Churches have always been places where people go to show their faith in God. For this reason, some churches are among the largest structures built in history. Churches are also the most beautiful and ornate works of art and architecture in the world.
The major churches on this list are mostly Roman Catholics of the past. However, not all churches are still under Catholic rule. For example, Hagia Sophia is now a museum. For the purpose of this list, we have not included churches that serve as cathedrals.
10. Hagia Sophia
Hagia Sophia is the only church on this list that is no longer active. Instead, Hagia Sophia has been open since 1935 as a public museum and is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. Hagia Sophia has an area of 7,960 square meters.
Although Hagia Sophia no longer serves religious purposes, it has a long history as a religious centre. This is the largest church built by the Eastern Roman Empire and remained the largest operational church in the world for several centuries. Columns taken from the destroyed Temple of Artemis in Ephesus, one of the seven ancient wonders of the world, were used to build the interior of Hagia Sophia.
9. Basilica of the Lady of Peace
The Basilica of the Lady of Peace in Yamoussoukro, Ivory Coast, with an exterior area of 30,000 square meters, is the church with the largest exterior area in the world. However, it is not typically considered the largest church, as its interior space is less than 8,000 square feet (7,989 square metres), the Basilica of the Lady of Peace is St. Peter's Basilica.
While the basilica is an impressive Catholic monument, its splendor has always been a point of contention in Ivory Coast. The basilica cost $300 million to build, but this opulent building is located in the center of a poor city. The cost of the Lady of Peace Basilica has doubled Ivory Coast's debt. The Basilica of the Lady of Peace was built from marble imported from Italy. It also has 7,000 square meters of stained glass windows brought from France.
8. Basilica of the Sacred Heart
The Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Koekelberg, Belgium, has an area of 8,000 square meters. Unlike other large Catholic churches that are often built in the Gothic style, the Basilica of the Sacred Heart is an Art Deco monument. The architect of the Basilica was Albert Van Huffel, who died before the Basilica of the Sacred Heart was completed.
If you wish , you can also take a look at our list of the World's Largest Mosques .
Like all major churches, the Basilica of the Sacred Heart is home to wonderful works of art, including sculptures by two famous artists, George Minne and Harry Elstrøm. The basilica also features stained glass windows designed by Belgium's top stained glass artists in the mid-20th century. The Basilica of the Sacred Heart has two religious art museums.7. Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe
The Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe is the largest church in Mexico with an area of 8,167 square meters. The site of the Basilica is sacred, and according to tradition, the Virgin Mary appeared before Saint Juan Diego Cuauhtlatoatzin, an Aztec Roman Catholic, in 1531 and told him to build a church for
The Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe was built in the 16th century and was used for several centuries before it became dangerous to use further when it began to fall into disrepair. The new Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe was built in the 1970s and now serves as the main church. The old Basilica has been repaired and is now open to the public. The Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe is considered one of the most important Catholic shrines in the world, as it houses an original miraculous vestment with the image of the Virgin Mary.
6. Ulm Minster
Ulm Minster may not be the largest church at around 8,260 square metres , but it is the tallest church in the world. The bell tower of Ulm Minster rises 161.5 meters above the city of Ulm in Germany. For a time Ulm Minster was the tallest structure in the world. Today, Ulm Minster is a Lutheran church, but when it was built in 1376 it was a Roman Catholic church. Construction of Ulm Minster was not completed from 1530 to 1890. The organ inside Ulm Minster was once the largest in the world and was also played by Amadeus Mozart.
5. St. Paul's Basilica Outside the Walls
The Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls is one of the oldest basilicas in Rome. The grounds of the basilica were first consecrated in the 4th century, and the first basilica in the region was built by Emperor Constantine. This first basilica was also consecrated by Pope Sylvester in 324.
Currently, St. Paul's Basilica Outside the Walls has an area of 8,515 square meters. Also on the site of the complex is an ancient Benedictine Abbey, which was restored in 936 by Odon of Cluny. Surprisingly, this Monastery is still active today. Paul's Basilica Outside the Walls is reportedly home to portraits that predict the end of the world or the future.
4. Most Holy Trinity Basilica
The Basilica of the Most Holy Trinity is a brand new large church in the Sanctuary of Our Lady in Portugal. It is the largest church in Portugal and has an area of 8,700 square meters. The Basilica of the Most Holy Trinity is large enough to hold 9,000 people and there are also four other chapels on the property. A new church was needed in the area, as the Temple of Fátima located here is visited by millions of people each year and the previous church received only a few hundred. The Most Holy Trinity Basilica was built between 2004 and 2007 and has a modern architectural look. The Temple of Fátima has been an important Catholic pilgrimage site since 1917, where the Blessed Virgin Mary appears several times.
3. Basilica of Our Lady of Licheń
The Basilica of Our Lady of Licheń is the largest church in Poland with an area of 10,090 square meters. This place is located in the Shrine of Our Lady of Suffering in Licheń Stary. The Basilica of Our Lady of Licheń is considered the most important pilgrimage site in Poland. The basilica began in 1994, replacing the old church where the Miraculous Image was displayed. Ten years later, on 12 June 2004, the Basilica of Our Lady of Licheń was consecrated. The bell tower of the Basilica of Our Lady of Licheń is 63 meters high and houses the largest bell in Poland.
2. Basilica of the National Shrine of Our Lady of Aparecida
The Basilica of the National Shrine of Our Lady of Aparecida, with an area of 12,000 square meters, is the largest church in Brazil. The Basilica of the National Shrine of Our Lady of Aparecida is an important shrine to the people of Brazil and has been dedicated to the Virgin Mary, the country's patron saint since 1930.
The Basilica of the National Shrine of Our Lady of Aparecida, the second largest church in the world, is reportedly able to accommodate 45,000 people. Since the basilica is such a significant place, millions of pilgrims visit it every year to honor the Virgin Mary. Various Popes have visited the Basilica of the National Shrine of Our Lady of Aparecida, including Pope John Paul II, Pope Benedict XVI, and Pope Francis. The area surrounding it includes a shopping mall, medical clinic and restaurants.
1. St. Peter's Basilica
St. Peter's Basilica is the largest church in the world and perhaps the best known church. The Basilica is located in the heart of the Vatican and has an interior area of 15,160 square meters and an exterior area of 21,095 square meters. St. Peter's Basilica is large enough for 20,000 people to pray at the same time.
While St. Peter's Basilica is the most impressive Catholic church, it is not actually the main church of the Catholic Church or the cathedral of the Diocese of Rome. However, it is considered one of the holiest places in the Catholic religion. St. Peter's Basilica is a place of pilgrimage for most Catholics, with tens of thousands of people flocking to it each year. None of the paintings and frescoes adorning the interior of St. Peter's Basilica are actually paintings. Each of these are actually mosaics made up of thousands of tiny pieces of glass.