Christian denominations in Australia — a plain-English guide
By Vinay Koshy, Editor
Australia has 16 major Christian denominations across 12,000+ active churches. Catholic is largest (20% per the 2021 Census), followed by Anglican, Uniting, Presbyterian, Baptist, Pentecostal, Orthodox and Lutheran. Denominations differ in governance (bishops vs councils vs elders), worship style (liturgical vs contemporary), sacramental practice, and official positions on same-sex marriage and LGBTQ+ inclusion. What they share: belief in the Trinity, the Nicene Creed, and the Christian scriptures.
Last verified: 2026-07-05. Directory counts drawn from the Australian Church Directory (active parishes in scope). Membership figures sourced from the 2021 Australian Census (ABS release, June 2022).
Comparison at a glance
The 16 canonical Christian denominations tracked by this directory, ranked by 2021 Census membership. Directory count is the number of active parishes currently listed.
| Denomination | Tradition | Members (2021 Census) | % | Governance | Directory count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Catholic | Catholic | 5,075,907 | 20.0% | Papal (Pope + bishops) | 2,158 |
| Anglican | Protestant | 2,496,273 | 9.8% | Episcopal (bishops + synods) | 1,962 |
| Uniting | Protestant | 673,260 | 2.7% | Conciliar (councils, not individuals) | 1,563 |
| Orthodox | Orthodox | ~505,000 (combined) | ~2.0% | Autocephalous national churches | 21 |
| Baptist | Protestant | 351,506 | 1.4% | Congregational (each church autonomous) | 1,196 |
| Pentecostal | Protestant | 305,163 | 1.2% | Varied — often network/movement based (ACC, Hillsong, C3) | 332 |
| Presbyterian | Protestant | ~403,000 (with Reformed) | ~1.6% | Presbyterian (elders in courts) | 541 |
| Lutheran | Protestant | 174,014 | 0.7% | Synodical (bishop or president + synod) | 527 |
| Seventh-day Adventist | Protestant | 68,913 | 0.3% | Conference-based (Union + Local Conferences) | 599 |
| Churches of Christ | Restorationist / Non-conformist | ~60,000 | ~0.2% | Congregational within state conferences | 383 |
| Salvation Army | Protestant | 55,772 | 0.2% | Quasi-military hierarchy (General + Territorial Commander) | 297 |
| Brethren | Restorationist / Non-conformist | ~25,000 | ~0.1% | Congregational, lay-led (open) or exclusive (PBCC) | 78 |
| Reformed | Protestant | Included in Presbyterian & Reformed figure | — | Presbyterian (elders in courts) | 76 |
| Methodist | Protestant | ~8,000 | <0.1% | Connexional (conferences) | 12 |
| Evangelical | Protestant | Distributed across other groupings | — | Varied | 72 |
| Independent | Restorationist / Non-conformist | Distributed across other groupings | — | Congregational — no denominational authority above the local church | 1,425 |
The three great traditions
Christianity in Australia sorts into three ancient traditions plus a broader restorationist / non-conformist stream that took shape in the 18th and 19th centuries.
Catholic
The Latin-Rite and Eastern Catholic churches in communion with the Pope in Rome. About 1.4 billion members worldwide; the largest Christian identification in Australia. Governance is papal and episcopal; theology is defined by the ecumenical councils, canon law, and the Magisterium.
Denominations in this tradition: Catholic.
Orthodox
The Eastern churches that separated from Rome in the Great Schism of 1054. Governance is by autocephalous national churches (Greek, Russian, Serbian, Antiochian, Coptic, and others) with the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople as first among equals. Australia's Orthodox community is strongest in Greek, Serbian, Russian, and Middle Eastern immigrant communities.
Denominations in this tradition: Orthodox.
Protestant
The churches that emerged from the 16th-century Reformation. Diverse in governance (episcopal, presbyterian, congregational) and worship style. In Australia this tradition includes Anglican, Uniting, Presbyterian, Baptist, Lutheran, Pentecostal, Seventh-day Adventist, Salvation Army, and Methodist churches.
Denominations in this tradition: Anglican, Uniting, Presbyterian, Baptist, Lutheran, Pentecostal, Seventh-day Adventist, Salvation Army, Methodist, Reformed, Evangelical.
Restorationist / Non-conformist
Churches with roots outside the mainline Reformation traditions, seeking a return to the practice of the New Testament church or standing outside the historic denominational structures. Includes Churches of Christ, Brethren, and the many independent congregations.
Denominations in this tradition: Churches of Christ, Brethren, Independent.
Denomination profiles
One short profile per denomination, ordered by membership. Follow the link to see every active congregation in the directory.
Catholic — Catholic · 20.0% of Australians (2021) · 2,158 active parishes in directory
Worship: Liturgical, sacramental (the Mass). Distinctive: In full communion with Rome. Largest religious identification in Australia.
Anglican — Protestant · 9.8% of Australians (2021) · 1,962 active parishes in directory
Worship: Liturgical (A Prayer Book for Australia). Distinctive: Member of the worldwide Anglican Communion. Second-largest Christian group.
Uniting — Protestant · 2.7% of Australians (2021) · 1,563 active parishes in directory
Worship: Varied — Methodist, Presbyterian, and Congregational forms. Distinctive: Formed 1977 by merger of Methodist, most Presbyterian, and almost all Congregational churches.
Orthodox — Orthodox · ~2.0% of Australians (2021) · 21 active parishes in directory
Worship: Divine Liturgy (Greek, Slavonic, Coptic, Antiochian, etc.). Distinctive: Umbrella term. Greek Orthodox is the largest single Orthodox jurisdiction in Australia.
Baptist — Protestant · 1.4% of Australians (2021) · 1,196 active parishes in directory
Worship: Non-liturgical, contemporary or hymn-based. Distinctive: Believer's baptism by full immersion only. No infant baptism.
Pentecostal — Protestant · 1.2% of Australians (2021) · 332 active parishes in directory
Worship: Contemporary, expressive, gifts of the Spirit. Distinctive: Believers baptised in the Holy Spirit. Fastest-growing Christian tradition since 1970s.
Presbyterian — Protestant · ~1.6% of Australians (2021) · 541 active parishes in directory
Worship: Liturgical or plain, hymn-based, scripture-focused. Distinctive: The one-third of Presbyterians who did not join the 1977 Uniting merger.
Lutheran — Protestant · 0.7% of Australians (2021) · 527 active parishes in directory
Worship: Liturgical, sacramental. Distinctive: German and Scandinavian heritage. Strong in SA and rural WA/VIC.
Seventh-day Adventist — Protestant · 0.3% of Australians (2021) · 599 active parishes in directory
Worship: Saturday (Sabbath) service, hymn-based. Distinctive: Worship on Saturday, not Sunday. Emphasises health, education, and the imminent return of Christ.
Churches of Christ — Restorationist / Non-conformist · ~0.2% of Australians (2021) · 383 active parishes in directory
Worship: Contemporary or plain, weekly communion. Distinctive: Restorationist roots — seeks the pattern of the New Testament church. Weekly Lord's Supper.
Salvation Army — Protestant · 0.2% of Australians (2021) · 297 active parishes in directory
Worship: Simple services, brass band tradition, no sacraments practiced ritually. Distinctive: Combined worshipping community and social-services agency. Uniformed officers.
Brethren — Restorationist / Non-conformist · ~0.1% of Australians (2021) · 78 active parishes in directory
Worship: Plain, scripture-focused, weekly Lord's Supper. Distinctive: Two main streams — Open Brethren (CCCA-adjacent, mostly Community/Bible churches) and Plymouth Brethren Christian Church.
Reformed — Protestant · membership grouped in ABS release · 76 active parishes in directory
Worship: Liturgical, scripture-focused, psalm and hymn singing. Distinctive: Dutch and Scottish Reformed heritage. Historically strong in immigrant communities post-WWII.
Methodist — Protestant · <0.1% of Australians (2021) · 12 active parishes in directory
Worship: Hymn-based, John Wesley's heritage. Distinctive: The Methodist denomination that did not join the 1977 Uniting merger, plus Wesleyan Methodist and Nazarene streams.
Evangelical — Protestant · membership grouped in ABS release · 72 active parishes in directory
Worship: Contemporary, expository preaching, scripture-focused. Distinctive: Umbrella term for churches emphasising conversion, biblical authority, and cross-denominational evangelism.
Independent — Restorationist / Non-conformist · membership grouped in ABS release · 1,425 active parishes in directory
Worship: Varied, often contemporary. Distinctive: Non-denominational or single-congregation churches without a national body. Includes many community and Bible churches.
How to choose a denomination
For most Australians, the practical factors matter more than the denominational label: distance from home (under 20 minutes ideal), service time that fits your week, worship style (liturgical vs contemporary), children's program if you have kids, and whether the congregation feels welcoming on the first visit.
If you already have a preference from upbringing or a previous church, use it as a starting filter but not as the deciding factor — many Australians find that a theologically-adjacent denomination in a nearby suburb outperforms their preferred denomination two suburbs over.
- How to find a Christian church in Australia — the four-step approach for finding a local church.
- Anglican vs Uniting Church — what is the difference? — pair-wise comparison for readers weighing the two.
- Catholic vs Anglican Church — what is the difference? — pair-wise comparison of the two largest denominations.
Official positions on same-sex marriage and LGBTQ+ inclusion
Denominational positions on same-sex marriage and LGBTQ+ inclusion vary widely across Australia's 16 major Christian denominations. Some positions are formally denomination-wide, adopted by a General Assembly or Synod. Others cannot be denomination-wide because the denomination is congregationally governed (Baptist, Independent, Churches of Christ), because the denomination is internally divided (Anglican Church of Australia after the May 2022 General Synod), or because the label describes a movement rather than a denomination (Evangelical).
Two axes distinguish positions: (1) whether the denomination permits its ministers to solemnise same-sex marriages, and (2) whether the denomination ordains people in same-sex relationships. Same-sex civil marriage has been legal in Australia since 9 December 2017 following the Marriage Amendment (Definition and Religious Freedoms) Act, so the question for each denomination is whether it recognises those civil marriages within its own religious framework. Positions below are the current denominational-level position at last verify date; individual congregations may vary within any denomination without a binding national policy.
| Denomination | Same-sex marriage in the church | Clergy in same-sex relationships | Primary source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Catholic | No same-sex marriage in the Catholic Church. Marriage defined as one man and one woman per the Catechism of the Catholic Church §1601-1666. | No priestly ordination for those in same-sex relationships. All clergy called to celibacy regardless of orientation. | Catechism of the Catholic Church §1601-1666, §2357-2359 |
| Anglican Church of Australia | No denomination-wide position for or against. The May 2022 General Synod (18th) rejected both a Sydney-led motion declaring same-sex marriage contrary to church teaching (blocked by the House of Bishops 12-10 against, despite Laity 63-47 and Clergy 70-39 in favour) and, the following day, a motion that would have approved same-sex marriage. | Varies by diocese. Sydney and aligned dioceses do not ordain clergy in same-sex relationships; other dioceses have wider practice. Diocese of Sydney also does not ordain women to the priesthood. | Anglican Church of Australia — 18th General Synod, 11-12 May 2022 |
| Uniting Church in Australia | Ministers may conduct same-sex marriages. The 15th Assembly (July 2018, Melbourne) approved an additional statement of belief on marriage alongside the traditional 1997 statement. Both are recognised as biblically and theologically valid; individual ministers and congregations choose which to follow. | Ordination of ministers in same-sex relationships is permitted within the two-statements framework. | 15th Assembly of the Uniting Church in Australia, July 2018 |
| Presbyterian Church of Australia | Traditional position. General Assembly of Australia affirms marriage as between one man and one woman per the Westminster Confession of Faith. Ministers may not conduct same-sex marriages. | No ordination of clergy in same-sex relationships. | Presbyterian Church of Australia — General Assembly of Australia |
| Baptist | No denomination-wide position. Australian Baptist Ministries is a fellowship of state unions and does not bind member churches on marriage. Most affiliated churches hold a traditional position; a small minority publicly affirm same-sex marriage. | Congregational — each local church decides. Most traditional; a small minority ordain openly LGBTQ+ pastors. | Australian Baptist Ministries — congregational governance framework |
| Pentecostal (ACC) | Australian Christian Churches (ACC) defines marriage as one man and one woman per the ACC Statement of Faith. No same-sex marriage in ACC-affiliated churches. | No credentialed clergy in same-sex relationships. ACC ordination requires Statement of Faith adherence. | Australian Christian Churches — Statement of Faith |
| Lutheran Church of Australia | Traditional position. LCANZ maintains marriage as one man and one woman per the Augsburg Confession. Pastors may not conduct same-sex marriages. | No ordination of pastors in same-sex relationships. The October 2024 LCANZ 21st Convention approval of women's ordination did not extend to LGBTQ+ ordination. | Lutheran Church of Australia |
| Orthodox | Uniform traditional position across all Orthodox jurisdictions in Australia (Greek, Serbian, Antiochian, Russian, Coptic, Ethiopian, ROCOR). Marriage is one man and one woman as a sacrament of the Church. | No ordained clergy in same-sex relationships across any Orthodox jurisdiction. | Ecumenical Patriarchate + national Orthodox synod position statements |
| Seventh-day Adventist | General Conference statement affirms marriage as between a man and a woman. No same-sex marriage in SDA churches. | No ordination of clergy in same-sex relationships per General Conference guidelines. SDA Australian Union Conference aligned with the global position. | General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists — Official Statement on Marriage |
| Churches of Christ | No unified national position. State Conferences vary; most affiliated churches traditional. Churches of Christ in Australia (CCCA) has not issued a binding national statement. | Congregational — each local church decides. | Churches of Christ in Australia — congregational governance framework |
| Salvation Army | Traditional position on marriage. The Salvation Army globally affirms marriage as between a man and a woman. | The Salvation Army Australia publicly states it does not discriminate on sexual orientation in social service delivery, employment, volunteering, or worship attendance. Officership constraints follow the international marriage position. | The Salvation Army Australia — position on human sexuality, 18 June 2012 |
| Reformed | Traditional position across both major Reformed streams (Christian Reformed Churches of Australia + Free Reformed Churches of Australia). Marriage affirmed as one man and one woman per the Three Forms of Unity. | No ordination of clergy in same-sex relationships. | CRCA + FRCA — subordinate standards (Three Forms of Unity) |
The Uniting Church's two-statements framework
The Uniting Church in Australia is the only major mainline denomination in Australia to formally permit same-sex marriage within its own religious framework. At the 15th Assembly (Melbourne, 8-14 July 2018), the Assembly adopted an additional statement of belief on marriage alongside the traditional statement originally adopted in 1997. Both are recognised by the Church as biblically and theologically valid. Ministers who cannot conduct same-sex marriages in good conscience continue to teach and marry within the traditional framework; those who wish to conduct same-sex marriages may do so. Congregations choose whether to make their property available. The framework is a live expression of the Uniting Church's foundational vocation of unity in diversity as stated in the Basis of Union.
Anglican diocesan variation
The Anglican Church of Australia is the denomination with the widest diocesan variation on this question. Sydney and the small number of aligned dioceses (including Tasmania) hold a strongly traditional position and are associated with the GAFCON movement, which opposes same-sex marriage globally. The Dioceses of Melbourne, Perth, Brisbane, and Adelaide sit on a broader spectrum, with some parish-level practice of blessing same-sex civil marriages and some ordination of openly LGBTQ+ clergy. At the 18th General Synod (Rowville Melbourne, 11-12 May 2022), the House of Bishops narrowly vetoed a Sydney-led motion declaring same-sex marriage contrary to Anglican teaching. A subsequent motion approving same-sex marriage was also rejected. The net result is that the Anglican Church of Australia has no denomination-wide position for or against same-sex marriage; the practice is determined diocese by diocese.
The Salvation Army's service-delivery distinction
The Salvation Army Australia has publicly clarified a distinction that other denominations with a traditional marriage position have not always made explicit. In its 18 June 2012 statement, The Salvation Army Australia stated that it does not discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation in three specific areas: the delivery of its social services (all Salvation Army programs work with people only on the basis of need), employment and volunteering (sexuality is not a factor in engagement decisions), and worship attendance (LGBTQ+ people are welcome to worship with and join Salvation Army congregations). The marriage position and officership constraints are separate from these service and inclusion commitments.
Denominations without a unified position
Four groupings in Australia's directory cannot have a single denominational-level position. Baptist churches are congregationally governed and Australian Baptist Ministries does not bind member churches on marriage. Churches of Christ operate similarly. Independent churches by definition have no national body above the local congregation. Evangelical is a theological movement (four Bebbington marks: biblicism, crucicentrism, conversionism, activism) that runs across many denominations rather than a denomination in its own right. In practice, most churches in each of these four categories hold a traditional position on marriage, but a minority explicitly affirm same-sex marriage and LGBTQ+ inclusion at the congregational level.
Explicitly affirming denominations in Australia
Metropolitan Community Church (MCC) is the only historically-affirming denomination active in Australia. Founded 1968 in Los Angeles by Rev Troy Perry, MCC arrived in Australia in 1978 and today has congregations across the capital cities. Every MCC congregation is LGBTQ+ affirming by charter. Individual Uniting Church congregations that operate under the affirming statement, together with a small number of explicitly-affirming Baptist, Anglican, and Independent congregations, complete the affirming end of the AU spectrum.
What all denominations share
Despite the differences catalogued above, every mainstream Christian denomination in Australia holds a common core:
- Belief in one God in three persons — Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (the Trinity).
- The Nicene Creed (325/381 AD) as a statement of shared faith.
- The Old and New Testaments as canonical scripture.
- The historical claims about Jesus Christ — his life, death, and resurrection.
- Baptism and the Lord's Supper (Communion / Eucharist) as central practices, even where the theology of these practices differs.
- The Christian year — Advent, Christmas, Lent, Easter, and Pentecost — is observed by most (though Salvation Army and some Restorationist streams observe less formally).
Frequently asked questions
What is the biggest Christian denomination in Australia?
Catholic. The 2021 Australian Census recorded 5,075,907 Catholics (20.0% of the population), well ahead of Anglican (2,496,273 / 9.8%) and Uniting Church (673,260 / 2.7%). Catholicism has been the largest Christian identification in Australia since the late 20th century.
What is the difference between Catholic and Protestant?
Catholics recognise the Pope as visible head of the church and are bound by his teaching authority. Protestants reject papal authority and derive their teaching from scripture read in the context of their tradition. The Protestant Reformation began in 1517 with Martin Luther. Protestant denominations include Anglican, Uniting, Presbyterian, Baptist, Lutheran, Pentecostal, Salvation Army, and many others. Catholics practice seven sacraments; most Protestants practice two (baptism and Holy Communion / Eucharist).
Are Anglicans Catholic or Protestant?
Historically Protestant, though Anglicans describe their tradition as "both Catholic and Reformed". The Church of England broke with Rome in 1534. Anglicans retain much of the pre-Reformation liturgical structure (bishops, sacraments, the Christian year) but reject papal authority and hold to Protestant doctrine on salvation. In Australia the Anglican Church is the second-largest Christian body after Catholics.
What is the difference between Anglican and Uniting?
The Anglican Church is older, larger (2.5 million vs 673,000 Australians in the 2021 Census), and led by bishops. The Uniting Church was formed in 1977 by merging Methodist, most Presbyterian, and almost all Congregational churches, and is led by councils. See our dedicated Anglican vs Uniting comparison for a full side-by-side.
Which denominations perform infant baptism?
Catholic, Anglican, Uniting, Lutheran, Presbyterian, Orthodox, Eastern Catholic, Methodist, and Reformed churches all practice infant baptism (christening). Baptist, Pentecostal, Churches of Christ, Brethren, and most independent evangelical churches do not — they practice believer's baptism only, typically by full immersion once a person can profess faith for themselves. Salvation Army does not practice water baptism at all as a ritual.
Do all denominations celebrate Holy Communion the same way?
No. Catholics believe the bread and wine become the body and blood of Christ (transubstantiation) and celebrate the Eucharist at every Mass. Anglicans and Lutherans hold a real-presence view without defining the mechanism, and celebrate Communion weekly or fortnightly. Uniting, Presbyterian, and Baptist churches hold a memorial or spiritual-presence view and celebrate monthly or quarterly. Orthodox churches celebrate the Divine Liturgy weekly with leavened bread. Salvation Army does not celebrate the sacrament ritually.
Which Christian denomination is right for me?
The practical answer for most Australians is: start with the nearest active congregation and visit two or three. Distance from home, service time, worship style, and how welcoming the community feels on the first visit matter more for long-term fit than the theological label. If you have a preference from your upbringing, use that as a starting filter but not as the deciding factor. See our full guide on how to find a church in Australia for the four-step approach.
Which Australian church denominations perform same-sex marriages?
The Uniting Church in Australia is the only major mainline denomination that permits its ministers to conduct same-sex marriages, under the "two statements" framework adopted at the 15th Assembly in Melbourne in July 2018. Individual ministers and congregations choose whether to conduct same-sex ceremonies. Metropolitan Community Church (MCC), founded 1968 in Los Angeles and present in Australia since 1978, is the only historically-affirming denomination in Australia — all MCC congregations perform same-sex marriages by charter. The Anglican Church of Australia has no denomination-wide position after the May 2022 General Synod split; most dioceses do not perform same-sex marriages, though practice varies. All other major denominations (Catholic, Presbyterian, Baptist, Pentecostal, Lutheran, Orthodox, Seventh-day Adventist, Salvation Army, Reformed) retain the traditional position that marriage is between one man and one woman.
Where can I find an LGBTQ+ affirming church in Australia?
Metropolitan Community Church (MCC) has explicitly affirming congregations in Sydney, Brisbane, and other capitals — every MCC congregation is affirming by charter. Uniting Church congregations that operate under the affirming statement conduct same-sex marriages and welcome LGBTQ+ members openly, though not every Uniting congregation has adopted this practice — contact your local Uniting Church presbytery for a direct referral. A small number of Baptist, Anglican (particularly in the Dioceses of Melbourne, Perth, and Brisbane), and independent congregations are also publicly affirming. Community directories such as rainbowcultures.org.au (Australia-specific) index affirming religious groups by state.
Do Australian churches recognise same-sex marriages performed by civil celebrants?
Same-sex marriages have been legal under Australian civil law since 9 December 2017 following the Marriage Amendment (Definition and Religious Freedoms) Act. Whether a specific church recognises those civil marriages as valid religious marriages depends on the denomination. The Uniting Church recognises them within its two-statements framework. Metropolitan Community Church recognises them fully. The Anglican Church of Australia has no denomination-wide position after May 2022; practice varies by diocese and parish. Most other denominations (Catholic, Presbyterian, Baptist, Pentecostal, Lutheran, Orthodox, Seventh-day Adventist, Salvation Army, Reformed) do not recognise same-sex marriages as sacramentally valid within their tradition, though they vary in how they treat civilly-married same-sex couples in worship attendance, hospitality, and pastoral care — the Salvation Army has publicly stated it does not discriminate on sexual orientation in any of these areas.
Browse all denominations
The Australian Church Directory covers all 16 major denominations across every state and territory. See the full denominations index or start from a capital city.
Sources
- Australian Bureau of Statistics — 2021 Census, Cultural Diversity: Religion (June 2022 release).
- National Church Life Survey (NCLS) Research — Australian church attendance data.
- Denominational national bodies — anglican.org.au, uniting.church, catholic.org.au, lca.org.au, presbyterian.org.au, and others.
- Australian Church Directory internal data — active parishes by denomination, drawn from the churches table.