List of the oldest churches in the United States

The designation of the oldest church in the United States requires careful use of definitions, and must be divided into two parts, the oldest in the sense of oldest surviving "building", and the oldest in the sense of oldest Christian church "congregation". There is a distinction between old church buildings that have been in continuous use as churches, and those that have been converted to other purposes; and between buildings that have been in continuous use as churches and those that were shuttered for many decades.
In terms of congregations, they are distinguished between early established congregations that have been in continuous existence (sometimes through great theological changes), and early congregations that ceased to exist. Some of these churches are located in areas that were part of the thirteen original colonies that made up the United States in 1776. Others were built in states and territories that were later annexed, such as Louisiana, New Mexico, and Puerto Rico. Sites on the list are generally from the First Period of American architecture or earlier.
To be listed here a site must:
Oldest church buildings.
LaMarsh Baptist church Mapleton, Il was established in 1838 in a barn until the church was built later that year (or following year). The church added a basement in the 1950s, and added the new church in 1997 (keeping the old church in it's location). As of October 27, 2021 they will celebrated their 183rd Anniversary being the 6th oldest church in Illinois, 49th oldest in the United States and the 224th oldest in the world. They still have a weekly service being held every Sunday Morning 10:30 am, Sunday Night at 6pm and Wednesday night at 7pm. They also have additional events such as prayer meetings (Sunday night at 5:30 PM), soul wining, VBS, and other activities.
Shield Chapel Methodist Church was established and built in Canton, Illinois, in 1840 and still exists today, 181 years later.
Oldest continuous church congregations.
LaMarsh Baptist church Mapleton, Il was established in 1838 in a barn until the church was built later that year (or following year). The church added a basement in the 1950s, and added the new church in 1997 (keeping the old church in it's location). As of October 27, 2021 they will celebrated their 183rd Anniversary being the 6th oldest church in Illinois, 49th oldest in the United States and the 224th oldest in the world. They still have a weekly service being held every Sunday Morning 10:30 am, Sunday Night at 6pm and Wednesday night at 7pm. They also have additional events such as prayer meetings (Sunday night at 5:30 PM), soul wining, VBS, and other activities.
Shield Chapel Methodist Church was established and built in Canton, Illinois, in 1840 and still exists today, 181 years later.
By state.
Puerto Rico.
[[File:Catedral_de_San_Juan_Bautista_de_Puerto_Rico_-_DSC06946.JPG|thumb|[[Cathedral of San Juan Bautista]] is the oldest church built in the United States]]
Virginia.
[[File:Newport_parish_west_facade.jpg|thumb|[[St. Luke's Church (Smithfield, Virginia)|St. Luke's Church]] is the oldest extant church building in Virginia]]
West Virginia.
[[File:Rehoboth_Church.jpg|thumb|[[Rehoboth Church]] was constructed in 1786]]
External links.
[[Category:Lists of churches in the United States|Oldest]]
[[Category:Lists of oldest buildings and structures in the United States|*Churches]]
[[Category:United States history-related lists|Oldest churches]]
[[Category:United States-related lists of superlatives|Oldest churches]]
[[Category:Christianity-related lists of superlatives|Churches, United States, Oldest]]
[[Category:Historic preservation in the United States|Churches]]