Religion in Alaska: Churches and Denominations

The West

A study of religion in Alaska reveals a unique spiritual heritage distinct from any other American state. Characterized by early Russian Orthodox missionary work among Alaska Native communities, nineteenth-century Protestant frontier missions, and high rates of religious non-affiliation, the Last Frontier combines indigenous traditions with active Christian congregations across its vast wilderness and urban centers.

Demographics and Traditions in Religion in Alaska

According to major demographic research, including the Pew Research Center 2014 Religious Landscape Study, Christianity remains the faith of approximately 62 percent of adult Alaskans. Protestant traditions constitute the largest collective group at roughly 37 percent of adults, divided among evangelical congregations (22 percent), mainline denominations (12 percent), and historically Black churches (3 percent). Roman Catholicism forms the largest single Christian denomination, claiming about 16 percent of adult residents, supported by diocesan networks headquartered in Anchorage, Fairbanks, and Juneau. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints maintains a significant presence, accounting for approximately 5 percent of the state population, one of the highest concentrations outside the Intermountain West. Alaska is distinguished nationally by its historic Eastern Orthodox heritage, representing about 1 to 2 percent of the statewide population but claiming widespread loyalty among Unangax̂, Sugpiaq, Yup'ik, and Tlingit communities. Like other western states, Alaska exhibits substantial secularity: approximately 31 percent of adults identify as religiously unaffiliated, categorizing themselves as atheist, agnostic, or nothing in particular. Data from the 2020 US Religion Census recorded over 40,000 Catholic adherents, 33,000 Latter-day Saints, and substantial numbers of Southern Baptists and Lutherans. You can see how Lutheran participation compares nationwide in our study of Lutheran churches by state.

Church Directory Data for Alaska

Our directory currently records 67 active congregations across Alaska, reflecting the dispersed nature of the state's population. Lutheran congregations hold the largest single share with 12 listings, representing 17.9 percent of all recorded houses of worship. Non-Denominational and independent evangelical congregations follow closely with 11 listings (16.4 percent), demonstrating the growing appeal of contemporary, non-liturgical worship in frontier communities. Baptist assemblies maintain 8 listings (11.9 percent), and Roman Catholic parishes account for 7 listings (10.4 percent). Pentecostal fellowships contribute 6 listings (9.0 percent), while Methodist congregations record 5 listings (7.5 percent). Presbyterian and Reformed bodies maintain 4 listings (6.0 percent), followed by Episcopal parishes (3 listings) and independent fundamentalist congregations (3 listings). The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the Church of the Nazarene each record 2 listings (3.0 percent). Seventh-day Adventist, Church of Christ, Jewish, and Eastern Orthodox bodies each account for 1 listing in directory records, illustrating the wide assortment of faith groups serving Alaska's northern towns.

Churches in Alaska in our directory, by denomination

Denomination	Churches listed	Share
Lutheran	12	18%
Non-Denominational/Evangelical	11	16%
Baptist	8	12%
Catholic	7	10%
Pentecostal	6	9%
Methodist	5	7%
Presbyterian/Reformed	4	6%
Episcopal / Anglican	3	4%
Independent Fundamentalist	3	4%
Holiness / Church of the Nazarene	2	3%
Mormon/Latter Day Saints	2	3%
Adventist	1	1%
Orthodox	1	1%
Church of Christ	1	1%
Jewish	1	1%

Cities with the most churches

All 67 churches in Alaska

Individuals looking for active congregations across the Last Frontier can consult our full roster of churches in Alaska, or explore specific denominations through our targeted directories for Lutheran churches in Alaska, evangelical churches in Alaska, and Baptist churches in Alaska.

Russian Orthodox Heritage and Indigenous Faith

The earliest Christian presence in Alaska arrived from the west rather than the east. In 1794, a monastic mission from the Valaam Monastery in Russia arrived on Kodiak Island, led by Saint Herman of Alaska. Unlike many colonial enterprises, the early Russian Orthodox monks defended Alaska Native populations against exploitation by fur traders, adopting local subsistence patterns and learning native dialects. In the 1820s and 1830s, Father Ivan Veniaminov, later canonized as Saint Innocent of Alaska, devised an alphabet for the Aleut language, translated the Gospel of Matthew and liturgical hymns, and trained native clergy. This respect for indigenous culture enabled Orthodoxy to become an integral component of Alaska Native identity throughout the Aleutian Islands, Kodiak, and Yukon-Kuskokwim regions. Following the 1867 Alaska Purchase, when the United States acquired the territory, American Protestant mission boards established a formal cooperative agreement known as the Comity Plan. Spearheaded by Presbyterian educator and missionary Sheldon Jackson, this strategy divided Alaska into denominational spheres of influence to avoid sectarian competition: Presbyterians concentrated in Southeast Alaska; Episcopalians established missions along the interior Yukon River under leaders like Archdeacon Hudson Stuck; the Moravian Church ministered in the Kuskokwim River valley; the Evangelical Covenant Church established posts along Norton Sound; and Methodists worked in the Aleutians. Roman Catholic Jesuits and Sisters of Saint Ann traveled by dogsled and riverboat to establish remote hospitals and chapels in the interior and along the Seward Peninsula. In the twentieth century, military base construction during World War II, the discovery of oil at Prudhoe Bay, and the building of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline brought tens of thousands of workers from the lower forty-eight states. These new arrivals expanded Baptist, Lutheran, and independent evangelical congregations in urban centers, while Latter-day Saints established wards and stakes along the railbelt. Despite these modern additions, historic Russian Orthodox and native Protestant churches continue to serve as the spiritual and cultural anchors of dozens of isolated rural bush communities that remain accessible only by small airplane or boat.

Historic Sanctuaries and Frontier Landmarks

Alaska preserves remarkable historic sanctuaries that testify to its dual Russian and American missionary heritage. In Sitka, the former capital of Russian America, Saint Michael's Russian Orthodox Cathedral stands as a national historic landmark. Originally constructed in 1848 under the direction of Saint Innocent, the cathedral was tragically destroyed by fire in 1966 but meticulously reconstructed according to original architectural drawings, housing historic icons rescued from the flames. On Kodiak Island, Holy Resurrection Cathedral marks the site of the earliest Russian mission and preserves the venerated relics of Saint Herman. In Unalaska in the Aleutian chain, the 1896 Church of the Holy Ascension features twin onion domes and a magnificent collection of nineteenth-century Russian imperial icons, representing the oldest standing cruciform log church in the nation. In Juneau, Saint Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church, built in 1894 by local Tlingit leaders and Russian miners, features a distinctive octagonal log structure that has held continuous weekly services for over a century. In downtown Anchorage, Holy Family Old Cathedral, constructed in 1915, served as the first permanent church in the fledgling railroad tent city and welcomed Pope John Paul II during an apostolic visit in 1981.

Geographic Concentration in the Railbelt Region

Congregational listings in Alaska concentrate predominantly in the Municipality of Anchorage and the Matanuska-Susitna Valley, where over half of the state's population resides. Anchorage dominates the directory with 57 recorded listings. Those exploring churches in Anchorage will discover large multi-site evangelical congregations, historic downtown liturgical sanctuaries, Korean and Samoan assemblies, and active military family ministries. To the north, suburban Eagle River accounts for 6 listings; our directory of churches in Eagle River encompasses community Baptist, Lutheran, and Roman Catholic fellowships. In nearby Chugiak, researchers will find 3 listings; our guide to churches in Chugiak reflects small-town congregations situated between the Chugach Mountains and Knik Arm. The directory also notes chapel listings serving Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, demonstrating the ongoing importance of military chaplaincies in sustaining family life along the railbelt.

Regional Comparison with the Wider American West

Examining Alaska in the context of religion in the West highlights both shared western traits and stark regional differences. Like the Pacific Northwest states analyzed in our study of religion in Washington, Alaska shares high rates of religious non-affiliation, strong individualistic values, and a culture where outdoor wilderness recreation often supersedes formal weekend church attendance. In both states, traditional mainline denominational loyalties carry less civic weight than in the Midwest or South. However, Alaska is set apart from every other western state by its unique Russian Orthodox heritage and the extraordinary survival of native liturgical traditions across Arctic and subarctic villages. Furthermore, the extreme geographic isolation of Alaska's bush communities has created a model of congregational life where local lay readers maintain church services for months between visits by traveling clergy. While modern Anchorage and Fairbanks mirror western suburban evangelical trends, rural Alaska preserves a spiritual pattern shaped by subsistence living, indigenous faith, and centuries of cross-cultural adaptation.

Find a church in Alaska

Frequently asked questions

What is the most common religion in Alaska?

Christianity is the most common religion in Alaska, representing about 62 percent of adult residents. Protestantism is the largest overall branch at 37 percent, led by evangelical congregations, followed by Roman Catholicism at 16 percent and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at 5 percent.

Why does Alaska have Russian Orthodox churches?

Russian fur traders and Orthodox monks arrived in Alaska in the late eighteenth century, establishing missions on Kodiak Island and in Sitka. Monks such as Saint Herman and Saint Innocent translated scriptures into indigenous languages and defended native rights, establishing an Orthodox heritage that remains active in coastal villages today.

What was the Alaska Comity Plan?

Following the 1867 Alaska Purchase, Protestant missionary leader Sheldon Jackson organized the Comity Plan, which divided Alaska among major denominations to prevent duplication. Presbyterians ministered in the Southeast, Episcopalians along the Yukon River, Moravians in the Kuskokwim basin, and Covenant churches in Norton Sound.

How religious is Alaska compared to other states?

Alaska ranks among the least religious states in the country, with roughly 31 percent of adults identifying as religiously unaffiliated. Weekly church attendance is lower than the national average, reflecting frontier independence and geographic isolation, though rural villages and urban centers maintain dedicated church communities.

What is the oldest church in Alaska?

The Church of the Holy Ascension in Unalaska, constructed in 1896 on the site of an 1826 chapel, is the oldest standing cruciform log church in the United States. In Sitka, Saint Michael's Cathedral dates its founding to 1848 and was faithfully rebuilt after a fire in 1966.

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