What is the oldest church in America? 12 worship places to visit
America's rich religious heritage is reflected in its many historic churches, some of which date back to the earliest days of European colonisation. These churches are not only places of worship but also monuments to history and culture that reflect the diversity and richness of American heritage. Uncover some of the oldest churches in America you should visit.
Source: Getty Images
TABLE OF CONTENTS
- What is the oldest church in America?
- 1. San Miguel Mission
- 2. San Agustín de la Isleta Mission
- 3. Jamestown Church
- 4. San Estevan Del Rey Mission Church
- 5. Old Trinity Church
- 6. St. Mary's, Whitechapel
- 7. Third Haven Meeting House
- 8. Old Ship Church
- 9. St. Luke's Church
- 10. Old Indian Meeting House
- 11. Old Quaker Meeting House
- 12. Old Dutch Church of Sleepy Hollow
- What was the first church built in the USA?
- Does Santa Fe have the oldest church in America?
- What is the second oldest catholic church in the USA?
The oldest places of worship in America tell the story of faith, resilience, and community. These churches are still standing today, though many have undergone reconstructions over the past few centuries. Whether you are a history buff or a traveller seeking spiritual insight, below are some of the oldest churches in the United States that you must visit in 2024.
What is the oldest church in America?
The oldest churches are appreciated for numerous reasons. In addition to serving as places of worship, these monuments are seen as the epitome of captivating art and glory. Below is a list of the oldest churches in America.
| Church | Year built |
| San Miguel Mission | 1610 |
| San Agustín de la Isleta Mission | 1613–1621 |
| Jamestown Church | 1639 |
| San Estevan Del Rey Mission Church | 1629–1641 |
| Old Trinity Church | 1671 |
| St. Mary's, Whitechapel | 1669 |
| Third Haven Meeting House | 1684 |
| Old Ship Church | 1681 |
| St. Luke's Church | 1682 |
| Old Indian Meeting House | 1684 |
| Old Quaker Meeting House | 1694–1719 |
| Old Dutch Church of Sleepy Hollow | 1685 |
1. San Miguel Mission
Source: Getty Images
- Location: Santa Fe, New Mexico, United States
- Denomination: Roman Catholic
- Status: Active
San Miguel Mission, also known as San Miguel Chapel, is a Spanish colonial mission church in Santa Fe, New Mexico. It is the oldest known church in the continental United States. It is among the earliest mission churches built between 1610 and 1626 by Spanish missionaries and the Indigenous Tlaxcalan people.
San Miguel Mission was rebuilt twice in the mid-to-late 17th century and again in 1710 following the Pueblo Revolt. It continues to be a place of active worship and a historical landmark, drawing visitors interested in the region's colonial history and cultural heritage.
2. San Agustín de la Isleta Mission
Source: Getty Images
- Location: Isleta Pueblo, New Mexico
- Denomination: Roman Catholic
- Status: Active
San Agustín de la Isleta Mission, located in Isleta Pueblo, New Mexico, is one of the oldest continuously active Catholic churches in the United States. It was founded in 1613 by Spanish Franciscan missionaries to spread Christianity among the local Native Americans.
It was initially built by Spanish Franciscan missionaries at the Isleta Pueblo. The mission has undergone several restorations, notably after damage from the Pueblo Revolt of 1680, but its original structure and historical significance have been preserved.
3. Jamestown Church
Source: Getty Images
- Location: Jamestown, Virginia
- Denomination: Anglican
- Status: Active
Jamestown Church is one of the earliest Anglican churches in the United States. It is located in Historic Jamestown, Virginia, and was established in 1607, making it one of America's oldest Christian worship sites. It is now part of Historic Jamestown and is owned by Preservation Virginia.
The church has undergone several reconstructions over the centuries. The original 1607 structure was a simple wood structure, but it was replaced with a more durable brick structure in 1639. Parts of the brick tower from this 17th-century church still stand today.
4. San Estevan Del Rey Mission Church
Source: Getty Images
- Location: Acoma Pueblo, Acoma, New Mexico
- Denomination: Roman Catholic
- Status: Active
San Estévan del Rey Mission Church is a Spanish mission church in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Gallup on the Acoma Pueblo Reservation in western New Mexico. It was constructed between 1629 and 1641 and is one of the most remarkable examples of early Spanish colonial mission architecture in the United States.
Today, the church remains an active place of worship for the Acoma people and is a designated National Historic Landmark. It is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It remains a mission church and is part of the San José de la Laguna parish in Laguna, New Mexico.
5. Old Trinity Church
Source: UGC
- Location: Church Creek, Maryland
- Denomination: Episcopal
- Status: Active
Old Trinity Church is an historic Episcopal church at 1716 Taylors Island Road in Church Creek, Maryland. It was established in 1675, making it one of the oldest churches in continuous use in the United States and the original thirteen states.
The church was restored in the 1950s, holds regular Sunday worship services, and has an active burial ground.
6. St. Mary's, Whitechapel
Source: UGC
- Location: 5940 Whitechapel Road, Lancaster, Virginia
- Denomination: Episcopal
- Status: Active
St Mary's Whitechapel is an Episcopal church in Lancaster, Virginia. Founded in 1969, the parish is well-known for being the church of Mary Ball Washington, mother of George Washington, during her youth. It was built in the simple, elegant style of colonial-era churches in Seventeenth-Century Virginia.
The original wooden structure has undergone several renovations, and the current building was completed in the late 19th century. Today, St. Mary's Whitechapel serves as an active place of worship, hosting regular services and community events. The churchyard also contains a historic cemetery with gravestones dating back to the 17th and 18th centuries.
7. Third Haven Meeting House
Source: Getty Images
- Location: Talbot County, Maryland
- Denomination: Quaker (Religious Society of Friends)
- Status: Active
Third Haven Meeting House is a historic Quaker meeting house in Easton, Maryland. Built in 1684, it is one of the oldest surviving Quaker meeting houses in the United States and is a significant site for the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers).
Third Haven Meeting House is still an active Quaker congregation, welcoming visitors and members for regular meetings, special events, and historical tours.
8. Old Ship Church
Source: Getty Images
- Location: Main Street, Hingham, Massachusetts
- Denomination: Puritan
- Status: Active
The Old Ship Church, also known as the Old Ship Meetinghouse, is a Puritan church built in 1681 in Hingham, Massachusetts. It is the only existing 17th-century Puritan meetinghouse in the United States. It is the oldest continuously worshiped-in church in North America and the only surviving example of this country's English 17th-century Gothic style of church architecture.
The Old Ship Church was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1960 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1966. It is a Unitarian congregation that is open to the public and has services on Sundays.
9. St. Luke's Church
Source: Getty Images
- Location: Benns Church, Virginia
- Denomination: Anglican, then Episcopal
- Status: Active
St. Luke's Church, also known as Old Brick Church or Newport Parish Church, is a historic church in Isle of Wight County, Virginia, United States. It is among the oldest houses of God in the USA, specifically in Virginia. Its exterior structure is built using bricks featuring elements of Romanesque, Gothic, and Jacobean designs.
St. Luke's Church was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1966 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places to recognise its historic and architectural distinction. President Dwight D. Eisenhower also selected the site as a National Shrine in 1957. Presently, the church operates as a museum and holds community preservation workshops.
10. Old Indian Meeting House
Source: Getty Images
- Location: Mashpee, Massachusetts
- Denomination: Congregational/Native American
- Status: Active
The Old Indian Meeting House, located on the Mashpee Wampanoag Reservation in Massachusetts, is the oldest Native American church in the United States. It was founded around 1684 for use by the Mashpee Wampanoag tribe that had been converted to Christianity by the European colonists.
In 1717, the church was moved from its original town location to its current one, and the building was remodelled. The building also served as a school and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1998.
11. Old Quaker Meeting House
Source: UGC
- Location: Flushing, Queens in New York, New York
- Denomination: Quaker (Friends)
- Status: Active
The Flushing Friends Quaker Meeting House, also known as the Old Quaker Meeting House, is a historic Quaker house of worship located in Flushing, Queens, New York. It is one of the oldest churches in New York and the second-oldest Quaker meeting house in the nation. The church was built in 1694.
The church is the only surviving example of a typical 17th-century ecclesiastical frame structure of medieval design in New York State. It was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1967 and a New York City-designated landmark in 1970. Since its construction, it has served as a Quaker Meeting, with worship meetings taking place every Sunday.
12. Old Dutch Church of Sleepy Hollow
Source: Getty Images
- Location: Sleepy Hollow, NY, USA
- Denomination: Dutch Reformed
- Status: Active
The Old Dutch is the second oldest church in America and the 15th oldest extant building in New York. It was built in 1685 by the lord of Philipsburg Manor and renovated after an 1837 fire. The Old Dutch church was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1961 and is the property of the Reformed Church of the Tarrytowns.
Its stone structure and picturesque setting along the Pocantico River have made it an iconic landmark, mainly due to its association with Washington Irving’s famous story, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. The church holds summer services there and on special occasions such as Christmas Eve.
What was the first church built in the USA?
San Miguel Chapel is reportedly the oldest church in the United States. Spanish settlers and Tlaxcalan labourers built the church around 1610.
Does Santa Fe have the oldest church in America?
Santa Fe is home to San Miguel Chapel, often recognised as the oldest church in the continental United States.
What is the second oldest catholic church in the USA?
The second oldest Catholic church in the United States is St. Louis Cathedral in New Orleans, Louisiana. It was founded in 1720.
The San Miguel Mission, located in Santa Fe, New Mexico, is often regarded as the oldest church in America. It was built by Spanish settlers in 1610. Other oldest churches in the United States include San Agustín de la Isleta Mission and Jamestown Church. Many of these churches still have active congregations, while others are open to the public as museums.
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