A careful record of every Christian community we can find in Iowa — from the historic downtown cathedrals to the storefront congregations at the edge of the map. 5,166 parishes, across 841 towns and cities, representing 56 traditions.
Our Iowa record includes 5,166 active parishes, drawn from every corner of the state — city cathedrals, rural meetinghouses, storefront missions, and the long-standing ethnic congregations that shape Iowa's religious texture.
We define "parish" generously: any congregation gathering weekly or more often for public Christian worship, regardless of tradition, size, or affiliation. We list storefront missions alongside cathedrals. We do not rank.
Entries are arranged by tradition and by city. Where a parish is distinguished by history, architecture, music, or civic witness, we have said so — quietly. Where it is ordinary, we have also said so, for ordinariness is what the overwhelming majority of churches offer, and what most people, most Sundays, are looking for.
The 841 cities and towns below account for Iowa's full parish map. The top by parish count is Des Moines with 242 on record.
The largest Iowa city in our record. 242 parishes spanning many traditions.
Enter Des Moines →The largest Iowa city in our record. 116 parishes spanning many traditions.
Enter Cedar Rapids →The largest Iowa city in our record. 111 parishes spanning many traditions.
Enter Waterloo →Any congregation gathering weekly or more often for public Christian worship, with a physical location open to visitors. We list storefront missions alongside cathedrals. We verify activity quarterly.
The simplest path is to enter your city or ZIP in the search bar. You can also browse by city within this state, or filter by tradition, language, or service time.
No. Churches List is independent. We accept no sponsored listings. Our editors hold a range of Christian affiliations; our editorial standards are published under §II of the About page.
Every parish entry is reviewed at least once per year. Hours, schedules, and contact information are verified quarterly. Corrections can be submitted at any time.
Yes — the Submit a Parish form is linked from every page. New entries are reviewed by our editorial team within two weeks.