congregations
n. plural-only C1 Advanced US //ˌkɑŋɡɹəˈɡeɪʃənz// UK //kˌɒŋɡɹɪɡˈeɪʃənz// con·gre·ga·tions
n. groups of people who gather together for a religious service or meeting.
n. groups of people assembled for religious worship or a common secular purpose. Often refers specifically to the members of a particular church or parish.
The local congregations joined together for a charity walk.
During the holiday season, local congregations often host community dinners to support those in need.
The bishop visited several rural congregations to discuss the upcoming changes to the liturgy and to hear the concerns of the local parishioners.
Usage
As the plural form of 'congregation', it takes plural verb agreement.