Downtown Church is the sixth studio album by American singer-songwriter Patty Griffin, released on January 26, 2010, by Credential Recordings, a Christian label distributed by EMI.

[5] Peter York, president of the EMI Christian Music Group, suggested Griffin record a gospel album, and she agreed under the condition that Buddy Miller work as producer.

[2] Kyle Matthews of the Associated Baptist Press noted that the album was cohesive despite a variety of styles and praised the song selection as "beyond stereotypes".

[14] Michael Corcora of the Austin American-Statesman praised Griffin as an "amazingly athletic singer" but criticized the album as "often divinely stirring" but lacking "a deep spiritual core".

Club remarked on the choice of unconventional songs "I Smell A Rat", "Death's Got A Warrant", and "Virgen De Guadalupe" and described the album as "heartfelt", but "a little generic at times".

[17] Andrew Whitman of Christianity Today called the album "surprisingly diverse and beautifully sung" but argued that the secular "I Smell a Rat" did not fit with the religious material.

[16] Mark Deming of Allmusic stated that Downtown Church was one of a string of good albums Griffin made since 1996 and was appealing "regardless of [one's] religious convictions".