Cathedral vs. Church: What Are the Differences?

There are far over 2 billion Christians in the world today. That’s a lot of people! And with people, come buildings.

But, how do you figure out the difference between different buildings used in the Christian religion? Let’s go through the differences between cathedral vs. church.

What Is a Church?

A church is a house of worship. Christians of many denominations have churches that they attend. Most churches only offer religious services on Sundays, although they may have other offerings during the week. Churches usually only have one religious figure, a pastor or preacher. Unlike chapels, churches do usually have a permanent congregation that attends their services.

There are also many different types of churches, based on what people are looking for in a given area.  There are purpose driven churches, for example. 

And, just because churches are less prominent than cathedrals, doesn’t mean there aren’t important ones. Some of the most famous churches that currently exist in the world include:

• Westminster Abbey, which can be found in London, England
• The Pantheon, in Rome, Italy
• Borgund Stave Church, which is in Lærdal, Norway.
• Santa Maria Delle Grazie, located in Milan, Italy
• Hallgrímskirkja, which can be found in Reykjavik, Iceland
• Gergeti Trinity Church, in the country (not the state) of Georgia

No matter where you live, there are probably plenty of churches in the area. That’s because churches of every denomination are located all over the United States, along with the world.

What Is a Cathedral?

A cathedral is a church, but it’s more than that. A cathedral is the home of a bishop. That means that cathedrals only exist in certain Christian denominations. Cathedrals are typically only found in major cities.

Essentially, cathedrals are the main church in a given diocese, which means that they have more power and more responsibilities. They also have administrative duties, not just religious ones like churches do. 

Cathedrals also have more frequent services than churches. Cathedrals might offer mass services up to three times a day.

The largest cathedral in the world is the Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of Aparecida, which is located in Aparecida, Brazil. Other notable cathedrals include:

• Notre Dame de Paris, in Paris, France
• St. Peter’s Basilica, located in Rome, Italy
• Basilica de la Sagrada Familia, which you can find in Barcelona, Spain
• St. Paul’s Cathedral, found in London, England
• Cologne Cathedral, in Cologne, Germany
• Church of the Nativity, located in Bethlehem, Palestine

Tourists often visit cathedrals, as they’re interested in the architecture and history. But, regardless of your religion, you don’t have to be afraid of visiting a church or cathedral. Just do your best to ensure you follow the dress code for each location like you would with any religious institution. 

Cathedral vs. Church? Now You Know

It’s extremely important to understand how to differentiate between cathedral vs. church. 

Are you searching for more info on religion and more? Take a quick look through a few of our other articles on religion and more.