US Churches Have Faced Mass Closures Amid Decline

A new PBS documentary examines the nationwide trend of congregational contraction and shifting worship models.

Updated on Oct. 2, 2026 in Christianity

Bold vector editorial illustration of an empty church facade under a quiet sky, illustrating the trend of congregational contraction. — A new PBS documentary series investigates the ongoing trend of church closures and congregational contraction across the United States. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Do you still see local houses of worship as vital centers for your community?

A new PBS documentary series, Christianity at a Crossroads, explores the widespread decline in church attendance and the resulting closure of houses of worship across the United States. Experts project that as many as 100,000 churches could close or be repurposed over the next decade due to financial pressures.

Why it matters

Declining institutional trust, controversies regarding sexual orientation, and clergy abuse scandals have fueled a long-term drop in attendance since the 1960s. This erosion of the congregation base leaves many aging facilities unable to cover rising insurance and maintenance costs.

Approximately 62% of US adults currently identify as Christian, while about 30% of Americans attend church services weekly. Some individual congregations like Christ Congregational Church in Silver Spring have reported annual maintenance costs reaching $400,000.

The players

Hartford Institute for Religion Research

This academic entity monitors religious trends and recently recorded the first increase in in-person worship attendance in 25 years.

Alfred Street Baptist Church

Located in Alexandria, Virginia, this large congregation currently supports 10,000 members and reaches 15,000 additional viewers online.

Church of the Nativity

This suburban Baltimore institution serves as a notable outlier by successfully attracting 800 children and young people to its Sunday services.

The details

Congregations are increasingly abandoning large physical buildings, such as the Belding United Methodist Church in Michigan, in favor of smaller spaces or private homes. While some institutions struggle, others like the Church of the Nativity in Baltimore maintain high engagement by drawing hundreds of young people to services.

The decline in church attendance across America began during the 1960s.
Religious attendance in America reached its peak during the mid-20th century.
Belding United Methodist Church announced its final closure in the summer of 2024.
As many as 100,000 churches could face closure or repurposing over the next decade.

Culture Shift

This wave of closures follows a pattern established by long-term shifts in attendance, though it currently conflicts with the Hartford Institute for Religion Research study on in-person worship attendance that recently noted a rare uptick in participation. These closures represent a broader cultural move toward secularization and the rejection of traditional institutional structures.

Residents may notice an increase in local church buildings being repurposed for secular community use or residential development as congregations downsize. Members of struggling churches may face shifts in their traditional worship routines as their institutions transition to smaller facilities or online-only platforms.

The takeaway

The closure of long-standing religious landmarks often signals a fundamental change in how communities foster social connection and shared belief. Adapting to these changes may require parishioners to embrace smaller, more flexible environments rather than relying on legacy physical infrastructure.