15 Most Beautiful Churches in the US

Cathedral of Saint Paul (St. Paul, Minnesota) – exterior.jpg Photo by Nheyob – Wikimedia Commons

15 Most Beautiful Churches in the US

The United States of America has diverse religious church that is spread throughout the whole country with a majority of the churches having background Catholic churches, Anglican churches, and Presbyterian Churches which own the most magnificent buildings.

There is various type of churches in the United States of America that are among the best and most beautiful churches in the World.

1. Washington National Cathedral, Washington, D.C.

Washington National Cathedral (6).jpg Photo by Smash the Iron Cage – Wikimedia Commons

This is an Episcopal Church located in the capital city, Wisconsin Avenue and Massachusetts Avenue, Northwest, Washington, D.C. the capital of the United States of America.

It is also known as the Cathedral Church of Saint Peter and St Paul the city and Diocese of Washington. The cathedral has a fourteenth-century English Gothic style. According to facts and figures, the Cathedral is the only place in North America to house both peal and carillon bells and the second largest church building in the United States. Whatsmore, it contains a piece of lunar rock on the south aisle.

The Cathedral church is so beautiful that there are over 270,000 visitors who annually visit as tourists. It is dated back to 1907, and since then, it has been a divine center and a beautiful milestone within the nation’s capital. In addition to the gorgeous style, the grounds are also beautiful and open year-round with cultural doings as well as divine ones. Inside this breathtaking church, you will find varying displays, such as pictures some of which are related to the church’s history.

2. Cathedral of Saint John the Divine, New York City, New York

Cathedral of Saint John the Divine, NYC (2014) – 11.JPG Photo by Another Believer – Wikimedia Commons

It is the mother church of the Episcopal Diocese of New York as well as the Bishop’s Seat. The most fascinating fact is that the church holds over thirty services per week. It has a soup kitchen that serves approximately 25,000 meals annually. The cathedral also hosts advancing the community of tomorrow, the renowned preschool, afterschool, and summer program. It also has a Textile Conservation Lab which preserve world treasure, concerts, exhibitions, performances, and civic gathers just because of its beauty and of course the space.

It takes over thirty services each week, and the ecclesiastical is justly part of the civic since runs a soup kitchen serving about 25,000 meals a year.

The Cathedral is over 120 years old and is still incomplete, yet remains the largest cathedral worldwide. 

3. Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis, St. Louis, Missouri

Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis (St. Louis, MO) – exterior, quarter view 2.jpg Photo by Nheyob (changes by Rabanus Flavus) – Wikimedia Commons

It was designed by 4 architects which results to be another scheme the Chapel for the Blessed Virgin and All Saints and their inimitable assortments, which were then created in 1912 by the Tiffany Company. The gallery-blemished glass windows were shaped by yet another stylish, but despite different designers, the whole building remains uniform though very beautiful.

4. St. Mary of the Angels, Chicago, Illinois

St Mary of the Angels interior 090307.jpg Photo by User:JeremyA – Wikimedia Commons

The St. Mary of the Angels parish dates back to 1899, and the original structure instigated its construction during the same year. It lasted from 1911 to 1920 and was planned to look like the Roman St. Peter’s Basilica

It was neglected for several decades. So far 26 fully rebuilt roof angles catch and attracts the years of passers-by the church restoration began in 1991 and included repairs to the stained-glass windows and dome.

5. Cathedral of Saint Paul, St. Paul, Minnesota

St Paul Cathedral 2012.jpg Photo by McGhiever – Wikimedia Commons

It is the fourth church with that name and the construction was accomplished in 1958, at which point it was blessed by Archbishop William O. Brady. Its exterior walls are finished of Saint Cloud Granite while the interior walls are American Travertine from Mankato.

It also has seven bronze grilles around the altar and has Italian Botticino marble on the Chapels’ main walls.

On the side of the church, there is also a beautiful Resurrection window facing east. The exterior of the cathedral has rounded bends and domes, straight lines, and a floor plan in a balanced cross with the 120-foot dome of steel beams infectious to the eyes. There is also a Museum and the ability to go on a tour of the church.

6. Cathedral-Basilica of St. Louis King of France, New Orleans, Louisiana

St. Louis Cathedral, Jackson Square, French Quarter, New Orleans, Louisiana 2.jpg Photo by Ken Lund – Wikimedia Commons

It is also known as the St. Louis Cathedral and is one of the furthermost widespread landmarks in New Orleans.

You can see the tripartite towers from a sensible distance which signifies the heart of the historic city.

 Since 1727 there have been churches at this location and in 1723 is when the current one was officially completed, with momentous accompaniments and renovations made throughout the years since then. This includes a major renovation in 1849, which obligated the building to be mostly rebuilt, although the base remained the same. It is among the oldest churches of the time.

8. Saint Mary’s Catholic Church, High Hill, Texas

St. Rose of Lima (5662998746).jpg Photo by BFS Man – Wikimedia Commons

It has stained-glass windows, ornamental paintings, and beautiful strategies, giving it the description of Queen of the Painted Churches.

 As such, it is a general stop along the tour of Tinted Churches of Texas. It is particularly known for its attractiveness not only because of its architecture, and also because of its unique paintings, which need a countless deal of refurbishment and maintenance work to keep them in top shape.

9. Wayfarers Chapel, Rancho Palos Verdes, California

Wayfarers Chapel, also known as “The Glass Church” is located in Rancho Palos Verdes, California LCCN2013635047.tif Photo by Carol M. Highsmith – Wikimedia Commons

Also known as the glass church, the chapel is built with pure glass and is located in Rancho Palos Verdes, California. It takes benefit of the natural attractiveness of Rancho Palos Verde, working with it to make a truly beautiful interplanetary.

It was premeditated by Lloyd Wright, Frank Lloyd Wright’s son. He shaped the tree chapel design, which styles the church feel as if it is a natural preserve in the center of the forest.

 It is completed using gorgeous redwood beams to further link it with nature and this has made it a very general spot for wedding ceremonies and tourists.

9. Memorial Presbyterian Church, St. Augustine, Florida

Memorial Presbyterian Church, St. Augustine FL, East view 20160707 1.jpg Photo by DXR – Wikimedia Commons

This is a breathtaking church with numerous blemished glass pieces and a tortuously detailed dome with yellow-gold projects on a blue context.

The dome is perfectly enclosed by the local palm trees.

10. The Cathedral of Saint Andrew, Honolulu, Hawaii

Cathedral Church of Saint Andrew interior – Honolulu 08.jpg Photo by Farragutful – Wikimedia Commons

It is the ancillary outcome of Queen Emma and King Kamehameha IV, who brought the Anglican Church to the state of Hawaii.

The Cathedral Close has the Cathedral in the form of an overturned ark that started its building in 1865 and in 1958 is when it reached its current state.

 The stylishly humble project.

One can visit the Memorial Building and relax on the grounds, which include a plaza, sculpture, and fountain.

11. Church of the Holy Ascension

Unalaska church.jpg Photo by Brendan Minish (Flickr user bminish) from Castlebar, Ireland – Wikimedia Commons

The church is located at 265 N Shelmore Blvd, Mt Pleasant, SC 29464, United States. The original church was constructed in 1826 while the second reconstruction of the church was built on the foundation of the original church.

It honor’s the initial originator of its estates, Father Ioann Veniaminov, who is also recognized as Saint Innocent of Alaska.  It was cheering to him and his teachings of both belief and Russian architecture that the breathtaking church stands today, as a momentous milestone on the Aleutian Islands.

The unique construction was constructed in a technique that depicts the sanctuary, nave, side chapels, and bell tower in a plan that looks like a cross.

Most of the good details were absorbed in the upper quadrants of the church to gear the eyes of visitors upward toward God.

12. St. Luke the Evangelist Catholic Church

Due to its latest built parish, it is well known because of that, the St. Luke the Evangelist Catholic Church does a delightful job of joining modern chic with religious meaning.

Snuggled on 35 acres of exposed land, the church was built in unison with Ashland Ridge Basic School to deliver a home of worship and education.

It was built with an emphasis on the ease that can be understood and respected through its frank design and use of natural light to conserve energy.

13. Unitarian Church in Charleston

Unitarian Church (2022).jpg Photo by ProfReader – Wikimedia Commons

It is the oldest church known in the southern region and the second oldest building in the city of Charleston, the Unitarian Church is a significant share of the past.

It was originally built to provide extra interplanetary to the Independent Church. It delay during construction was caused by the start of the Revolutionary War and the second meeting house wasn’t completed until 1787. For nearly 30 years after its completion, the Unitarian Church and Independent Church acted as one.

The simple, yet the efficient design allows for a lot of natural light, and its heavy materials guarantee a longer preservation period without the need for frequent restoration.

14. Cathedral of St. Helena

St. Helena Catholic Cathedral Postcard ca. 1915.jpg Photo by Unknown author – Wikimedia Commons

The parish was damaged and destroyed by a series of earthquakes that anguished the state of Montana in 1935. Due to this, it had to go under thoughtful reconstructions to bring about the amazing parish you see today.

However, this wasn’t the end for the church to undergo renovations, as there’ve been many expansions throughout the years – like the roomy kitchen and communal halls that were added in 2002.

The architecture of the cathedral is beautified by the heavily influenced famous Votivkirche in Vienna. It is also made up of over 60 stained glass windows and 2 towering spires.

15. Cathedral of Christ the Light

Cathedral of Christ the Light, Oakland, CA Photo by Skier Dude – Wikimedia Commons

This is a catholic cathedral church also referred to as the Oakland Cathedral located at 2121 Harrison Street in Oakland. The cathedral serves as the mother church of approximately 530,000 Catholics in the counties of Alameda and Contra Costa.

The Cathedral is unique in that it is the first parish to have been built in the 21st century. The Cathedral interior is an incorporation of the East Bay instituted design competition of Christ the Light. However, after the judgment of various designs, the conclusion was announced by the Santiago Calatrava of Valencia, Spain as the winner. His expertise is referenced by the September 11 World Trade Center Port Authority Trans-Hudson station in New York City.

In addition, the modern audience replaced the Cathedral of Saint Francis de Sales, which was spoiled beyond restoration in the tremor of 1989.

What outstands about this catholic Cathedral is the unique worship space that is vesica Piscis in shape which is almost like a fish bladder. It is formed by the intersection of two circles.  Whatsmore, the walls are composed of overlapping panels of wood and glass rising skyward to form the vault, much like the scales of a fish. The main idea was to design the worship space with a reflection of the miracle of the loaves and the fishes in the Christian tradition, among other motifs. The design allows light to filter in, reminiscent of how light filters through a canopy of tall redwood trees in a wooded glade.

it is interesting that the Cathedral has beautiful grounds that were designed by a group of sexual abuse survivors in collaboration with the Oakland Diocese and famed architect Dr. Aryan Sarkar. It is, however, the healing garden dedicated to the innocent sexually abused by members of the clergy.