Database of Megachurches in the U.S.

The database below contains information on all the megachurches we have been able to locate in the United States.  We continually make changes this list and welcome suggestions and additions.  If you are interested in what a megachurch is, read our megachurch definition or more recent research. You may also want to read the description on how we collected this information.

This searchable database below contains the church name, its denominational affiliation (see abbreviation key at the bottom of the page ), the State and nearest large city in which a church resides, the senior minister's name, and an approximate attendance figure.  If we know the congregation's website, a link to that site is also included.  

Scott Thumma began keeping this list in 1992 using numerous sources including denominational reports, a database provided by Thomas Zook, the insights of numerous web visitors, researchers such as John Vaughan, Elmer Towns and many others as well as reporters around the U.S., the Leadership Network and Scott's visits to and research of these large congregations.  

This list has been on the web since 2000.  Scott attempted (assisted by Leadership Network) to update it entirely in 2005 and again in 2010 – but a percentage of the records are out of date since we were unable to get confirmation from some of the churches as to size, denomination, senior leader, etc.  We continuously add new churches and make corrections as we find out about changes, but the list is not without errors.  On the other hand, it is the best list that is publicly available on the web. If you notice errors or know of additions, please contact us.

Please note:

• We do not focus primarily on numbers and receive many contradictory reports. We depend on what the church or denomination reports their attendance numbers to be.
• This listing may not be exhaustive or entirely correct and is continually being developed. It is posted for the specific purpose of sharing the information only.
• This list is not for sale. We do not permit anyone to reprint the list in a text or on the web. We do not grant permission for anyone to use it privately, especially if they are going to profit from its use or distribution
• PLEASE do not copy and paste any information from these pages into your website; however, feel free to link to it from your site.

** If you are looking for a listing of megachurches outside of the United States, check out Warren Bird's excellent Global Megachurch Listing.

If you are interested in megachurches, you might find this 2007 book interesting.

How you can help:

If you have some knowledge of these churches, please check this information. If you know of other congregations with a consistent weekly attendance of at least 2000 persons, we'd love to hear about them. 

If you find any errors in this list or want to suggest an addition, we would greatly appreciate you emailing us at hirr@hartsem.edu and sharing your knowledge.    

Listing of Canadian Megachurches

** If you are looking for a listing of megachurches outside of North America, check out Warren Bird's excellent Global Megachurch Listing.

Again, please note:

• If you know of other congregations with a consistent weekly attendance of at least 2000 persons, we'd love to hear about them.  The database is a continual work in progress.
• If you find any errors in this list or want to suggest an addition, we would greatly appreciate you emailing us at hirr@hartsem.edu and sharing your knowledge.
• We do not focus primarily on numbers and receive many contradictory reports. We depend on what church or denomination reports for attendance numbers.
• This listing may not be exhaustive and is continually being developed. It is posted for the specific purpose of sharing the information only.
• This list is not for sale. We do not permit anyone to reprint the list in a text or on the web. We do not grant permission for anyone to use it privately, especially if they are going to profit from its use or distribution
• PLEASE do not copy and paste any information from these pages into your website; however, feel free to link to it from your site.

Denomination Key

ABC - American Baptist 
ABC/NBC NBC/ABC - Dually aligned American Baptist and National Baptist
AG - Assemblies of God 
AME - African Methodist Episcopal 
ANGLICAN - Anglical
ARC - Alliance of Reformed Churches
BGC - Baptist General Conference
BAPT - Baptist (unspecified) 
BBF - Bible Baptist Fellowship
BRETHREN - Brethren
CAL - Calvary Churches 
CBF - Cooperative Baptist Fellowship
CCCC - Conservative Congregational Christian Conference
Christian - Independent Christian Churches or unspecified
CMA - Christian & Missionary Alliance
CME - Christian Methodist Episcopal
COC - Church of Christ
COG - Church of God, Cleveland
COGA - Church of God, Anderson 
COGIC - Church of God in Christ 
CONGREG - Congregationalist (unspecified)  
CRC - Christian Reformed Church
DOC - Disciples of Christ 
EC - Evangelical Covenant 
EPIS - Episcopal 
EF - Evangelical Free 
ELCA - Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
EPC - Evangelical Presbyterian Church
EVAN - Evangelical
FCA - Fellowship of Christian Assemblies
4SQ - Four Square 
GBA - General Baptist Association
HOLINESS - Holiness (unspecified)
ICC - International Church of Christ 
IPHC - International Pentecostal Holiness Church
KPCA - Korean Presbyterian Church 
LCMS - Lutheran Church, Missouri Synod
LUTH - Lutheran (unspecified) 
MCC - Metropolitan Community Church 
MISSBAPT - Missionary Baptist
NBC - National Baptist Convention
NAZ - Church of the Nazarene 
NONDENOM - Independent, Nondenominational 
PAW - Pentecostal Assemblies of the World
PAC - Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada
PCA - Presbyterian Church of America 
PCUSA - Presbyterian Church, U.S.A. 
PENT - Pentecostal (unspecified)
PNB - Progressive National Baptist 
PRESB - Presbyterian (unspecified)
QUAKER - Quaker
RCA - Reformed Church in America  
RELSCI - Religious Science
SA - Salvation Army
SDA - Seventh-day Adventist
SBC - Southern Baptist Convention 
UMC - United Methodist Church 
UCC - United Church of Christ
UPCI - United Pentecostal Church International
UNITY - Unity
UNK - Unknown (unspecified)
UPC - United Pentecostal Church
VINE - Vineyard 
WELS - Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod
WES - Wesleyan 

[Visit the Hartford Institute page of official
denominational homepages]