Beautiful places of worship have a way of captivating your imagination,
whether you are a believer or not. Time, money and deep thought go into every
faith fueled detail of these buildings. Whenever someone mentions the word
cathedral, you can imagine how grand it is before seeing it. Many of them date
back to the Middle Ages and have stood the test of time with treasures intact
for future generations to enjoy. Cathedrals are set apart from many places of
worship and contain a cathedra or a bishop’s ceremonial chair. They're centers
of power for their diocese, which affords them special status and why you may
find certain famous churches lacking from this list of 15 largest cathedrals in
the world.
15) Mexico City
Metropolitan Cathedral
Mexico City’s cathedral, called the Catedral Metropolitana, in Spanish is the
oldest and largest in Latin America. The travel site also mentions much of the
stone used to build this structure originally came from the Aztec temples of the
area, which the Spanish tore down when they forced the natives to convert to
Christianity. This cathedral started being built in 1567 and wasn't finished
until over two centuries later. The style draws on both baroque and neoclassical
architectural principles as well as the churrigueresque style native to Mexico.
Each of the cathedral’s two towers weighs 127,000 tons and overlook the
Zócalo plaza. The combined weight of the roughly 6, 372 square meter building
had it slowly sinking into the soft clay soil bed beneath it. This issue had the
building on the World Monuments Fund's list of 100 Most Endangered Sites for
years but it came off the list in 2000. This is due to the fact that funding was
finally provided to reinforce the foundation and hopefully slow it down from
sinking more.
Mexico City Metropolitan Cathedral
Inside the cathedral
14) All Saints
Cathedral, Halifax
All Saints Cathedral
All Saints Cathedral in Canada is the 14th largest cathedral in the world
with an area of 1,760 square meters and a gross volume of 32,162 square
meters; it is one of the best examples of perpendicular gothic style in the
country. You can find the only example of the wood carver Robert Thompson’s
work in Canada when visiting the cathedral; it features his intricate word
carvings in the sanctuary, the chancel and on the pulpit. These took over 30
years to complete and the cathedral’s pipe organs are 5,000 strong, making
it the second largest in the Canadian Maritimes.
The font at All Saints was donated by England, coming from the St. Bee’s
church because they no longer needed it after finding their original font that
had been buried under a farmyard for over 300 years. You’ll see each of the
church’s beautiful stained glass windows when touring the church; the Great
Window was created by glass artist C.E. Kempe and unveiled in 1921. It was
heavily damaged due to an explosion at the Bedford Magazine in 1945 but was
quickly restored to full glory soon after.
13) Amiens Cathedral
Amiens Cathedral is the tallest Gothic church in France with a spire height just
under 113 meters and an area of 7,700 square meters. It also earned the title of
the 13th largest cathedral in the world and the second largest in France. Amiens
Cathedral is a famous work of Classical French cathedral architecture built
early in the 13th century and in 1981, its superior construction as well as
artifice prompted UNESCO to name it a World Heritage Site.
The first anecdotal history of a church on the site dates back to the 300's
but you will find the first cathedral that can be historically documented was
consecrated in 1152. The current building was planned in 1206 and workers begun
laying the stone in 1220. The impetus behind this construction was to celebrate
the head of John the Baptist being brought back to Amiens by the Crusades and
the town wanted a proper place to house the relic. Completed before the end of
the 13th century, the Amiens Cathedral is unusual in its architecture because
its swift construction means the style of the church is pure as well as
uninfluenced by later trends.
12) Washington
National Cathedral
The Washington National Cathedral was completed in 1990 and is the second
largest in the U.S. It was originally planned for in 1792 by Pierre L’Enfant and
the original proposed site is now the National Portrait Gallery; Congress
granted the Episcopalian church a charter for the cathedral in 1893.
Despite the fact the U.S. recognizes no particular religion or sect as its
own, the cathedral has a definite place in national history. Theodore Roosevelt
gave the speech for the laying of the cornerstone in 1907 and in 1912 the chapel
opened on the unfinished cathedral; construction halted on the cathedral during
WWI due to lack of laborers. This church houses the last pulpit Martin Luther
King Jr. preached from before his assassination, it has been the site for two
presidential state funerals, one memorial service and the funeral for Ronald
Reagan. In addition, the cathedral also held an interfaith service as a post
September 11th vigil and memorial service.
Washington National Cathedral
Pierre L'Enfant
Interior of Washington National Cathedral
11) St. Paul's
Cathedral
The site of St. Paul's Cathedral in London has been sacred for much longer than
Christianity has existed. Ludgate Hill used to be home to a temple of the
goddess Diana, aligned with a temple of Apollo at Westminster. Before this, the
area within London proper is believed to have held a great megalith. From 604 CE
on, the site was Christian. Since that time, three other cathedrals have been
erected and destroyed; this one exists to replace an aging St. Paul’s that was
destroyed by the Great London Fire. With an area of 7,875 square meters, the
building represents a compromise between austerity and extravagance.
The architect charged with designing the cathedral chose an early Baroque
style and Sir Christopher Wren had even more elaborate plans than the English
Gothic structure that was finally completed. During the course of planning, some
of the more modest church officials asked him to tone down his elaborate and
ambitious vision. He complied, despite creating touches like the 108 meter high
dome meant to mimic St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome.
10) Cologne
Cathedral
This cathedral is famous for being the greatest example of Gothic architecture
in Germany and it holds a gold reliquary said to contain the remains of the
Three Magi. Its 7,914 square meters makes for an impressive sized church whose
myriad of dark spires has given Cologne its distinctive skyline for centuries
and the current cathedral was built in the 13th century to replace the one which
had burned in a fire. The side also housed a fourth century Roman temple long
before Christianity came to Germany
Construction began in 1238 and the choir was ready for use by 1322 but
construction came to a standstill for centuries. It was the Romantic movement of
the 19th century that spurred interest in the medieval building and prompted its
final completion in 1824. It was subjected to 14 separate bomb hits during World
War II but managed to survive and was restored after the war. It made the list
of World Heritage sites in 1996 but is now on the list of sites in danger due to
its intense need for reconstruction in some areas. Be sure to look for the Gero
Cross when you visit the cathedral because it is an unusual depiction for a
crucifix. It shows the figure of Christ in neither the agony of dying nor the
glory of triumph but dead where he is hanging; it fits the mood of the dark
imposing church very well.
9) Cathedral of Our
Lady of Antwerp
The Cathedral of Our Lady of Antwerp towers over its plaza in Antwerp, Belgium.
This Gothic masterpiece consists of 8,000 square feet of floor room and over
10,000 square feet of roof; it is the largest cathedral in the Netherlands that
ranks within the top ten worldwide. It has 49 bells, the oldest dates back to
1507 and is heavy enough to require 16 bell ringers. Its single spire has been
admired since its completion by many popes and even such figures as Napoleon.
The current cathedral rests on the site of a Romanesque church that replaced
a small chapel devoted to Mary. The church was gutted by fire during
construction then Protestant Iconoclasts attempted to destroy its works of art
and relics. The cathedral still features many wonderful works by Peter Paul
Rubens that includes four separate altarpieces, despite all the trouble it's
been through. The cathedral is home to Nicolas Rombouts' stained glass window
depicting The Last Supper and a very remarkable marble Madonna with child.
Cathedral of Our Lady of Antwerp
Inside the Cathedral of Our Lady of Antwerp
8) Cathedral of
Saint Sava
The Cathedral of Saint Sava stands on the site where it is believed that Sinan
Pasha burned the remains of St. Sava, who is considered the founder of the
Serbian Orthodox church. This cathedral was dedicated to him and is the largest
Serbian Orthodox cathedral as well as nearly the largest Orthodox cathedral in
the world. Altogether, the structure boasts 8,162 square meters of floor space
with the main area alone being 3,500 square meters. The church can hold 10,000
worshippers at one time and its domes are decorated with 18 different gilded
crosses.
The Byzantine influenced cathedral is the center of the Serbian Orthodox
church, which is an independent branch of the Orthodox faith. The cathedral’s
website attributes the success of Christianity in Serbia to the fact that St.
Sava and others before him worked to make the church related to the Serbian
people, offering services in the common language as well as incorporating local
custom. Today, the church offers services in three different languages, such as:
Slavic, Serbian and English; to accommodate as many different believers as it
can.
7) Basilica
Cathedral of Our Lady of the Pillar
The Basilica Cathedral of Our Lady of the Pillar is known to locals as El Pilar
and this church is one of two cathedrals in Zaragoza, Spain. It has a floor plan
that spans 8,318 square meters and it's an important pilgrimage site. The legend
behind the church is that it is named for a pillar given to St. James by the
Virgin Mary on the site where the cathedral is located. It is said in 40 CE, as
the saint prayed, Mary appeared to him and gave him a jasper pillar as well as a
statue of herself. If you visit the church then you’ll see a small wooden hard
carved statue of Mary in its shrine; this figure has been with the church since
it began as a small chapel on the banks of the Ebro River.
Many notable visitors have been to the cathedral, including Pope John Paul
II. Spanish children often make a pilgrimage here after their first communion if
they are able to. There is a large annual festival held every year to celebrate
the city’s patron saint with music, performances in the street and a procession
that brings gifts of flowers as well as fruit to the chapel in the basilica.
There's a small museum inside the cathedral that has the jewelry used to
decorate the statue of Mary during special events as well as numerous Spanish
artwork, including a few pieces by Goya.
Basilica Cathedral of Our Lady of the Pillar
By Armin Hornung, via
Wikimedia Commons
Inside Basilica Cathedral of Our Lady of the Pillar
6) Liverpool
Cathedral
The Liverpool Cathedral was completed in 1978 in Liverpool, UK and covers 9,687
square meters of space that feature a variety of tourist attractions, such as:
a gift shop and full service restaurant. It is the largest modern Anglican
church in Europe and caters heavily to its many visitors. The church offers what
it calls the “Tower Experience” that allows you to climb to the top of the
church tower via two elevators and sometimes the towers are open around sunset,
so you can see the spectacular view. There is also the Elizabeth Hoare
Embroidery Gallery that displays beautiful religious embroidery art and a very
ornate Lady Chapel. The chapel has its own organ and portraits of many notable
Western women from a variety of walks of life.
5) Milan Cathedral
Milan Cathedral is one of the most famous cathedrals; it is an ornately
decorated and lavishly constructed piece of Gothic architecture with a
polychrome statue of the Madonna atop its spires. The Milan Cathedral dominates
the central square of the city of Milan, one of Italy’s fashion capitals. It is
said to be the largest Catholic cathedral in the world at 8,600 square meters
and beaten out only by the Seville Cathedral, depending on how you measure the
actual space of the churches. It is certainly the largest cathedral in Italy, as
St. Peter’s Basilica doesn’t count for this exercise.
The Cathedral doesn’t have a lot of attractions but one interesting thing for
you to check out is the excavated early Christian baptistery. Mark Twain was a
fan of this marble overlay cathedral, using it in his book "Innocents Aboard".
The cathedral had major renovations done to its many facades that begun in 2009
and they were only recently unveiled. If you were thinking of planning a sight
seeing trip that would include this church, now would be the time.
4) Norte Dame de
Chartres
The iconic Norte Dame de Chartres Cathedral is one of the most well preserved
churches of its style and it's a major pilgrimage site due to its architecture
as well as its relics; the church is said to house the blessed tunic of St. Mary
that was given to them by Charlemagne. Several cathedrals preceded this present
one but were destroyed by fire and each time the people of Chartres built a new
church bigger than the last. This current incarnation covers 10,875 square
meters in total with its spires climbing into the sky 50 miles from the heart of
Paris. It incorporates the crypt, west towers and the western façade of the
building that burned down before it; this is why the church has its distinct
nearly mismatched look.
The church has appeared in a variety of media that gave inspiration to
writers, artists and movie makers alike. One of its most famous uses as a
backdrop is in the Victor Hugo novel, and following movie adaptations for, the
Hunchback of Notre Dame. The church is an integral part of the story as the home
of Quasimodo and as a place of judgment for the protagonists as well as the
antagonist of the main plot. Its rose window is a beloved focal point under
which sinners can plead their case to the Virgin Mary.
Notre Dame de Chartres Cathedral
By Christopher Kramer, via
Wikimedia Commons
Inside the Notre Dame Cathedral
By
Sergiu Dumitriu, via
Wikimedia Commons
3) Cathedral of
Saint John the Divine
This New York cathedral is the largest in the Americas and nearly in the world.
Still unfinished, its website says the floor plan covers 11,200 square meters
and the church has an overall volume of 480,000 cubic meters. The cathedral was
created as a way to bring the Catholics of many nations together; this idea was
prompted by the major waves of immigration that took place in New York City.
Construction began in 1892 and the cathedral has faced a myriad of construction
issues. Despite sizable donations, it remains incomplete but serviceable.
The site itself has caused issues in building it and both World Wars have
contributed to halts in construction, you can see evidence of this with what is
known as the Pearl Harbor archway. The Pearl Harbor archway has incomplete
masonry work that shows the stone carver was forced to leave his work for war
and never returned to complete it, making a haunting as well as morbid reminder
of the way the nation’s history impacts every area of life.
Cathedral of Saint John the Divine
Cathedral of St. John the Divine's inteior
2) Seville Cathedral
This cathedral is one of the largest in Europe and has been on the UNESCO list
of World Heritage sites since 1987. It is a prime example of Spain’s history,
particularly in its blending of Islamic and Gothic elements that make a tribute
to the wealth as well as power the area flaunted after the Reconquest to prove
its strength. It was built over the same 11,520 square meter footprint of the
mosque that stood in the spot before but the architects added extra height,
giving the building an impressive gross volume of over 500,000 square meters of
space. It is easily the largest cathedral in Europe and nearly the largest
church that is only outdone by a few basilicas, like St. Peter’s.
The interior of the church is covered in gold and sports elaborate 15th
century choir boxes. The tomb of Christopher Columbus, brought over from his
original burial place in Havana after unrest in Cuba, is displayed inside. The
treasury houses silver reliquaries and a variety of famous artworks by Spanish
painters. You can also catch a glimpse of the keys to the city given to Fernando
by the Moorish and Jewish communities. The Royal Chapel houses the bodies of
Fernando III, his wife Beatrice and his son Alfonso the Wise. The Royal Chapel
houses aren't always open, so if you’re interested in seeing them then call
ahead to see that it’s available for viewing.
1) Lincoln Cathedral
Often discounted because it is not within continental Europe, Lincoln Cathedral
covers an area of 12,186 square meters. William the Conqueror ordered the first
cathedral built here and it was erected in only 20 years from 1072 to 1092. Its
bishop, Bishop Remigius, died just days before its consecration and at one point
the cathedral was destroyed by fire but was rebuilt. It is always being
remodeled due to structural issues from being continually expanded over the
years with its east wall moved out many times. The construction of the Cathedral
was very experimental and Norman builders had to invent a lot of their
techniques from scratch to copy the Gothic style.
Patrons give over one million British pounds to support the upkeep of the
church, which is a favorite among tourists. The cathedral isn’t just artful but
is also important to England’s history. The Magna Carta was signed by the Bishop
of Lincoln and the church retains one of only two original copies of the
document in existence. The church tower, which rises 271 feet, makes it the
tallest church tower in the world without a spire. Another remarkable feature is
the Dean’s Eye stained glass window, which contains most of its original
medieval stained glass and it's a powerful depiction of the Last Judgment.
Lincoln Cathedral
By Lee Haywood from Wollaton, Nottingham, England
(Lincoln Cathedral),
via Wikimedia Commons
Final Words
Cathedrals can be representative of many things beyond the scope of their
religious purpose, such as: symbols of government, private enterprise, wealth,
power, strength, labor and of the lasting relationship that human nature retains
with the immaterial world. The beauty of cathedrals is something that has lasted
ages and may last ages to come. Even if their personal legends were to die away,
their very construction is a display of art and design not easily ignored nor
forgotten. Cathedrals are still representations of culture on the sites they
call home and they are full of history as they are the remnant smoke of incense.
You can find it carved into their walls, painted on their ceilings and gilded on
their arches. Visiting a cathedral, particularly one of the behemoths on this
list, invokes awe and transports you to another time as well as place that
connects you with thousands of lives from the past.
References: 15) Mexico City Metropolitan Cathedral
sacred-destinations.com - (cathedral is the oldest and largest in Latin
America)
14) All Saints Cathedral, Halifax
All Saints Cathedral Official Website - (one of the best examples of
perpendicular gothic style in the country)
13) Amiens Cathedral
scared-destinations.com - (tallest Gothic church in France)
12) Washington National Cathedral
sacred-destinations.com - (second largest in the U.S. It was..)
11) St Paul's Cathedral
sacred-destinations.com - (the site of the current cathedral in London
has been sacred for..)
10) Cologne Cathedral
sacred-destinations.com - (This cathedral is famous for being..)
8) Cathedral of Saint Sava
serbia.travel - (stands on the site where..)
7) Basilica-Cathedral of Our Lady of the Pillar
sacred-destinations.com - (important pilgrimage site)
4) Norte Dame de Chartres
Sacred-destinations.com - (major pilgrimage site)
2) Seville Cathedral
sacred-destinations.com - (cathedral is one of the largest in Europe,
and..)
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