area: 23,400 sq. m

Capacity: 20,000

Built: 785-1607

City: Cordoba

Country: Spain

The Mosque-Cathedral of Cordoba, officially named the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption, is a unique religious building in Andalusia, Spain. Often called the Mezquita or Great Mosque of Cordoba, it showcases a rich history as a former mosque and a Catholic cathedral.

Cathedral of St. John the Divine

Area: 11,241 sq. m

Volume: 480,000 cu. m

Built: 1892

City: New York

Country: United States

The Cathedral of St. John the Divine, often called St. John the Unfinished, serves as the Episcopal Diocese of the New York’s cathedral. It stands in Manhattan’s Morningside Heights, New York City.

Basilica of Our Lady of Lichen

Area: 10,090 sq. m

Volume: 300,000 cu. m

Built: 1994-2004

City: Lichen Stary

Country: Poland

The Basilica of Our Lady of Lichen, in Lichen Stary near Konin, Poland, is a significant Roman Catholic church. Designed by Barbara Bielecka and constructed from 1994 to 2004, it stands as one of the world’s tallest and largest churches, with a towering height of 141.5 meters. Funding primarily came from pilgrims’ donations.

Liverpool Cathedral

Area: 9,687

Volume: 450,000+ cu. m

Built: 1904-1978

City: Liverpool

Country: United Kingdom

Liverpool Cathedral, the Anglican Diocese of Liverpool’s seat, is situated on St. James’s Mount. Also known as the Cathedral Church of Christ in Liverpool or the Cathedral Church of the Risen Christ, it is the largest cathedral and religious structure in Britain and the eighth largest church in the world.

Basilica of the Holy Trinity

Area: 8,700 sq. m

Volume: 130,000 cu. m

Built: 2004-2007

City: Fatima

Country: Portugal

The Basilica of the Holy Trinity is a Catholic church in the Sanctuary of Fatima, Portugal, dedicated to Our Lady of Fatima. Notably, it received the 2009 Outstanding Structure Award from the International Association for Bridge and Structural Engineering for its remarkable and innovative design.

Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls

Area: 8,318 sq. m

Built: 1681-1872

City: Zaragoza

Country: Spain

The Cathedral- Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls in Zaragoza, Spain, is a Roman Catholic church dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary under the title of Our Lady of the Pillar. It holds historical significance as the first church dedicated to Mary and is associated with the spread of Christianity in Roman Spain. Local tradition attributes it to an apparition to Saint James the Great.

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