Top 10 Largest Catholic Churches in the USA: The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception is the Largest Catholic Church in the USA. Catholic churches are spiritual institutions that provide millions of believers with worship sessions, sacraments, and religious instruction across the nation. With a centuries-long history, Catholicism has played a major role in the development of American society and culture.

This article will inform you about the Top 10 Largest Catholic Churches in the USA and provide you with additional details on each one.

About Catholic Churches in the USA

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List of Top 10 Largest Catholic Churches in the USA

The following table lists the 10 Largest Catholic Churches in the USA:

Catholic Church	Height (in sq.ft.)
Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception	76,391
Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels	64,992
Sacred Heart Cathedral	44,993
Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis	44,455
Holy Name of Jesus Cathedral	41,118
Basilica of Sts. Peter & Paul	35,113
Christ Cathedral	32,615
St. Patrick’s Cathedral	26,910
Cathedral of St. Francis of Assisi	24,994
St. Joseph Cathedral	22,873

Largest Catholic Churches in USA

Here are the list of 10 largest catholic churches in the USA along with their features, and visiting tips:

1. Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception

• The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception is a minor Catholic Basilica and National Shrine of height 76,391 sq.ft. in Washington, D.C.
• The construction of its architecture began on 23 September 1920 by Bishop Thomas Joseph Shahan, the fourth rector of The Catholic University of America in Washington.
• The Priests of the Basilica are:
  • Walter R. Rossi – Rector
  • Vito A. Buonanno – Director of Pilgrimages
  • Ismael N. Ayala – Director of Liturgy
  • Raymond A. Lebrun – Spiritual Director
• The Basilica consists of 82 Marian chapels, numerous mosaic domes, and the shrine is like the medieval churches having thick masonry walls and columns.
• It has a capacity of 10,000 worshippers.

2. Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels

• It is also known as COLA or Los Angeles Cathedral.
• The Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels is the metropolitan Roman Catholic Cathedral Church of Los Angeles, California, United States. 
• It was opened in 2002 and serves as the mother church for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. The cathedral is named in honor of the Virgin Mary under the title of “Our Lady of the Angels” and the bishop is Juan Alfredo Arzube.
• It has a capacity of 3,000 worshippers.
• The cathedral grounds also include a mausoleum, children’s garden, conference center, and also the cafe, gift shops, & residences.

3. Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart

• It is the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Newark. Here, the Catholic mass is offered daily and 3 times on Sunday in English and Spanish. 
• It is the perfect example of French Gothic architecture. Its construction was finished in 1954. 
• It has 36 foot large stained circular glass rose windows over the primary entrance made by the Zettler studio. The building has higher towers which are roughly the size of Westminster Abbey.
• The free concert series is open to the public. It has the largest Schantz  pipe organ ever built, including 154 stops playable from two consoles. 
• The special religious events during Holy Week, including a Palm Sunday mass, Christmas Mass, and it provides services on Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Vigil in anticipation of Easter Sunday.

4. Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis

• It is also known as Saint Louis Cathedral. It is a Catholic cathedral in the Central West End neighborhood of St. Louis, Missouri. It was completed in 1914 and it is the mother church of the Archdiocese of St. Louis.
• In the interior, there is installation of mosaics containing 41.5 million glass tesserae pieces in more than 7,000 colors.
• The church basement contains a museum dedicated to the mosaics in the church and some of the other artifacts found within the cathedral. Also in the church you will find undercroft which is a chapel dedicated to the souls of former leaders of the Archdiocese. 
• The cathedral has a large organ that has two four-manual (keyboard) organ consoles, one in the gallery with the organ, and another console behind the sanctuary. The original Kilgen console was moved into the basement museum, and can be viewed by visitors. 
• It has a capacity for worshippers of 2500 (floor seating) and 5000 (including galleries).

5. Holy Name of Jesus Cathedral

• Holy Name Of Jesus Cathedral is a Catholic Cathedral which is in the style of Romanesque Revival in Raleigh, North Carolina.
• In 1899, Fr. Thomas F. Price and his sister, Sr. Mary Agnes of the Sisters of Mercy, founded a Catholic orphanage on a large property of land adjacent to the city of Raleigh. The orphanage, serving primary and secondary school aged children, initially was an all-boys institution, but later on it also served girls.
• The primary function of the chapel in the cathedral is to provide a quiet space for reflection and adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and The chapel windows are also from the Church of the Ascension in Philadelphia. Total seven windows are there in the chapel.
• The cornerstone is inscribed with the image of a Christogram, the ancient emblem of the name of Jesus, and represents the dedication of the cathedral. The Christogram, along with the inscription of the year 2017, are rendered in gold.
• It can accommodate more than 2,000 worshippers and serves as the site for major liturgical celebrations, pilgrimages, and events for the Catholic community of eastern North Carolina. 

6. Basilica of Saints Peter & Paul

• The Basilica of Saints Peter & Paul is a Roman Catholic Church in Lewiston, Maine and it is also known as Ss. Peter and Paul Church.
• Its architecture is in Gothic Style. The church has two pipe organs both made by Casavant Frères which were both dedicated in 1938; Opus 1587 (above the sanctuary) and Opus 1588 (in the gallery). Both the pipe organs are electro-pneumatic.
• The sanctuary organ has 2 manuals, 3 divisions, 10 stops, 28 registers, 10 ranks, and 737 pipes. Manual compass is 61 notes. The Pedal compass is 32 notes. The gallery organ has 4 manuals, 5 divisions, 53 stops, 62 registers, 66 ranks, and 4,622 pipes. Manual compass is 61 notes. Pedal compass is 32 notes. This organ is the largest church organ in Maine.
• The cornerstone of Saint Peter’s was laid, and the dedication mass was said in 1873. 
• This church has the capacity to accommodate 2200 worshippers.

7. Christ Cathedral

• It is also known as Crystal Cathedral. It is an American church building of the Diocese of Orange, located in Garden Grove, California.
• The reflective glass building, by the firm of Philip Johnson/John Burgee Architects, seats 2,248 people. When it was completed in 1981, the church was touted as “the largest glass building in the world”.
• The church’s Hazel Wright Organ is the fifth largest pipe organ in the world, with 273 ranks and five manuals. It was constructed by Fratelli Ruffatti based on specifications by Virgil Fox and expanded by Frederick Swann; the instrument incorporates the large Aeolian-Skinner pipe organ.
• The shrine of Our Lady of La Vang was installed on the grounds in 2021. The 12-foot-tall (3.7 m) statue of the Virgin Mary is capped by a spiraling canopy.

8. St. Patrick’s Cathedral

• St. Patrick’s Cathedral is a Catholic cathedral in the Midtown Manhattan neighborhood of New York City. It is the seat of the Archbishop of New York as well as a parish church and it is the largest Gothic Revival Catholic Cathedral in North America.
• St. Patrick’s Cathedral is clad in marble and has several dozen stained glass windows.
• It has bronze doors that form the cathedral’s main entrance on Fifth Avenue and are flanked by towers with the spires. The northern tower contains nineteen bells, and the interior has two pipe organs.
• The cathedral is a New York City designated landmark and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
• It has a capacity to accommodate 2400 worshippers.

9. Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi

• Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi is a Roman Catholic Church located in Assisi, a town in the Umbria region in central Italy.
• It is a papal minor basilica and one of the most important places of Christian pilgrimage in Italy. It is in the style of Romanesque Italic Gothic architecture.
• It is built into the side of a hill and comprises two churches (known as the Upper Church and the Lower Church) and a crypt, where the remains of the saint are present.
• Both upper and lower churches had a simple cruciform plan with four square bays, a square crossing, a transept that projected by half a bay on each side, and an apse, the lower being semicircular and the upper polygonal. To the left of the church stands a free-standing bell tower of Romanesque design.

10. St. Joseph Cathedral

• St. Joseph Cathedral is a Catholic cathedral in the Cortez Hill neighborhood of downtown San Diego, California. 
• Its bishop is Rev. Robert w. McElroy and pastor is Rev. Peter Navarra
• St. Joseph’s Cathedral offers every day of the week, a Sunday Mass for the public in Spanish. It also has young adult ministry, confessions, and devotions.
• St. Joseph underwent restoration work in 2011 which included repainting and restoring exterior wood and concrete.

Conclusion – Top 10 Largest Catholic Churches in the USA

The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception is the largest catholic church. It offers the spiritual gateway for the common people where you can spend some time with your thoughts and admire the faith in god with the other followers. Churches in the USA provide the information or history of architecture where you can admire its beauty. It is also the better place to educate the children about its culture and beliefs.

FAQs on Top 10 Largest Catholic Churches in the USA

Which is the Largest Catholic Church in the USA?

The Largest Catholic Church in the USA is the Roman tallest building that is the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception with the height of 76,391 sq.ft. in Washington, D.C.

What are the 5 largest churches in the USA?

They are the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels, Sacred Heart Cathedral, Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis, and Holy Name of Jesus Cathedral.

Where do most catholics live in the USA?

Generally, the catholics are distributed whole in the area but most of its population lives in the northeast and urban midwest where they together go for the prayer masses in the church on weekends.