Churches in Illinois

Religious Landscape of Illinois

Illinois is a state of striking religious contrasts. Chicago and its suburbs form one of the most religiously diverse metropolitan areas in the world, while downstate Illinois is culturally and religiously more akin to the rural Midwest and Upper South. The Catholic Church is the largest denomination, anchored by the Archdiocese of Chicago, which serves over two million Catholics and is one of the largest dioceses in the nation. Polish, Irish, Italian, Mexican, and Filipino parishes give Chicago's Catholic landscape extraordinary ethnic richness. Willow Creek Community Church in the northwest suburbs pioneered the seeker-sensitive megachurch model in the 1970s and remains one of the most influential Protestant congregations in America. Historically Black Baptist and Pentecostal churches are central to religious life on Chicago's South and West sides, and Trinity United Church of Christ gained national attention as the home church of former President Barack Obama. Lutherans, both ELCA and LCMS, have strong followings in northern Illinois and among Scandinavian and German heritage communities. Southern Baptists have a significant presence in southern Illinois, which is culturally part of the Bible Belt. Illinois's adherence rate of around 50% reflects robust Catholic and mainline participation in the north balanced against lower affiliation rates in some urban and university communities.