Alabama’s Largest Church Building New Campus in Daphne
By Rick McCann
Blue RAM Media/Gulf Coast News
November 11, 2025
DAPHNE, Ala. The largest church in Alabama, which is based in the southeastern part of the Birmingham metro, is building a new campus in Daphne, along State Highway 181.
As we first reported, the Church of the Highlands purchased a large parcel of land near Champions Way in 2024.
Recently, the church held a land dedication service for its new campus in Daphne.
Church of the Highlands Lead Pastor Mark Pettus gave a message, and led prayer, and had a “vision-casting for the future of the campus and its impact in the Eastern Shore community,” according to a news release.
Church of the Highlands purchased 27 acres of land off Highway 181 for its new campus. At the time, the church said the campus would be about 50,000 square feet and will serve as a hub for all of the church’s activities in coastal Alabama.
The land was purchased for around $4.6 million, according to public records.
The Church of the Highlands has been holding worship services at the Daphne Civic Center for all coastal Alabama worshippers. Heidi Spicer, a pastor with Church of the Highlands, said they average 850 to 900 people who attend the Sunday services there.
Church of the Highlands leaders said the campus will be open in 2026.
The church has grown to more than 20 campuses in Alabama and Georgia since it was founded in 2001 by former lead pastor Chris Hodges. The flagship campus is on Grants Mill Road in Irondale, just outside Birmingham.
Hodges in 2011 also founded Highlands College, a school in Birmingham focused on ministry education. He remains chancellor of the college.
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