List of megachurches in the United States
This article's factual accuracy may be compromised due to out-of-date information. (August 2019) |
This is a list of the largest megachurches in the United States with an attendance of more than 10,000 weekly, sometimes also termed a gigachurch.[1][2] According to The Hartford Institute's database, approximately 50 churches had attendance ranging from 10,000 to 47,000 in 2010.[3] The same source also lists more than 1,300 such Protestant and Evangelical churches in the United States with a weekly attendance of more than 2,000, meeting the definition of a megachurch.[4]
As the term megachurch in common parlance refers to Protestant congregations; although there are some Catholic parishes which would meet the criteria, they are not listed.[5] St Ann's in Coppell, Texas, would be near the top, with almost 30,000 registered parishioners in 2013.[6] St Matthew's Catholic Church in the Ballantyne neighborhood of Charlotte, North Carolina likewise has been described as a Catholic megachurch[7] with nearly 36,000 registered members in 2017 and 11 weekly masses.[8] Weekly attendance figures may be lower than the number of registered parishioners, and the differences in the way the churches operate and the way attendance is counted are given as reasons for not including Catholic churches in lists of megachurches.[3]
Membership numbers of the following churches give only a very rough indication of size. They vary from year to year. Also, some churches report typical Sunday attendance while others report the number who are listed in church records or make financial contributions, which may be higher. Some of the larger churches are multi-site churches. Many churches deliver their message through television or other media, sometimes reaching much higher numbers than those who physically attend the church.
List
[edit]Note that the attendance numbers are often provided by the church itself.
See also
[edit]- List of the largest evangelical megachurches
- List of the largest evangelical church auditoriums
- List of largest church buildings in the world
Notes
[edit]- ^ The "City" column indicates where each listed church has its main location.
- ^ Numbers are rounded to the nearest hundred.
- ^ Prestonwood also operates two Spanish congregations, one at its main campus in Plano and the other in Lewisville under a facility arrangement with an existing Southern Baptist congregation which has no other ties to them.
- ^ Although Southeast Christian has a Louisville mailing address, its main worship complex is within the city limits of Middletown. The governments of Louisville and surrounding Jefferson County merged in 2003, but Middletown and the 82 other cities (apart from Louisville) in Jefferson County retained separate city limits and some governmental powers.
- ^ Although Southland Christian is historically associated with Lexington, it moved to an unincorporated area of Jessamine County, about a half-mile (800 m) from the Lexington boundary, in 1981. The church long maintained a Lexington mailing address, but now has a Nicholasville mailing address. Southland opened a new satellite campus in Lexington in 2013.
- ^ Village previously operated three additional campuses, in Denton, Dallas, and Plano, but those congregations are now independent; Village plans to spin off its two campuses in Fort Worth and Southlake in the future.
References
[edit]- ^ Alicia Budich, cbsnews.com, From Megachurch to "Gigachurch", USA, April 6, 2012
- ^ Ed Stetzer, Newspaper christianitytoday.com, Megachurch Research - Terminology, USA, October 9, 2008
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an "Hartford Institute for Religion Research, database of Megachurches". Hirr.hartsem.edu. Retrieved February 6, 2010.
- ^ Bryan S. Turner, The New Blackwell Companion to the Sociology of Religion, John Wiley & Sons, USA, 2010, p. 251
- ^ "The Definition of a Megachurch". Hartford Institute for Religion Research. Archived from the original on May 14, 2016. Retrieved July 17, 2013.
- ^ "Welcome to St. Ann Catholic Parish". Retrieved July 17, 2013.
- ^ Boll, Jamie (September 22, 2015). "Inside Charlotte's St. Matthew, the largest Catholic Parish in the U.S." wbtv.com.
- ^ Martin, Edward (March 1, 2020). "Churches face waning influence in state". Business North Carolina.
- ^ "CCV Annual Report | Christ's Church of the Valley | CCV". ccv.church. Retrieved July 16, 2024.
- ^ "About Us". Christian Cultural Center. Retrieved February 14, 2022.
- ^ "Bay Area Fellowship - Campuses". Retrieved January 22, 2014.
- ^ "WE ARE CBC". www.communitybible.com. October 3, 2020.
- ^ "Pastors | Community Bible Church". www.communitybible.com. Retrieved January 14, 2016.
- ^ "Community Bible Church". www.communitybible.com.
- ^ "Outreach 100 Largest Churches 2015 - OutreachMagazine.com OutreachMagazine.com". www.outreachmagazine.com.
- ^ "Dream City Church". Retrieved June 3, 2018.
- ^ "2022-2023 Annual Report". Eagle Brook Church.
- ^ a b "Quick Facts". Elevation Church. Archived from the original on February 14, 2022. Retrieved February 14, 2022.
- ^ Blair, Leonardo; Reporter, Senior (November 21, 2018). "Jamal Bryant says God told him to leave Empowerment Temple; church shocked". The Christian Post. Retrieved January 28, 2024.
- ^ "Jentezen Franklin: 'We're unplugging everything. We're going back to the raw gospel.'". March 18, 2020.
- ^ "Inspiring People to Live for Jesus | Free Chapel". Inspiring People to Live for Jesus | Free Chapel.
- ^ "Outreach 100". Outreach. Retrieved June 19, 2024.
- ^ Stout, Cathryn (October 16, 2007). "Germantown Baptist eyes new pastor". Retrieved August 3, 2010.
- ^ "Greater Allen A. M. E. Cathedral of New York". Retrieved August 3, 2010.
- ^ Blair, Leonardo; Reporter, Senior Features (December 1, 2020). "Dallas megachurch surprises seniors with rent help, commits to giving $100K at Thanksgiving service". The Christian Post. Retrieved August 6, 2023.
- ^ "IBOC Inspiring Body of Christ Church New Here Our History". www.ibocchurch.org. Retrieved August 6, 2023.
- ^ "Kensington Church - Times & Locations". Archived from the original on March 12, 2017. Retrieved March 10, 2017.
- ^ "Embrace Conference". King's Central.
- ^ Cochran, Amanda (December 3, 2021). "Lakewood Church: The Houston megachurch by the numbers". KPRC. Retrieved February 14, 2022.
- ^ "Outreach 100: Life.Church". outreach100.com. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
- ^ Shelia M. Poole, New Birth names Jamal Bryant as new senior pastor, ajc.com, USA, November 19, 2018
- ^ "Outreach 100: New Life Church". outreach100.com. Retrieved February 14, 2022.
- ^ "Outreach 100: New Life Church". outreach100.com. Retrieved December 6, 2023.
- ^ "NewSpring Church Annual Report" (PDF). Retrieved February 14, 2022.
- ^ Davis, Angelia L. "NewSpring Church praised by members for its revival of in-person services". The Greenville News. Retrieved February 14, 2022.
- ^ "2012 Outreach 100 Largest and Fastest-Growing Churches in America" (PDF). Retrieved May 13, 2013.[permanent dead link]
- ^ a b "North Point Ministries". North Point Ministries. Retrieved November 9, 2023.
- ^ "Pinelake Church History". Archived from the original on August 15, 2013. Retrieved July 25, 2013.
- ^ "Outreach 100: 2020 Largest Churches in America". outreach100.com. Retrieved January 18, 2023.
- ^ "Potential Church". Retrieved May 1, 2014.
- ^ "Jubilee Christian Center". Archived from the original on October 11, 2015. Retrieved March 28, 2014.
- ^ "Welcome". Relentless Church.
- ^ "River Church". Retrieved October 11, 2012.
- ^ "Home". The Rock Church.
- ^ "Outreach 100: The Rock Church". outreach100.com. Retrieved September 22, 2022.
- ^ Abrahamsen, Elizabeth (November 17, 2017). "10 Largest Megachurches in Texas". Wide Open Country.
- ^ "Sagebrush Church". www.sagebrush.church.
- ^ Nathanson, Rick; Porter, Gabrielle; Jackson, Anthony (May 16, 2020). "Churches moving slowly to reopen in-person services". Albuquerque Journal. Clippings of the first page and second page via Newspapers.com. Retrieved December 7, 2023.
- ^ "largest Korean churches in North America". Retrieved July 17, 2013.
- ^ "History, Pastors, and Story". Seacoast Church. Retrieved June 7, 2023.
- ^ "Top 100 Largest Churches in America - SermonCentral.com". www.sermoncentral.com.
- ^ "Year at a Glance: An Analysis of Growth". The Southeast Outlook. Middletown, KY: Southeast Christian Church. February 7, 2019. p. 11. Retrieved April 14, 2019. This number reflects the average weekend attendance at all campuses for 2018.
- ^ "Substance Church". Substance Church. Retrieved January 11, 2022.
- ^ "Triumph Church, Detroit Michigan". Retrieved August 3, 2010.
- ^ "Victory World Church in Norcross celebrates anniversary". February 19, 2010. Retrieved August 3, 2010.
- ^ "Victory World Church". Archived from the original on May 3, 2012. Retrieved May 2, 2012.
- ^ "About | West Angeles COGIC". West Angeles. Retrieved February 14, 2022.
- ^ Perry, Abby (February 13, 2020). "Willow Creek and Harvest Struggle to Move On". ChristianityToday.com. Retrieved February 14, 2022.
- ^ "Woodside Bible Church - Warren Campus". Retrieved February 15, 2013.
- ^ "10 largest churches in Nashville area". The Tennessean. Retrieved March 11, 2019.