Churches in Alabama

Religious Landscape of Alabama

Alabama sits squarely in the heart of the Bible Belt, and its religious character reflects that geography. The Southern Baptist Convention is by far the largest religious body in the state, with over 3,200 congregations spread across every county. Historically Black Protestant churches, including Baptist and African Methodist Episcopal congregations, have played a defining role in Alabama's civic life, from the Montgomery Bus Boycott to the Selma-to-Montgomery marches. The Catholic Church maintains a meaningful presence along the Gulf Coast, especially around Mobile, which was founded as a French Catholic colony. United Methodists constitute the second-largest Protestant group, with deep roots in rural and suburban communities. In recent decades, non-denominational megachurches have experienced explosive growth, led by Church of the Highlands, which has expanded to dozens of campuses across the state and regularly draws over 60,000 weekly attendees. Pentecostal and charismatic congregations, including the Church of God and Assemblies of God, round out the state's diverse evangelical landscape. Alabama's religious adherence rate of roughly 58% places it among the most churched states in the nation, and faith-based organizations remain central to community life, disaster relief, and social services statewide.