The Church is a place where Christians gather in public to worship. Additionally, it can refer to the assembly of Christians. It’s interesting to note that, to yet, none of the churches making this claim have received official confirmation from any credible source, despite their claims to be the largest in the world.
However, as we conducted our research, we found that other metrics, including area, volume, and capacity, might be used to determine the largest churches in the world. Therefore, it is nearly hard for any organization to determine what the largest church in the world is.
However, we developed our list of the largest churches in the world based on their seating capacity in order to give the public correct information and avoid adding to the already existing uncertainty.
It is crucial to remember that the estimations are based on the number of people who can sit in a single service and that the list only includes enclosed church auditoriums.
These Are The Top 10 Biggest Churches In The World 2024
10. United Family International Church Chitungwiza
According to reports, the recently finished auditorium of the United Family International Church in Chitungwiza Zimbwawe can accommodate exactly 30,000 people, ranking it eighth among the largest churches in the world. Church work started in 2011, was put on hold in 2013, picked back up in 2015, and the auditorium was finally opened in 2022.
United Family International Church is a church network and nondenominational megachurch. The company has branches in Botswana, South Africa, the United Kingdom, Australia, and Zambia in addition to its headquarters in Harare, Zimbabwe. The church is led by Emmanuel Makandiwa, who initiated it with a prayer session at the Anglican Cathedral in Harare on August 17, 2008.
9. Graha Bethany Nginden
Graha Bethany Nginden
One of the largest churches in the world, Graha Bethany Nginden, also called the Bethany Church of God, is an evangelical megachurch located in Indonesia.
The 20,000-seat temple was converted to a 35,000-seat facility in 2000. However, in 2009, it underwent renovations and was expanded to accommodate 35,000 people.
Pastor Abraham Alex Tanuseputra established the church in 1977. Abraham Alex Tanuseputra, who succeeded his father in 2012, is the current leader of the congregation.
The church sees 140,000 people a week on average as of 2020.
8. International Gospel Centre
Another Nigerian cathedral that makes the list is the International Gospel Center. Built in 2000 and with 35,000 seats, the church was regarded as one of the largest in the world in 2021.
The Word of Life Bible Church’s headquarters are at an auditorium in Delta State, Nigeria.
Established in 1987, Word of Life Bible Church is a Pentecostal Christian megachurch led by Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor. With churches in more than 70 places globally, the church is growing rapidly.
7. Milan Cathedral
The cathedral church of Milan, Lombardy, Italy is called the Metropolitan Cathedral-Basilica of the Nativity of Saint Mary. It is the residence of the Archbishop of Milan, Mario Delpini, and is devoted to the Nativity of St. Mary (Santa Maria Nascente).
From the start of construction in 1386 until the completion of the last touches in 1965, the cathedral took approximately six centuries to complete. Thanks to its 40,000 seats, it is the biggest church in the Italian Republic and among the largest in the world.
6. Faith Tabernacle (Winners)
One of the largest churches in the world, Faith Tabernacle serves as the current home of Living Faith Church Worldwide.
Overseeing Bishop David Oyedepo, the 50,000-seat church was dedicated in 1999 and is situated in the Ota area of Lagos. The massive edifice reportedly took a whole year to complete.
Established in 1981, the Living Faith Church Worldwide, also referred to as Winners Chapel, is an Evangelical Charismatic Christian denomination.
With thousands of branches spread throughout more than 65 nations, the church has expanded to become a megachurch. A story published in the Guardian claims that Winners Chapel has more than six million members in 147 different countries.
5. Temple of the Glory of God
Brazil’s God is Love Pentecostal Church (IPDA), a Pentecostal Christian denomination, is headquartered in the Temple of the Glory of God. Once it was put into service in 2004, the 60,000-seat auditorium is regarded as one of the largest churches in the world.
God is Love. With thousands of members and 8,140 branches spread over more than 30 countries, Pentecostal Church is a mega-church. The church operates under a strict Christian philosophy and keeps itself apart from the outside world. Its Members are not allowed to play soccer or watch television. Beards are forbidden for men, and jewelry and makeup are forbidden for women.
4. Champions Royal Assembly
The Champions Royal Assembly is an auditorium with 80,000 seats that is situated in Abuja, Nigeria. After the Abuja auditorium was put into service in 2015, the church led by Pastor Joshua Iginla is regarded as one of the largest churches in the world based on capacity.
Thousands of people from all around the world are members of the Prophetic and Deliverance Ministry called Champions Royal Assembly. Joshua Iginla, the founding pastor, was a prophet who declared that his mission was to preach the word of God, heal the ill, free the oppressed, and shatter the chains of evil.
3. Glory Dome (Dunamis)
With 100,000 seats, the Glory Dome is the second-biggest church in the world and home to the Dunamis International Gospel Center. Located in Abuja, Nigeria, the auditorium overseen by Pastor Paul Eneche was put into service in 2018.
In Jos, Nigeria, the Dunamis International Gospel Center was founded in May 1996. The church currently boasts a global network of congregations spread across more than 20 states in Nigeria as well as other nations including the United Kingdom, with hundreds of thousands of followers worldwide.
2. The Ark (Winners)
Living Faith Church built the megachurch auditorium known as The Ark. Based on seating capacity, its 100,000 seats putting it in second place among the world’s largest churches.
The church, which is still under construction, will house Bishop David Oyedepo’s Living Faith Church Worldwide’s main office.
The Ark is reportedly located on 1,000 hectares of land at the site of the former Faith Academy complex inside the existing church building. It also includes a 24-story mission tower, or the International Headquarters Facility, which is made up of two twin buildings, each with 12 stories.
1. Hand of God Cathedral
According to the number of seats, the Hand of God Cathedral of Salvation Ministries is the largest church in the world. The auditorium, which can accommodate 120,000 people, is situated in Port-Harcourt, Nigeria.
The Pentecostal church led by Pastor David Ibiyeomie, Salvation Ministries, will have its headquarters at the church that is still under construction.
Despite having just 34 members when it was founded in 1997, Salvation Ministries has expanded to become one of the largest churches globally, with more than 20,000 home cell centers and 1,000 satellite churches spread throughout various regions.
