The Churches are literal Churches. However as John begins to communicate the vision he helps us understand some things.
The vision John receives begin at verses 10, 11:
10 I was in the Spirit on the Lords day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like the sound of a trumpet,
11 saying, Write in a book what you see, and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus and to Smyrna and to Pergamum and to Thyatira and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to Laodicea.
We read Jesus walking among the 7 lampstands in verse verse 12.
Now John begins the vision and describes Jesus in verses 13-16..and at verse 16:
16 In His right hand He held seven stars, and out of His mouth came a sharp two-edged sword; and His face was like the sun shining in its strength.
Now we get to the meat in 17-20
17 When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man. And He placed His right hand on me, saying, Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last, 18 and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades.
19 Therefore write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after these things.
20 As for the mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden lampstands: the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.
So now we know the seven stars are the angles (or pastors) of the seven churches. The churches are symbolized as 7 lampstands in the vision...so they are literal.