Religion in Louisville, Kentucky facts for kids
Louisville, Kentucky, is a city where many different religions are practiced. You can find churches, synagogues, mosques, and temples for faiths like Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Sikhism.
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Religions in Louisville
Christianity
Christianity is a very common religion in Louisville. Many different Christian groups, called denominations, have churches here.
Roman Catholic Church
Over 135,000 Roman Catholics live in Louisville. They are part of the Archdiocese of Louisville, which covers 24 counties in central Kentucky. The main church, called the Cathedral of the Assumption, is in downtown Louisville. A famous monastery, Our Lady of Gethsemani Abbey, is also nearby. Many Catholics in Louisville have German family roots from the 1800s. Bellarmine University and Spalding University are Catholic schools in the city.
Protestant Churches
About one in three people in Louisville are Southern Baptists. This group grew when many people moved to Louisville from rural Kentucky and Tennessee in the early 1900s. Some of these new residents also started Holiness and Pentecostal churches.
German immigrants in the 1800s brought not only Catholicism but also Lutheran and Evangelical churches. Today, you can find Lutheran churches and United Church of Christ congregations in Louisville.
The city has two very large churches, called megachurches. Southeast Christian Church is one of the biggest churches in the United States. St. Stephen Church is also very large and has the biggest African American congregation in Kentucky.
Louisville is home to several important religious schools. These include the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and the Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary. The main office for the Presbyterian Church (USA) is also located here.
The Magazine Street Church is the oldest African-American Seventh-day Adventist church. Christ Church Cathedral is the main church for the Episcopal Diocese of Kentucky.
Eastern Orthodox Churches
Louisville has two Eastern Orthodox churches. These are Assumption Greek Orthodox Church and St. Michael the Archangel Antiochian Church.
Other Christian Groups
The Louisville Kentucky Temple is a temple for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, also known as Mormons. It is located near Louisville and serves members in Kentucky and nearby states.
The city also has three Unitarian Universalist churches. These churches include All Peoples Unitarian Universalist Congregation and First Unitarian Church.
Judaism
About 14,200 Jewish people live in the Louisville area. They attend five different synagogues. Many Jewish families moved to Louisville from Eastern Europe in the early 1900s. Since 1991, about 800 Jewish people from the Soviet Union have also moved here.
Jewish immigrants started Jewish Hospital, which was once in the center of the city's Jewish area. A main spot for Louisville's Jewish community is near Bowman Field. Here, you can find two Orthodox synagogues, the Jewish Community Center, and other services. Louis Brandeis, a famous judge from Louisville, was the first Jewish person on the Supreme Court in 1916.
Islam
In 2001, there were an estimated 4,000 to 10,000 Muslims in Louisville. They attend six local mosques. One of these is the Westport Mosque, which is part of the Muslim Community Center. The Islamic School of Louisville is also located next to the Westport Mosque.
Hinduism
The Hindu temple of Kentucky opened near Louisville in 1999. It was updated and rededicated in 2011.
Buddhism
Several Buddhist groups and organizations are active in Louisville. These include The Louisville Community of Mindful Living and the Drepung Gomang Center for Engaging Compassion. The Vietnamese Buddhist Association of Louisville also serves the community.
Taoism
Taoist practices in Louisville are represented by a local group of the International Taoist Tai Chi Society.
Baháʼí Faith
The Baháʼí Faith has been in Louisville since the 1920s. The first Baháʼí center opened in 1965. The current center, built in 1999, was designed for a larger community.
Neopaganism
Louisville has a strong Pagan community. This includes followers of Wicca and other Neopagan religions. Many local Pagan groups exist, though some prefer to stay private. Local networking happens through groups like Louisville Pagan Pride and local shops.
Interfaith Activities
Since 1996, the Center for Interfaith Relations has hosted the Festival of Faiths. This event brings together people from different religions for music, art, and discussions. The Huffington Post called it one of America's top spiritual travel destinations.
See also
In Spanish: Anexo:Religión en Louisville, Kentucky para niños
