When I first set out to attempt a GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ title for the Most Places of Worship Visited in One Month, I thought I knew what I was getting myself into. I had a plan, a list of places, and plenty of energy. What I didn’t fully realize was just how many steps, stories, neighborhoods, and life lessons would be woven into those 30 days.
By the end of September, I had submitted evidence for 185 places of worship… far surpassing the current record of 111. Each visit was carefully documented with time-stamped photos, videos, and witness statements, all uploaded to be reviewed by my GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ judge. The verdict? All the spaces were approved and the record was smashed!
The Walking Between the Worship
What people don’t often see in the headlines about a record attempt are the in-between moments. The miles of sidewalks and side streets. The way a neighborhood shifts block by block from the hum of downtown traffic to quiet residential corners where a single bell tower peeks over the trees.
By the end, I logged 350,000 steps (over 175 miles). Every step became part of the rhythm of the journey, a chance to process what I had just seen and prepare for the next sacred space. The walking itself became its own form of reflection.
In addition to all that walking, I also used public transportation almost every day. I rode over 65 buses and took over 65 trips on Chicago’s famous “L” trains. So, I’m definitely grateful to the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) for their contribution to this record, as well!
The Spaces and the Stories
The places I visited spanned every tradition you can imagine: ornate cathedrals, simple storefront churches, Buddhist meditation halls, Hindu temples, mosques, a gurdwara, a Quaker meeting houses, and more. Some communities welcomed me for services, others offered quick tours or stories about their history. Every space carried its own sacred weight.
Again and again, I was struck by the similarities beneath the surface differences. Compassion, connection, and community showed up everywhere I went… just expressed in different languages, rituals, and traditions.
Why It Matters
From the very beginning, this was about more than chasing a record. My work with World Religions 4 Kids has always been about fostering religious literacy, helping kids (and their adults) understand and respect traditions beyond their own.
In a world where differences are often used to divide us, I wanted to show what happens when we lean in instead: when we walk into each other’s sacred spaces with curiosity, humility, and respect. This journey proved what I’ve always believed… that at our core, most faith traditions are trying to teach us the same things: kindness, empathy, and connection.
The Official Record
I’m thrilled to share that it’s official: I now hold the GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ title for visiting the most places of worship in a single month: 185 in total with many more spaces visited just for fun!
Seeing the final number confirmed was incredible, but what means even more to me are the memories behind it: the welcoming communities, the sacred spaces, and the lessons of compassion, and the personal connections that I’ll carry with me forever.
A Journey in Photos
Here are just a few highlights from the journey, snapshots of the churches, temples, mosques, meditation halls, and other sacred spaces I was honored to step into. Each one tells its own story, and together they show just how beautifully diverse (and yet deeply connected) our world really is.
Every Space Counts
Below is the complete list of all 185 worship spaces I visited. Each one played a part in making this record possible, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to experience them all. Have a place of worship in the Chicago area that is meaningful for you? See if it’s on my list!
- 2nd Generation 7th Day Adventist Church
- 17th Church of Christ Scientist
- A Restoration Church
- Addison Street Community Church
- Alice Millar Chapel at Northwestern University
- Masjid at American Islamic College (AIC)
- Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church
- Anshe Emet Synagogue
- Anshe Shalom B’nai Israel Synagogue
- Augustana Lutheran Campus Ministry at the Univ. of Chicago
- Augustana Lutheran Church
- Baháʼí House of Worship
- Bethany Baptist Church
- Brahma Kumaris Meditation Center
- Broadway United Methodist Church
- Buddhist Temple of Chicago
- Calvary Memorial Church
- Canterbury House – Episcopal Ministry at Northwestern Univ.
- Chapel of the Unnamed Faithful at Garrett Seminary
- Chicago Loop Synagogue
- Chicago Sinai Synagogue
- Chicago Zen Center
- Chicagoland Community Church
- Christ the Savior Orthodox Church
- Christian Fellowship Free Church
- Christian Science Reading Room
- Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Mormon)
- Church of Our Savior
- Church of Scientology
- Church of St. John Cantius
- Church of the Ascension
- Church of the Three Crosses
- Congregation Sukkat Shalom
- Cornelia Baptist Church
- Covenant Presbyterian Church
- Downtown Islamic Center
- Edgewater Baptist Church
- Edgewater Presbyterian Church
- Emmanuel Congregation
- Emmanuel United Methodist Church
- Epic Seventh Day Adventist Church
- Episcopal Church of the Atonement
- Evanston Bible Fellowship
- Evanston Friends Meetinghouse
- First Baptist Congregational Church
- First Congregational Church – Evanston
- First Congregational Church – Wilmette
- First Presbyterian Church – Evanston
- First Presbyterian Church – Wilmette
- First St. Paul’s Lutheran Church
- First United Methodist Church at Chicago Temple
- First Unitarian Church of Chicago
- First United Church of Oak Park
- Fourth Presbyterian Church
- Glenview Community Church
- Glenview New Church
- Glenview United Methodist Church
- Grace Chicago Church
- Grace Church – Logan Square
- Grace Episcopal Church
- Grace Episcopal Church – Oak Park
- Harvest Bible Chapel
- Hillel at Loyola Univ.
- Hillel at Northwestern Univ.
- Hindu Puja Space at Loyola Univ.
- Holy Child Jesus Parish
- Holy Covenant United Methodist Church
- Holy Family Lutheran Church
- Holy Name Cathedral
- Holy Rosary Catholic Church
- Holy Trinity – Downtown
- Holy Trinity Orthodox Church
- Holy Trinity Polish Catholic Church
- Hyde Park Union Church
- Iglesia Adventista del Séptimo Día
- Immaculate Conception Catholic Church
- Immanuel Lutheran Chicago
- Immanuel Lutheran Church – Evanston
- Immanuel Lutheran Church – Glenview
- Int’l. Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON)
- Islamic Prayer Space at Loyola Univ.
- Kadampa Meditation Center – Wicker Park
- Kimball Avenue UCC Church
- Lake Shore Drive Synagogue (Elm Street Shul)
- Lake Street Church of Evanston
- Lakeview Seventh Day Adventist Church
- Lakeview Presbyterian Church
- LaSalle Street Church
- Lighthouse Church
- Lincoln Park Presbyterian Church
- Living Hope of Calvary Community Church
- Lutheran Campus Ministry at Northwestern Univ.
- Madonna Della Strada Chapel at Loyola Univ.
- Manresa at Loyola Univ.
- Masjid Abu Bakar
- Masjid Faizan e Madinah
- Masjid Tabaq
- Midwest Buddhist Temple
- Moody Church
- Moorish Science Temple
- National Shrine of St. Frances Xavier Cabrini
- New Community Covenant Church
- New Life Community Church – Lincoln Park
- Norwegian Lutheran Memorial Church
- Old St. Pat’s Catholic Church
- Onnuri Church
- Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Catholic Church
- Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church
- Our Lady of the Holy Family Catholic Church
- Park Community Church – Lincoln Park
- Park Community Church – Near North
- Real Church
- Reba Place Church
- Redeemer Church
- Resurrection Lutheran Church
- Second Church of Christ Scientist
- Second Unitarian Church of Chicago
- Sheil Catholic Center at Northwestern Univ.
- Shekinah Holy Apostolic Church
- Sherman United Methodist Church
- Shree Ganesh Temple of Chicago
- Soul City Church
- St. Aloysius Catholic Church
- St. Alphonsus Church
- St. Andrew Greek Orthodox Church
- St. Andrew Roman Catholic Church
- St. Andrew Romanian Orthodox Church
- St. Athanasius Parish
- St. Augustine’s Episcopal Church
- St. Chrysostom’s Episcopal Church
- St. Clement Catholic Church
- St. David’s Episcopal Church
- St. Frances Xavier Catholic Church
- St. George Greek Orthodox – Lakeview
- St. George Orthodox Cathedral (Slavic)
- St. Gertrude Catholic Parish
- St. Hedwig Catholic Church
- St. Helen Catholic Church
- St. Ita Catholic Church
- St. James Episcopal Cathedral
- St. James Chapel (Catholic)
- St. James Lutheran Church
- St. Jerome Catholic Church
- St. John Berchmans Catholic Church
- St. John’s Lutheran Church
- St. Josaphat Catholic Church
- St. Joseph’s Catholic Church
- St. Joseph’s Hall Rosary Chapel at Loyola Univ.
- St. Luke Church of God in Christ
- St. Luke’s Episcopal – Evanston
- St. Mark’s Episcopal Church – Evanston
- St. Mary of the Angels Catholic Church
- St. Mary of the Lake Catholic Church
- St. Mary’s Catholic Church
- St. Matthew United Methodist Church
- St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Old Town
- St. Nicholas Catholic Church
- St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral
- St. Paul Coptic Orthodox Church
- St. Paul’s Lutheran Church – Evanston
- St. Paul’s UCC Church
- St. Peter’s Catholic Church
- St. Peter’s Episcopal Church
- St. Peter’s UCC Church – Skokie
- St. Stanislaus Kostka Catholic Church
- St. Stephen King of Hungary Church
- St. Teresa of Avila Catholic Church
- St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church
- St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church
- St. Volodymyr Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral
- Saints Volodymyr & Olha Ukrainian Cathedral
- Trinity United Methodist Church – Wilmette
- Udumbara Zen Center
- Union Missionary Baptist Church
- Unitarian Church of Evanston
- United Church of Hyde Park
- Unity Lutheran Church
- Unity Temple
- University Christian Ministry at Northwestern Univ.
- University Church at the Univ. of Chicago
- Urantia Foundation
- Urban Village Church – Wicker Park
- Vedanta Society – Home of Harmony
- Wat Phrasriratanamahatatu – Chicago
- Wicker Park Lutheran Church
Check out this map of all the places of worship I visited! Thanks to Sara Wilcox, the minister of the church where I work, for creating this masterpiece.
More Than Just Visits
In addition to simply visiting worship spaces, I also had the privilege of attending more than 20 services during my 30-day journey. Those experiences gave me a chance not only to see the architecture and sacred objects but also to witness living traditions in practice — from music and prayer to rituals and community gatherings. Being welcomed into those services reminded me that these places are not just buildings; they are alive with the people who inhabit them.
Here is a list of the services I attended:
- Three Orthodox services (in Greek, Ukrainian, and Church Slavic)
- Catholic Masses in both English and Spanish
- Protestant/Christian services at more than ½-dozen churches
- Two Buddhist Meditation evening
- Two Christian Science Testimony Meetings
- One Saturday Shabbat service
- One Friday afternoon at a masjid for jummah prayers
- One kirtan
List – in order of attendance
- 17th Church of Christ Scientist – Testimony Meeting
- St. James Chapel – Catholic Mass
- St. James Episcopal Cathedral – Weekday Eucharist
- Lakeview 7th Day Adventist Church – Sabbath service
- Holy Trinity Orthodox Cathedral – Vigil (in Greek)
- St. Matthew United Methodist Church – Sunday Service
- St. Luke Church of God in Christ – Sunday Service
- Sts. Volodymyr and Olha Ukrainian Cathedral – Liturgy for the Birth of Virgin Mary
- Kadampa Center – Wicker Park – Evening Meditation
- St. Aloysius Catholic Church – Mass (in Spanish)
- Chicago Loop Synagogue – Saturday AM Shabbat service
- St. George Orthodox Cathedral – Vigil (in Church Slavic)
- Church of the Three Crosses (UCC) – Sunday service
- Chicago Zen Center – Evening Meditation
- 2nd Church of Christ Science – Testimony Meeting
- American Islamic College (AIC) – Jummah Prayers
- St. Andrew Orthodox Church – Blessing of the Waters at Lake MichiganEvanston Friends (Quakers) – Sunday Meeting
- Evanston Bible Fellowship – Sunday Worship service
- Int’l. Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) – Kirtan/feast
- Midwest Buddhist Temple – Family service
Opening Doors
What made the record truly possible, though, were the people themselves. At every stop, I needed verification signatures, and while I had around 85 scheduled appointments, many others came through spontaneous encounters. I rang doorbells, explained my mission, and time after time, strangers opened their doors, literally and figuratively. They shared their prayers, good wishes, and often their time, whether that meant unlocking sanctuaries, offering quick tours, or simply encouraging me on the way. The generosity and kindness I encountered became just as memorable as the record itself.
Reflections on the Journey
This record isn’t just about the number of visits… it’s about what each space represents: curiosity, respect, and connection. Through these 185 worship spaces, I’ve seen firsthand how diverse traditions teach similar values: kindness, empathy, and community.
I hope this journey inspires kids and adults alike to explore the world around them with open hearts, to step into spaces that might be unfamiliar, and to recognize the common threads that unite us all. The GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ title is a wonderful honor, but the real reward has been the lessons, friendships, and insights I’ve gained along the way.