The Largest Churches in the World

A church refers to a public building or a designated place that is set aside for people to worship, pray, and learn. Churches are usually built for the purpose of Christian worship. A Christian is anyone who follows the teachings of Jesus Christ and can include Catholics, Orthodox Christians, Protestants, and more. The largest church in the world is St. Peter Basilica, followed by the Basilica of the National Shrine of Our Lady of Aparecida and the Seville Cathedral.

St. Peter's Basilica

St. Peter's Basilica is the world's biggest church. It is found in Vatican City, Italy. This church was built in the fourth century AD. Its total area is 15,160 square meters. It has been called ‘’the greatest church in Christendom’’. According to Catholic tradition, Saint Peter, one of the disciples of Jesus, was killed and buried beneath the Basilica. However, even though officials were able to find bones below the altar, no one knows if the bones belonged to Peter or not. Several popes have also been buried beneath the Basilica. In the 15th century, the church started wearing out and a plan to rebuild it was started. The church was demolished and then newly built by Pope Nicholas V. The construction took the reigns of 21 popes and eight architects.

Basilica of the National Shrine of Our Lady of Aparecida

The Basilica of the National Shrine of Our Lady of Aparecida is found in Aparecida, Brazil. Our Lady of Aparecida, as it is called in Brazil, is a very important Altar to the Catholics of Brazil and beyond. The construction of the church was started in year 1994. It took ten years for the church to be completed. Its total area is 12,000 square meters. The church has 365 windows, 52 doors, and 12 pillars which signifies the number of days in a year, weeks in a year, and the12 disciples.

Seville Cathedral

The Seville Cathedral is the largest church in Europe and the third largest church in the world. Located in Seville, Spain, it covers 11,520 square meters of land. Its construction was first approved back in the 15th century. This church is world-famous for its unique architecture. For instance, the church has fifteen doors on its facades, each showing an exceptional carving. Inside, the church is decorated with gold. Seville Cathedral is the resting place of the famous Genoese pioneer Christopher Columbus.

Milan Cathedral

The Milan Cathedral is the fourth largest Christian church in the world. It is found in Milan, Italy. The Milan Cathedral was constructed more than 600 years ago. The church has a spire that measures 108.8 meters, while the area of the church is 11,700 square meters. Thousands of workers worked on the construction of the Milan Cathedral over an estimated period of over six centuries. The church is decorated with 34,000 statues.