When people ask about the oldest church in USA or even the first church in America, the answer depends on what we mean by “oldest.” Some are the earliest mission sites, others are the oldest still in use, and a few are wooden buildings that have survived for centuries.
Moreover, people imagine the oldest churches in America are mostly colonial parishes along the East Coast. But many of the earliest churches are actually found in the Southwest, where Spanish missionaries built adobe chapels in the early 1600s.
From New Mexico’s missions to Maryland’s brick chapels and Massachusetts’s wooden meetinghouses, these historic churches tell the story of faith, architecture, and cultural exchange. Some are ruins, some are museums, and some still hold weekly services.
In this blog, we’ll explore the 10 oldest churches in the U.S. (excluding territories like Puerto Rico) that you should visit in 2025 if you’re interested in history, architecture, or spirituality.
Each entry explains why it is considered “oldest” and what makes it unique.
List Of The 10 Oldest Churches In America
| Church Name | Location | Date (Founded/ Built) | Claim | Caveat |
| 1. San Miguel Chapel (San Miguel Mission) | Santa Fe, New Mexico | 1610 (rebuilt ~1710) | Oldest church site/building in the continental U.S. | Original foundation (1610) remains, but walls mostly from 18th-century rebuild. |
| 2. San Agustín de la Isleta Mission | Isleta Pueblo, New Mexico | 1613 (rebuilt 1710) | One of the oldest parish missions in the U.S. | Destroyed in 1680 Pueblo Revolt, later rebuilt. |
| 3. San Estevan del Rey Mission | Acoma Pueblo, New Mexico | 1629–1641 | Oldest intact large mission church in U.S. | Original adobe structure largely survives. |
| 4. Jamestown Church (site) | Jamestown, Virginia | 1639–1647 | Oldest Anglican church foundations in the U.S. | Only tower, foundations, and floor tiles survive. |
| 5. Old Trinity Church | Church Creek, Maryland | 1675 | Oldest church in continuous use in the U.S. | Original brick structure still used; restored but authentic. |
| 6. St. Mary’s Whitechapel | Lancaster County, Virginia | 1675 | Among the earliest surviving colonial parish churches | Altered but retains 17th-century fabric. |
| 7. Old Ship Church | Hingham, Massachusetts | 1681 | Oldest wooden church in continuous use | Timber-frame original survives; congregation active. |
| 8. Third Haven Meeting House (Quaker) | Talbot County, Maryland | 1682 | Oldest Friends meeting house in the U.S. | Original 17th-century timber frame still intact. |
| 9. St. Luke’s Church (Old Brick Church) | Isle of Wight County, Virginia | 1632–1682 | Oldest church in Virginia; example of 17th-century Artisan Mannerism | Currently a museum; combines Romanesque, Gothic, and Jacobean design elements. |
| 10. Russian Orthodox Churches (e.g., Holy Resurrection Cathedral, Kodiak) | Alaska | 1794–1800s | Oldest Orthodox churches on U.S. soil | Built during Russian colonial period; oldest in Alaska. |
1. San Miguel Mission:
- Built Year: 1610 – 1710
- Located: Santa Fe, New Mexico
San Miguel Mission is the oldest church in America that was constructed by Tlaxcalan Indians in 1610.
Much of the structure was rebuilt in 1710, has undergone several renovations over the centuries, but still retains parts of its original adobe structure.
This catholic church was initially led by a small group of Spanish soldiers, laborers, and Tlaxcalan Indians.
It served as a place of worship for Spanish settlers and remains an active historical site today, showcasing beautiful Spanish colonial architecture and religious artifacts.
2. San Agustín de la Isleta Mission
- Built Year: 1613
- Located: Isleta, New Mexico
San Agustín de la Isleta Mission, founded by Spanish Franciscan missionaries in ~1613, was built to spread Christianity among Native Americans.
Located near the Río Grande, it was destroyed during the Pueblo Revolt (1680) but rebuilt in 1710 under Father Juan de la Peña.
Likely standing on its original foundations, it is considered one of the oldest functioning churches in North America.
3. San Estevan del Rey Mission:
- Built Year: 1649
- Located: Acoma Pueblo, New Mexico
The San Estevan del Rey Mission Church recognized as one of the oldest intact mission churches in the US, was built by Franciscan monks as a way to control people at Acoma Pueblo and to convert the indigenous people to Christianity.
The construction of the church was a 12-year project (largely between 1629 and 1641) and was built 150 feet long and 40 feet wide.
The materials used for construction were the same adobe bricks that were used on the rest of the Acoma Pueblo’s structures. The roof was made using wooden beams called ‘vigas’.
It is one of the finest surviving Spanish–Pueblo mission churches and is a National Historic Landmark
4. Jamestown Church:
- Built Year: 1639-1647
- Located: Jamestown, Virginia
Jamestown Church, built by Europeans in the original thirteen colonies, is one of the oldest surviving building remnants.
The site hosted the first English Protestant worship in, but the church was destroyed by fire.
The building was re-built and destroyed two more times after which a permanent structure was constructed using bricks.
The surviving brick church tower and associated foundations date to the 17th century (1639–1647); the present Memorial Church (1907) reuses the historic tower.
In 1619, the wooden 1617 church was held as the meeting place of the first representative legislative assembly in British North America.
5. Old Trinity Church:
- Built Year: 1671–1950
- Located: Church Creek, Maryland
Old Trinity Church is one of the oldest church buildings in continuous use in the continental United States and the longest-running Episcopal congregation in the US.
The church was restored to its original colonial style and has been furnished as per orders given by Queen Anne in 1703.
Old Trinity Church has an active burial ground that holds the remains of Anna Ella Carroll (silent member of Abraham Lincoln’s cabinet), and veterans of every American War.
The building is built of red bricks and is of a very small size of 38 feet length and 20 feet in width with its windows fashioned with pointed arches.
6. St. Mary’s Whitechapel:
- Built Year: 1669
- Located: Lancaster, Virginia
Named after Whitechapel parish in the East End of London, the church is associated with Mary Ball Washington, mother of George Washington, who was baptized here.
St. Mary’s Whitechapel was built under the supervision of James Jones, recorded as the parish’s builder.
The building was built in a simple elegant style resembling the churches of the colonial era in the seventeenth century.
The Anglican Church became dormant and was closed for 30 years after which it was re-established in 1832.
7. Old Ship Church:
- Built Year: 1681–1960
- Located: Hingham, Massachusetts
The Old Ship Church, also called the Old Ship Meetinghouse, is the only remaining 17th-century Puritan meetinghouse still standing among America’s oldest churches.
Its most striking feature is the hammer-beam roof, an open timber structure reminiscent of Gothic architecture, similar to the famous Westminster Hall.
The roof’s design resembles an inverted ship’s frame, showcasing exceptional craftsmanship from the colonial era.
An extensive restoration work has been done to preserve the building that now serves as a Unitarian Universalist congregation.
8. Third Haven Meeting House:
- Built Year: 1681–1684
- Located: Easton, Maryland
Third Haven Meeting House is considered as the oldest surviving Quaker church and Friends meetinghouse.
This one of the oldest churches in America had its members build the meetinghouse on three acres of land in two years. In 1684, the first meeting was held at the newly built structure.
George Fox was the founder of the Friends Society and sent various books to the meeting, eventually establishing the first public library in Talbot County.
Today, this faith is known as Quakerism, distinguished by its strong emphasis on both spiritual insight and social responsibility.
9 St. Luke’s Church:
- Built Year: 1632–1682
- Located: Isle of Wight County, Virginia
St. Luke’s Church, an Anglican church, is also known as Old Brick Church or Newport Parish Church and is among the oldest churches in America, specifically the oldest church in Virginia.
Traditionally the date of origin is early 1600s, but documentary and architectural evidence points to a 1682 construction.
The architectural structure of the building is considered an example of 17th-century Artisan Mannerism.
Its exterior structure is built using bricks featuring elements of Romanesque, Gothic, and Jacobean designs.
Currently, the church operates as a museum and holds community preservation workshops.
10. Russian Orthodox Churches — Alaska (1790s)
When considering the oldest churches on US soil, one must also look to Alaska, which was under Russian control until 1867.
The Holy Resurrection Cathedral in Kodiak (1794) is recognized as the oldest Orthodox parish in North America and the earliest surviving Christian church site in Alaska
It was established by Russian Orthodox missionaries, including St. Herman of Alaska, who sought to minister to Indigenous Alaskan communities.
The original log church was built in 1794; though rebuilt after fires, the parish itself has continued without interruption.
It qualifies as “oldest” by marking the first permanent Orthodox presence on U.S. soil, predating Alaska’s transfer from Russia in 1867.
Expert Analysis Of The Oldest Churches In America
| Christianity’s Arrival in America | Christianity spread through Spanish, French, and British colonization. Spanish missions in the Southwest and Puerto Rico aimed to convert Native Americans, while British churches on the East Coast served settlers. |
| Construction Methods | Early Spanish churches used adobe for insulation and durability, while British churches used brick or wood, reflecting European designs. |
| Historical Artifacts & Significance | Churches contain relics like Ponce de León’s tomb (San Juan Bautista), St. Pio’s remains (San Juan), and Queen Anne-ordered furnishings (Old Trinity Church). Many of the oldest churches have active burial grounds of notable figures. |
| Gothic & European Architectural Influence | Old Ship Church has a hammer-beam roof, while St. Luke’s blends Romanesque, Gothic, and Jacobean styles. Many British churches used red brick and arched windows in colonial Anglican designs. |
| Religious & Cultural Evolution | Some churches have changed denominations over time, like Old Ship Church, which went from Puritan to Unitarian Universalist. While others now serve as museums. |
FAQs
- Which is the oldest church in North America?
Answer: The Cathedral of San Juan Bautista in San Juan, Puerto Rico, is the oldest church in North America, with its construction dating back to 1521.
- Which is the Oldest Native American church?
Answer: The Old Indian Meeting House in Mashpee, Massachusetts, built in 1684, is the oldest Native American church in the eastern United States. It has served the Wampanoag people for centuries and falls under the Native American Congregational denomination.
- What is the oldest continuously used church in the United States?
Answer: The San Miguel Chapel in Santa Fe, New Mexico (1610, rebuilt c.1710), is widely regarded as the oldest continuously used church in the United States. The parish of St. Augustine in Florida (est. 1565) is the oldest Catholic parish in the U.S., but its current building dates from the late 18th century.
- Which is the oldest Protestant church in America?
Answer: The Old Church Tower in Jamestown, Virginia, is considered America’s first Protestant church. It hosted the first Protestant worship in English America in 1607. However, no structures from 1607 survive above ground; the oldest visible remains are the brick tower and foundations from the 1639–1647 church.
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