Churches are the most sacred place for Christians as they are the center in which all religious affairs occur. From baptisms to weddings and then funerals, a church plays an important part in the life of a Christian.
The churches are the oldest institutions made by men. the history of churches may show the separations built according to differences in ideologies such as Catholicism and Protestantism. However, churches are not the center of religion only. They have a significant hand in generating revenue where they are located. Most churches have regular donations or properties and schools or colleges that help them stay afloat and look after the needy.
You will be astonished by the wealth that churches have acquired throughout history with artifacts, tapestries, monasteries, schools, colleges and organizations, and lands for numerous purposes. However, it is seen that all is spent on the welfare of the less privileged people.
So, which churches are the richest? The answer to this question is mind-boggling. We have compiled a list of the wealthiest churches according to their net worth in 2022.
Which Churches are The Richest in The World?
The Mormon Church
The church, also known as the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saint, originated 192 years ago. As of 2022, the net worth of this church has reached $100 Billion, making it at the top of the list. The church has an ever-growing number of members that have exceeded 16 million people. The church is located in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States.
Roman Catholic church
The Holy Church in the Vatican is the oldest in the world. It does not only have wealth, but it has a history with nations and wealth in terms of gold, artwork, buildings, and schools. It is also said to be the Holy see and is the bishop’s residence. The current net worth of this church is $33 Billion, with the most number of members at 1.4 billion.
Catholic church of Germany
The Roman Church of Germany is right now on the third as of 2022, with a net worth of $26 Billion. The church is one of the oldest and has seen a lot of history. It follows the Catholic ideology. It has more than 22 million members. It was founded by Saint Boniface.
Catholic Church Australia
The Roman Catholic church of Australia was founded in 1788, and it comes under the administration of the Holy See, i.e., the central Catholic Church in the Vatican. This year its net worth has reached $22 billion. The church is located in Sydney, New South Wales, and has more than 5 million members.
Church of England
When discussing which churches are the richest globally, we must not forget the Anglican Church of England. The net worth of this church is around $10 billion this year, and it has more than 26 million members. The church followed Anglican theology and got separated from the Roman Catholic church in 1534.
Opus Dei
The Catholic institution, formerly known as The Prelature of the Holy cross, believes in uniting spiritual life with worldly matters such as profession and family. The church has a net worth of $3 billion. It has a total number of 85000 members. The church is located in Italy.
Church of Scientology
The church was founded by an author, L. Ron Hubbard, an American. It was launched in December 1953 and has a total net worth of $2.5 billion in 2022. The organization is a chain of interlinked organizations working for the same belief system. It has its headquarters in the United States of America. The current in charge of the institution is David Miscavige.
Episcopalian Church
The church has its headquarters in New York, the United States of America. The current net worth of the church is $2 billion. It has approximately 1.7 million members. The church was separated from the church of England in 1975 after the American revolution.
The main difference between catholic and episcopalian theology is that episcopalians do not submit to the pope’s authority. Rather, they have bishops and cardinals through a general election. Also, the confessions of sins to the pope are not a part of their belief system.
Freemasonry
Freemasonry is not your typical religion. It has members all over the world. Most elitist men have found this, and they link it back to the stonemasons of the 13th century. They are the richest organization in the world. Their symbol is also a dollar sign. The net worth as of 2022 is $1.9 billion. While the members are ever-growing, the prediction is about 6 million.
The Kenneth Copeland Ministry
The Kenneth Copeland Ministry is the last on the list. It has 1 billion net worth and is located in Tarrant County, Texas, United States. The preacher is American in the church, and his name is Kenneth Copeland.
Our Final Thoughts
The positions of these churches vary every year by the amount of wealth and size of numbers they have. Still, according to the trend, the list of names for which churches are the richest remains more or less the same. The churches have been a part of a ruling era and now play an important role in the advancements of society. The history of the popes advising rulers has been witnessed, though it is not the same as before. Still, churches are an important part of the system to maintain the economy.
Tell us which church’s wealth has astonished you the most. Share the acquired information in this blog with your friends and family. Stay updated for the latest list next year. The economy is ever-changing, and churches change positions on this list every year. It won’t be a surprise if you see a church on rank ten move all the way up to the fifth position!
