Big churches

A megachurch is a congregation with a very large building and membership. Most megachurches offer a variety of educational and social activities and are evangelical, although the term "evangelical" usually denotes a type of organization, not a denomination. Megachurches are generally defined as any (typically Protestant) Christian church that on average draws 2,000 or more people per week. The first megachurch was established in London in 1861. More emerged in the 20th century, especially in the United States, and expanded rapidly through the 1980s and 1990s. In the 21st century, megachurches became widespread in the United States and are a global growing phenomenon. In the late 2000s and early 2010s, they shifted away from traditional architecture, with many newer ones having stadium-type seating; some, such as Lakewood Church, are even based in former or active arenas.