The Difference Between a Church, Chapel, Cathedral, & Basilica

Download Article
Everything you need to know about labeling places of worship
Download Article

You’re walking down the street when you see a sign for a church and then a chapel. They must be the same thing, right? Well, not exactly! Believe it or not, churches and chapels are 2 different things. Religious buildings and spaces can have many names, but they’re not interchangeable. So, if you want to learn what’s what, keep reading because we’re comparing churches, chapels, cathedrals, and basilicas.

Things You Should Know

  • Churches have a congregation and a pastor or priest, while chapels don’t.
  • Chapels are typically smaller places of worship in hospitals, airports, and schools.
  • Even with their differences, chapels and churches are both religious spaces where people go to worship.
  • Cathedrals are larger and grander churches run by a bishop, while basilicas are churches honored by a saint or bishop.
Section 1 of 6:

What is a church?

Download Article
  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/8\/8d\/Chapel-vs-Church-Step-1.jpg\/v4-460px-Chapel-vs-Church-Step-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/8\/8d\/Chapel-vs-Church-Step-1.jpg\/v4-728px-Chapel-vs-Church-Step-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>\u00a9 2024 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. This image is <b>not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.<br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    Churches are run by pastors or priests, and they’re considered official religious organizations. [1] The people of a church are called congregants and schedule times to gather, worship, and study religion.
    • A congregation is an assembly of people who habitually gather to worship and attend church. [2]
    • Christian churches have 3 main denominations or branches: Eastern Orthodox, Roman Catholic, and Protestant Tradition. Each of these branches follows specific religious rules and policies. [3]
    2. Advertisement
Section 2 of 6:

What is a chapel?

Download Article
  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/c\/cb\/Chapel-vs-Church-Step-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Chapel-vs-Church-Step-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/c\/cb\/Chapel-vs-Church-Step-2.jpg\/v4-728px-Chapel-vs-Church-Step-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>\u00a9 2024 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. This image is <b>not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.<br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    Chapels are not run by a pastor or priest and can be any physical space where worship is done. [4] For instance, a room with pews in a hospital, airport, or school is a chapel.
Section 3 of 6:

Church & Chapel Differences

Download Article
  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/3\/34\/Chapel-vs-Church-Step-3.jpg\/v4-460px-Chapel-vs-Church-Step-3.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/3\/34\/Chapel-vs-Church-Step-3.jpg\/v4-728px-Chapel-vs-Church-Step-3.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>\u00a9 2024 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. This image is <b>not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.<br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    Churches rely on congregants and a pastor or priest to give sermons. On the other hand, chapels can operate without a group of people. There are typically no set worship times in a chapel, as people can come and go as they please to pray.
    • Think of it this way: without a congregation, a church would simply be a building of worship, making it a chapel. Once you add a like-minded group of people and a leader, it becomes a church.
  2. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/9\/9c\/Chapel-vs-Church-Step-4.jpg\/v4-460px-Chapel-vs-Church-Step-4.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/9\/9c\/Chapel-vs-Church-Step-4.jpg\/v4-728px-Chapel-vs-Church-Step-4.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>\u00a9 2024 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. This image is <b>not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.<br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    You’ll most likely find chapels in hospitals, airports, or schools. They’re generally rooms or basements dedicated to worship. They may have some of the same furniture and religious items as a church, but they don’t need the same amount of space as a led congregation.
    • A pastor or priest may be present at a chapel to guide visitors, but they won’t typically preach for a large group of people.
    3. Advertisement
Section 4 of 6:

How are they similar?

Download Article
  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/c\/cf\/Chapel-vs-Church-Step-5.jpg\/v4-460px-Chapel-vs-Church-Step-5.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/c\/cf\/Chapel-vs-Church-Step-5.jpg\/v4-728px-Chapel-vs-Church-Step-5.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>\u00a9 2024 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. This image is <b>not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.<br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    Whether you’re with a group of people or by yourself, at the end of the day, you go to a church or chapel to praise the Lord. No place is better than the other—choose a religious space where you feel the most comfortable.
Section 5 of 6:

What is a cathedral?

Download Article
  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/6\/65\/Chapel-vs-Church-Step-6.jpg\/v4-460px-Chapel-vs-Church-Step-6.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/6\/65\/Chapel-vs-Church-Step-6.jpg\/v4-728px-Chapel-vs-Church-Step-6.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>\u00a9 2024 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. This image is <b>not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.<br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    Think of cathedrals as grand churches. They have set times of worship, a large congregation, and are led by a bishop. The buildings are often very grand as well, with extravagant and towering architecture. [5]
    • Notre-Dame de Paris, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, and Milan Cathedral are some of the world’s most famous cathedrals.
    2. Advertisement
Section 6 of 6:

What is a basilica?

Download Article
  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/7\/78\/Chapel-vs-Church-Step-7.jpg\/v4-460px-Chapel-vs-Church-Step-7.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/7\/78\/Chapel-vs-Church-Step-7.jpg\/v4-728px-Chapel-vs-Church-Step-7.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>\u00a9 2024 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. This image is <b>not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.<br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    In the Roman Catholic and Greek Orthodox churches, a place of worship can be labeled as a basilica by a saint or pope. The title gives the church prestigious privileges, geographical jurisdiction, and international status. [6]
    • There are 2 types: basilica major and basilica minor. The basilica major is reserved for the 4 churches of the pope, whereas a basilica minor can be bestowed to any church deemed worthy.
    • The Archbasilica of St. John Lateran, St. Peter’s Basilica, Basilica of St. Paul Outside of the Walls, and Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore are major basilicas.
    • The Basilica of Saint Nicholas, Basilica of the Holy House, and Shrine of the Virgin of Rosary are famous minor basilicas.
  2. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/5\/55\/Chapel-vs-Church-Step-8.jpg\/v4-460px-Chapel-vs-Church-Step-8.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/5\/55\/Chapel-vs-Church-Step-8.jpg\/v4-728px-Chapel-vs-Church-Step-8.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>\u00a9 2024 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. This image is <b>not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.<br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    Before “basilica” was an honor for a church, it was a type of building. Basilica buildings were popular in ancient Rome and had large, rounded roofs with rectangular walls and 2 rows of supporting columns. [7]
    • Basilica-styled buildings were used as markets, courthouses, promenades, and meeting halls during the 1st century BC. [8]
    3. Advertisement

Expert Q&A

Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
      Advertisement

      Tips

      Submit a Tip
      All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
      Submit
      Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

      You Might Also Like

      Left Eye Twitching for Females: What Astrology Says About Eye Twitching
      How to
      Get Rid of Demons
      How to Escape the Matrix and Become Your Own Person
      What Does It Mean to Dream about the Same Person? 9 Interpretations
      Cancer Moon 101
      Are You an Earth Angel? 18 Signs + 8 Archetypes
      A Guide to Yellow Candles: Benefits, Spells, & More
      15 Unmistakable Signs That Your Twin Flame is Thinking About You
      What Does the Number 333 Mean From God?
      What Do Deer Symbolize Spiritually?
      What Does the Tree of Life Symbolize?
      Lutheranism vs Roman Catholicism: Similarities & Differences
      How to
      Argue That God Does Not Exist
      How to Use Angel Numbers for Manifestation
      Advertisement

      References

      1. ↑ https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/church
      2. ↑ https://www.britannica.com/topic/congregation
      3. ↑ https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/trevin-wax/quick-guide-christian-denominations/
      4. ↑ https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/chapel
      5. ↑ https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/cathedral
      6. ↑ https://www.britannica.com/technology/basilica-architecture
      7. ↑ https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/basilica?q=basilicas
      8. ↑ https://www.britannica.com/technology/basilica-architecture

      About This Article

      In other languages
      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 45,366 times.

      Reader Success Stories

      • Richard V.

        Oct 12, 2023

        "I am Roman Catholic. Recently, a Jewish friend asked me about the differences between a church, a cathedral and a ..." more
      Share your story

      Did this article help you?

      Advertisement