20 Unusual Churches (Part I)
By Village Mayor • Oct 25th, 2008 • Category: Architecture, Latest Post, The Best of Village of JoyIs there a God? This must be the most popular and most often asked question of all times. Well, I can’t help you there, sorry.
This post is not about religion, it’s about architecture. Not just architecture, but unusual architecture, and to be more exact – unusual churches.
I am sure that there are hundreds and thousands of beautiful churches around the world, but only very very few are so odd, that you would definitely take a camera and take a picture. If you are interested, here’s the list of 20 unusual churches that I found.
P.S.: if you know or have a picture of an unusual church, send it to us (email on about page).
P.S2.: full list can be found here: 50 Most Extraordinary Churches of the World
1. The Church of Hallgrímur, Reykjavík, Iceland
(Image Credits: Stuck in Customs)
The Church of Hallgrímur is very very unusual, never seen anything like that.
This Lutheran parish church is also a very tall one, reaching 74.5 metres (244 ft) height. It is the fourth tallest architectural structure in Iceland.
It took incredibly long to build it (38 years!) Construction work began in 1945 and ended in 1986.
The Architect of this building is Guðjón Samúelssondesign.
More info: Hallgrímskirkja
2. Cathedral of Brasilia in Brasilia, Brazil
(Image Credits: = xAv =)
(Image Credits: Victor Soares, Agência Brazil)
This is a very famous Cathedral of Brasília designed by Oscar Niemeyer. It looks really modern but somehow childish to me. These columns, having hyperbolic section and weighing 90 t, represent two hands moving upwards to heaven.
The construction was finished in 1970.
More info: Cathedral of Brasília
3. Paoay Church (St. Augustine Parish) in Philippines
(Image Credits: Storm Crypt)
Paoay Church reminds me of Aztec architecture. It looks very massive and strong. The walls of the church are 1.67 meters thick and are supported by 24 carved and massive buttresses.
Its construction started in 1704 and was completed in 1894 by the Augustinian friars led by Fr. Antonio Estavillo. It is said, that Its construction primarily was intended to withstand earthquakes. And it could test the strength of the walls very soon, because the church was damaged by an earthquake in 1706 and 1927.
The design of the church is a mixture of Gothic, Oriental and Baroque influence.
4. Duomo (Milan Cathedral) in Italy
(Image Credits: Stuck in Customs)
Duomo looks incredibly tall and majestic. It even has an evil and scary look in this picture. After checking the Wikipedia for more info I found there were more photos of this cathedral, but they don’t look as cool as this photo here. Maybe its just an illusion made by a good photographer that this building is so amazing.
On the other hand, Mark Twain said the following of the Duomo in Milan in his work, Innocents Abroad:
“They say that the Cathedral of Milan is second only to St. Peter’s at Rome. I cannot understand how it can be second to anything made by human hands.”
More info: Wikipedia.
5. Church Ruins in Goreme, Turkey
(Image Credits: shapeshift)
The rock cut ruins of a church by persecuted Christians.
Not sure when it was built, but definitely look very ancient. How did those guys carved the inside of these rocks?
The Cappadocia valley, where this church stands, is very popular for its rocks that the people of the villages at the heart of the Cappadocia Region carved out to form houses, churches, monasteries.
There are an estimated 150 churches and several monasteries in the canyon between the villages of Ihlara and Selime.
Those rocks are volcanic deposits, so that means they are soft rocks, making it possible to carve such structures.
6. Green church, Buenos Aires, Argentina
(Image Credits: Magda-50)
Don’t have info about this church, nevertheless it’s very unusual. I have never seen a church so green, have you?
Michael: “a parish church in Buenos Aires, Argentina known as the “Huerto de Olivos”, or “Garden of Olives,” most likely a reference Gethsemane, on the Mount of Olives”
7. Borgund Stave Church, Lærdal, Norway
(Image Credits: Wikipedia)
Stave churches may have been very usual all over medieval northwestern Europe but now you can only find them in Norway. Well ok, there is one one in Sweden, but nowhere else.
Borgund stave church located in Borgund, Lærdal, Norway is the best preserved of Norway’s 28 extant stave churches. This wooden church, probably built in the end of the 12th century, has not changed structure or had a major reconstruction since the date it was built.
Interesting fact: the church is also featured as a Wonder for the Viking civilization in the video game Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings.
8. Paraportiani Church, Mykonos, Greece
(Image Credits: marcelgermain)
I will just cite, what the author of this picture wrote about it:
“Paraportianí Church is one of the most famous architectural structures in Greece. Its name means secondary gate, because it was built on the site of one of the gates of the Medieval stone walls. Some parts of this beautiful church date from 1425 and the rest was built during the 16th and 17th centuries. ”
9. Sagrada Familia, Barcelona, Spain
(Image Credits: Wolfgang Staudt)
I have never seen anything as incredible as this building! Never been to Spain, but if I ever happen to do so, I will definitely include Sangrada Família on the must-see list. I wonder, how does it look in reality?
Sagrada Família is a very massive Roman Catholic basilica under construction in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. Construction began in 1882 and continues to this day. A very famous architect Antoni Gaudí worked on the project for over 40 years, devoting the last 15 years of his life entirely to this endeavour.
In the center there is going to be a tower of Jesus Christ, surmounted by a giant cross; the tower’s total height will be 170 m (557,7ft).
There is so much info on this one, that you should check Wikipedia.
10. St. Basil’s Cathedral, Moscow, Russia
(Image Credits: Lst1984)
Cathedral of Saint Basil the Blessed , is a multi-tented church which stands on the Red Square in Moscow.
This church looks really cool, because It has very unusual onion domes which look playful and colorful. Sometimes people even say, that they remind them of lollypops.
The cathedral was built in 1555 -1561 by Ivan IV (a.k.a Ivan the Terrible) to celebrate the capture of the Khanate of Kazan.
A legend says that Ivan had the architect, Postnik Yakovlev, blinded to prevent him from building a more magnificent building for anyone else. In fact, Postnik Yakovlev built a number of churches after Saint Basil’s.
More info: Saint Basil’s Cathedral
11. Church in Stykkishólmur, Iceland
(Image Credits: omarrun)
(Image Credits: omarrun)
This church in Iceland looks really weird, like some alien structure. If you have more info on that one, let me know.
Update: It was built in 1990 and the architect is Jón Haraldsson.
12. Basilica de Higuey, Dominican Republic
(Image Credits: Fernando Rossi)
Basilica de Higuey is located in the city of Higuey, Dominican Republic. Its unusual look reminds me of a basket.
The church is one of the most respected monuments of the Dominican Republic. The basilica was inaugurated on January 21, 1971, and was built by French architects.
13. Grace Fellowship Baptist Church, Baltimore Road in Detroit, Michigan, USA
(Image Credits: Derek Farr ( DetroitDerek ))
This strange building is actually a church. Once it was famous for being “Detroit’s most beautiful Chinese-American restaurant”. Later it closed down and became the Omega Baptist Church and then the Grace Fellowship Baptist Church. Located at 265 Baltimore, MD, USA.
14. Las Lajas Cathedral in Colombia
(Image Credits: Jungle_Boy)
(Image Credits: julkastro)
Las Lajas Cathedral looks unusual to me because one side of it seems to be a part of a bridge across the river and the other side rests on the hill. The overall look is really fascinating.
Built in 1916 inside the canyon of the Guaitara river where, according to local legend, the Virgin Mary appeared.
You can find this church in southern Colombian Department of Nariño, municipality of Ipiales, near the border with Ecuador.
15. Jubilee Church in Rome, Italy
(Image Credits: alaninabox)
(Image Credits: alaninabox)
Jubilee Church has very distinctive curved walls which look like sails to me. Designed in 1996 by architect Richard Meier, the church has curved walls which serve the engineering purpose of minimizing thermal peak loads in the interior space.
The walls are made from a special cement, which contain titanium dioxide, so it destroys air pollution.
According to Borgarello “When the titanium dioxide absorbs ultraviolet light, it becomes powerfully reactive, breaking down pollutants that come in contact with the concrete.”
16. St Joseph Ukrainian Catholic Church in Chicago, IL, USA
(Image Credits: Giant Ginkgo)
Maybe I’ll better don’t tell what those domes remind me (haha). Very very unusual looking building I must say. Its massiveness and gray color looks like Soviet architecture. I was amazed when I read that it was actually in USA and not somewhere In Soviet Union.
St. Joseph Ukrainian Catholic church is a is most known for its ultra-modern thirteen gold domed roof symbolizing the twelve apostles and Jesus Christ as the largest center dome.
It is celebrating its 52 years, so it was built in 1956 (if my calculations are right).
More info on Wikipedia: St Joseph Ukrainian Church
17. Notre Dame du Haut in Ronchamp, France
(Image Credits: jimgrant)
Someone told that the roof of this building looks like Elvis’ hair.
Informally known as Ronchamp, the chapel of Notre Dame du Haut was completed in 1954 and is considered one of the finest examples of architecture by the late French/Swiss architect Le Corbusier.
Most interesting fact to me is that, when it rains, water pours off the slanted roof onto a fountain, creating a dramatic waterfall.
More info on Wikipedia: Notre Dame du Haut
18. Odd Church in Huntington Beach, CA, USA
(Image Credits: woolennium)
Don’t have info on that one, only this photo and the location: Huntington Beach, CA, USA.
As far as I understand it must be sponsored by Shell, because it has a huge SHELL logo on it (this statement can be absolutely different from the reality). Looks terrible overall.
19. Chapel of St. Gildas, Brittany, France 
(Image Credits: Touring Boy)
This church is really odd one, sorry I have no info on it, only the words of the picture author: “This was on the canal to Carnac. Really odd church in the (seeming) middle of nowhere. ”
Mads: “This is the chapel of St-Gildas, which sits upon the bank of the Canal du Blavet in Brittany, France. “Built like a stone barn into the base of a bare rocky cliff, this was once a holy place of the Druids. Gildas appears to have travelled widely throughout the Celtic world of Corwall, Wales, Ireland and Scotland. He arrived in Brittany in about AD 540 and is said to have preached Christianity to the people from a rough pulpit, now contained within the chapel.” (from ‘Cruising French Waterways’ by Hugh McKnight p.150)”
20. Cathedral of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
(Image Credits: Phillie Casablanca)
Cathedral of Rio de Janeiro looks like a Pyramid of Egypt or Aztecs.
It was built between 1964 and 1979. Conical in form it has internal diameter of 96 metres (315 ft) and an overall height of 75 metres (246 ft). The church has a standing-room capacity of 20,000 people.
Four rectilinear stained glass windows soar 64 metres (210 ft) from floor to ceiling.
Full list can be found here: 50 Most Extraordinary Churches of the World
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February 25th, 2009 at 3:44 am
all these churches is amazing ,and is bless by god,i wish i could visit all in my life time .
February 25th, 2009 at 3:42 am
You’ve missed this one:
“La luz del mundo” at Guadalajara, Jal. Mexico.
February 23rd, 2009 at 11:02 am
Wonderful! Beautiful, I have to do a world tour.
Does anyone know the name of the town in Germany where there is a huge underground cathedral carved out of a salt mine? I hear it has great acoustics. Email me at alexakesson@yahoo.com if you know where it is, I couldnt find it, it somewhere in the north east, supposedly.
February 23rd, 2009 at 10:41 am
Hey, Just had to comment on these saintly pieces of architecture – St. Gilda’s I have been to, and my instinct is to tell you that it is impressionistic (like the french are) at what they do – they like to leave a big mark somewhere whether it has any relevance or not as who knows goes there as quite rightly they are rather cut off from main towns. If you ever go to Brittany again I suggest seeing Mont Dol a really pretty spot overlooking the legend of Michael Angelo and what not (lots of legends to boot) very spiritual though. What’s wrong with the one in Huntingdon (USA)? Classy!!!x@£%+\? SUZY
February 22nd, 2009 at 8:49 pm
wowwww.
i love these, they are absolutely stunninggg.
February 21st, 2009 at 7:53 am
It does pay to surf the net and by luck I “stumbled” upon your “Stumble Upon” and being a lover of old buildings especially churches, I enjoyed looking at your ‘unusual Churches’.
Shall view again,
William McCleery.
February 21st, 2009 at 4:11 am
Amazing.
February 19th, 2009 at 7:44 am
wow these churches are fascinating I thought Ive seen all but now,, I just can understand the feeling .
February 19th, 2009 at 3:40 am
I see these churches(not all) as a taste of God’s truism and holyness that has been given to humanity!
February 18th, 2009 at 5:40 pm
Arapça ile ilgili her şey
February 18th, 2009 at 7:29 am
As different as each man soul so are the buildings we chose to house them in.
February 17th, 2009 at 12:59 am
The most interesting half hour I’ve ever spent on line. I should Stumble around more often…usually it’s logging onto the Crediit Union, paying bills, quick answers to granddaughters’ emaiils without finding something beautiful, calming and spiritual.
Thanks for the “pause to ponder.”
February 16th, 2009 at 6:56 pm
I sang in Church #16. I also played guitar in there, a special dispensation since the Ukranian Catholics don’t allow instruments in their churches. They use their God-given voices only.
February 12th, 2009 at 11:20 am
i want to visit your church for re working reletionship in christ.
February 12th, 2009 at 7:18 am
all great pieces of amazing architecture…have been to a few on my travels. church #1 is the only *skyscraper* in reykjavik, apparently, it took about 40 years to complete (finished in 1980)…the columns actually represent the cooled lava basalt formations that you see lots of in the icelandic landscape…apparently, when the lava cools, it forms a hexagonal shape naturally, so this church was made to look like a natural icelandic rock formation…TOTALLY KOOL.
and the inside of the building is pretty awesome as well…
the norwegian stave churches are ALL amazing pieces of architecture…and the sagrada in barcelona will NEVER be finished they reckon…gaudi had so many crazy ideas for this one that it it simply an *ongoing work*…you can already USE it…
and mr power (#77), i would say God is indeed alive and well. you just don’t know that.
nietzsche himself said “God is dead, COMMA because there is no revival in the hearts of men (paraphrased)…” People need to quote the guy properly or NOT AT ALL. He talked of the “ubermensch” (super-man) who has no need for God, yet he died of whore-related-syphilis in a nut-house…lonely and loveless in the year 1900. Evidently he did not need God. It is nietzsche who is very much dead…
Obviously ROCKIN !!!!!!
anyway, that’s for another day…but i do agree that BECAUSE CHURCH (AND MORE IMPORTANTLY LOVE) SHOULD BE IN OUR HEARTS, we need to feed the poor a lot lot more. i agree with you on that.
peace and love to all.
great fotos!!
February 10th, 2009 at 7:29 pm
God is not dead becous is God and a real God do not die…. is not roket cienses…But He not live in temples made by humans He lives in ours hearts if we leave him. IN spanish.. Dios no esta muerto porque es Dios y un verdadero Dios no muere…no es ciencia de coetes..Pero El no vive en templos hechos por hombres, El vive en nuestros corazones si se lo permitimos…Siento pena por quienes no lo tienen en el suyo .
February 10th, 2009 at 8:48 am
This is a wonderful collection. I have only one comment about your exposition #7; the Borgund Church in Norway. As I well remember from my childhood years, a similliar church, sited in a similliar background, stands in Zakopane, Poland. It was disassembled and brought from Norway in 19th Century and situated in a gorgeous valley of Tatra Mountains (north-east end of Alps). I have several photos and postal card with it in my collection, will scan it and send you a coppy.
Regards from Dallas, Ted
February 8th, 2009 at 8:55 pm
This just proves how fascanated we are by this world.Gods beauty is not in these magnifcent architectures .
February 8th, 2009 at 4:37 pm
“These are indeed an awesome, God is Wonderful and So Real !!! Check out the largest / biggest church auditorium in the world- Faith Tabernacle, Living Faith Church, Canaan Land, Ota, Nigeria”
No Vicky, God is dead. But we will built monuments and cathedrals ad infinitum because we need to believe there is a reason for our existance. For me: the high art represented by some of these beautiful churches is reason enough for our existance. But enough already. No more churches. Use the money instead to feed the poor.
February 8th, 2009 at 7:30 am
I recomend the church “Ostrog” in Niksic, Monte Negro.
February 7th, 2009 at 10:54 am
U.S.A.!!!!…..U.S.A.!!!!!
we know how to class it up.
February 1st, 2009 at 9:38 pm
las lajas………Wasn’t That Used In The Film Babylon A.D.?
February 1st, 2009 at 9:36 pm
The Picture Of St. Gildas Amazes Me. Such Beauty, So Much Work. It’s Incredible. Fantastic!
February 1st, 2009 at 5:55 pm
I agree, #14 in Colombia looks amazing! by far my fave
January 30th, 2009 at 10:24 am
wow.. #14 is absolutely gorgeous…
almost makes me want to move there and take up religion again..
January 29th, 2009 at 8:57 pm
TOTALLY AMAZING
January 27th, 2009 at 4:04 am
These are indeed an awesome, God is Wonderful and So Real !!! Check out the largest / biggest church auditorium in the world- Faith Tabernacle, Living Faith Church, Canaan Land, Ota, Nigeria
January 26th, 2009 at 12:57 pm
I allway had a fasination for buildings and churches and catholic churhes to be exact. those re special churches god bless the church and the churches pepoples.
January 26th, 2009 at 5:42 am
amazing
January 25th, 2009 at 9:27 pm
Too bad thisisn’ in Video form
January 23rd, 2009 at 9:21 am
It is really a wonder to see these odd pictures of Churches. In fact some may qualify for UNESCO’s wonders of the world.
January 23rd, 2009 at 3:55 am
you are welcome and good luck with your school project Berly!
January 22nd, 2009 at 11:34 pm
“Molt”-there is such a thing called kindness; maybe you should try it. “Clark” and “Logan”… I’m sorry that you feel that way and you have the freedom to think so. I pray that life may treat you better and that God may open your eyes…
Aannyywwaayy (:, I think that these churches are absolutely unusual yet beautiful and that the best way to use your creativity is by glorifying the Lord…
January 22nd, 2009 at 11:17 pm
WOW!!! Those are absolutely incredible! I wish I could go to every one of them! To bad I’m to young to fly by myself yet…(: They are indescribably beautiful!!
P.S. Thanks for sharing! Actually, I found this site while looking for a cool picture of a older-style church for my school project… (I used picture #6) (;
January 21st, 2009 at 8:32 pm
These are lovley and unusual, but I have photos of the Chapel of bones in Faro.
It is not only very well made it is so spooky, to stand in a chapel made of human femains and feel the eye’s of the dead looking at you.
January 19th, 2009 at 1:42 pm
If you get a chance ther’s an amazing little church in Tuscany, Italy carved out of the side of a cliff.
It’s not far from Vagli Sopra.
You can drive to Campocatino and then it’s a bit of a hike on foot.
The church was built by one priest Santo Viano, incredible!
January 19th, 2009 at 12:30 pm
http://patrickmullen.wordpress.com/2007/10/26/tadao-ando-churches/
January 18th, 2009 at 5:47 pm
really nice pictures! I have a picture of another angle of the church in Iceland here: http://beaahbeckphotography.com/index/editorial/island/iceland.html picture #12!
You might want to consider featuring the new Catholic Cathedral of Christ the Light in Oakland, it just opened a few months ago.
January 14th, 2009 at 7:34 am
I have visited and been into Sagrada Famillia in Barcelona in June 2006. What a massive complex building!! There are different areas to see within. One must visit it when on holidays in Barcelona.
I wonder when the building will be completed for worship.
January 13th, 2009 at 8:10 pm
I’ve been inside #1, VERY cool! I have ancestors who lived in Iceland. Great collection!!
January 12th, 2009 at 8:48 pm
The Odd Church in Huntington Beach, CA, USA, has two symbols; Christianity and Shell Gas
station. Do they sell gas too for the church goers who forgot to buy gas before going
to church?
January 12th, 2009 at 5:41 pm
La Sagrada Familia de Barcelona es la mejor!!!
The Best is “La Sagrada Familia” from Barcelona. Gaudí Forever
January 11th, 2009 at 3:32 pm
Cathedral of Cuquio Jalisco
It was built between 1748 and 1794.
see http://www.cuquio.tk
January 11th, 2009 at 7:07 am
Increíble, nunca pensé que la iglesia de mi barrio, Olivos, Vicente Lopez, Buenos Aires, Argentina fuese a formar parte de una recopilación de fotos de curiosos edificios religiosos. Muy lindo Che!
January 11th, 2009 at 6:33 am
I believe lack one, the Catedral from Justo Gallego Martinez. He’s a man what are builting alone one Catedral fron 39 year ago in Mejorada del Campo (Madrid, España). Coordenadas: [mostrar el lugar en un mapa interactivo] 40°23′39.19″N 3°29′18.39″O
January 11th, 2009 at 5:48 am
http://www.fotosdegrancanaria.com/arucas.htm In Arucas, Gran Canaria, (Canary Islands, Canarian Nation, NW Africa)really just a church, not a cathedral. Begin to built in the early 1900’s. It is all build in carved stone. Congratulations. Regards. Thanks.
January 11th, 2009 at 3:15 am
Other special church in Berlin
http://picasaweb.google.es/albercaman/Berlin#5101911609216407138
January 7th, 2009 at 3:09 pm
hello, i am the son of the late pastor of St. Joseph Ukrainian Catholic Parish
St. Joesph Church was in fact not built in 1956 but between 1975-1978
the parish was established in 1956, the original church building is located next door, it has since been converted to parish offices
January 6th, 2009 at 6:31 am
Thank for your sharing unusual churches.
January 6th, 2009 at 5:18 am
Hi everyone! I want to thank you all for your comments and especially for new unusual church suggestions! Part II is coming soon and there will some really really unusual churches, so be patient.