Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine
Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine
Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine
4.5
9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
12:00 PM - 5:00 PM
About
The Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine in the City and Diocese of New York is the seat of the bishop of New York and diocesan mother church. The largest Gothic Cathedral in the world, the Cathedral's interior measures 601 feet, and the vaulting of the Nave is 124 feet. The cornerstone was laid on December 27, 1892, and the towers, transepts, and crossing have yet to be completed.
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The area
Address
Neighbourhood: Morningside Heights
How to get there
- Cathedral Parkway – 110th St • 6 min walk
- Cathedral Parkway – 110th St • 6 min walk
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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4.5
1,560 reviews
Excellent
959
Very good
446
Average
112
Poor
28
Terrible
16
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Tanya G
Washington DC, DC28 contributions
Jan 2020
I was amazed by the openness of this cathedral to social and environmental issues, and its multiculturalism. Art breathtaking, very moving. Make sure to look closely at the sculptures on the exterior wall of the cathedral and visit the sculpture of St Micheal defeating Satan adjacent to the building. Finally, the gardens were very quaint - you might even see a peacock!
Written 7 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Farwriter
London, UK134 contributions
Feb 2024 • Solo
I love visiting churches and cathedrals and this was one of the highlights of my visit to New York. The vast length of the nave is emphasized by it being empty of pews and the height of the columns was breathtaking. It was $15 to enter but I was there over an hour and a half, looking at everything and soaking up the atmosphere. I don't think I have ever been in such a quiet church - for somewhere so big and open to the public, you could hear a pin drop. So peaceful. The Chapels of the Tongues, dedicated to the different immigrant groups, were so beautiful I almost cried. The cathedral was started in the 1890s but built according to medieval methods. The ceramic tiled dome was just beautiful too - supposedly a "temporary" ceiling because the church is still unfinished and was intended to have a square tower over the crossing - who knows whether that will be done one day!
I do agree with some other reviewers that the female security guard at the entrance was unnecessarily abrupt and unwelcoming, but the beauty of the church made e forget about her quite quickly!
I do agree with some other reviewers that the female security guard at the entrance was unnecessarily abrupt and unwelcoming, but the beauty of the church made e forget about her quite quickly!
Written 22 February 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ray
Staines, UK798 contributions
Jul 2020
Just to get the facts right, no it's not "the largest" but one of the largest churches in the world. And yes if they ever managed to finish it as planned, it might hold that title.
Its not that old or magnificent either. There are hundreds of dazzling cathedrals in Europe that are centuries older than this and design, architecture, craftsmanship aside, their ceilings alone are a work of art but by US standards, its definitely all that so I have to give the credit where its due.
Besides it's not something you expect in a tourist centric city like New York. Its bit refreshing to see something other than the usual steel and glass.
Its not that old or magnificent either. There are hundreds of dazzling cathedrals in Europe that are centuries older than this and design, architecture, craftsmanship aside, their ceilings alone are a work of art but by US standards, its definitely all that so I have to give the credit where its due.
Besides it's not something you expect in a tourist centric city like New York. Its bit refreshing to see something other than the usual steel and glass.
Written 18 January 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MSUmindy
Shelby, MI709 contributions
Dec 2019
We were looking forward to visiting St. John The Divine for the architecture. We arrived as a group and were met by an individual who would act as our “guide”. She was not informative or helpful. She could not answer questions. It was Christmas and a giant Christmas tree was being decorated with cranes to symbolize peace. She was incorrect in the information she gave about the origin of the crane memorialization after Nagasaki and Hiroshima. It was really a waste of 2 hours.
Written 5 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Itinerant_Foodies
Greensboro, NC605 contributions
Nov 2021 • Couples
Top points to this cathedral for being very welcoming of visitors interesting in self-touring the interior, even when a service was in occurring! We got very good (and quiet) directions for touring during the service. We found the various displays interesting and timely—this church clearly tries to stay relevant. The interior is astoundingly huge, made all the more so by the lack of interior accoutrements in a large area during construction. When we were ready to exit the interior, we had questions about future concerts and again the “greeter” jumped into action, helping to locate flyers that were quite helpful. The exterior facade is stunning and worth a look.
Written 10 November 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Alexander P
21 contributions
Jul 2021
This is a perfect choice for low-budget tourism. You can get to this cathedral using the subway or a bicycle share, and for a small fee, you get to see truly amazing architecture.
The indoor featuring many rooms with unique designs and a beautiful main hall.
Bathrooms are open for visitors.
The cathedral has a garden, but it was closed to the public during our visit.
The indoor featuring many rooms with unique designs and a beautiful main hall.
Bathrooms are open for visitors.
The cathedral has a garden, but it was closed to the public during our visit.
Written 20 July 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
fencingdoctor
Rockville Centre, NY18 contributions
Sept 2021
The building size is impressive and has a Gothic style. The stained glasses are richly decorated. The church has many bays dedicated to different saints or contemporary events.
There are plenty of statues and depictions of saints which is unusual in an Episcopalian church. Some objects are real pieces of museum.
On the left nave there is an impressive crucifix that has a particular point. It is not a Latin cross, but rather a cross that resembles the Greek letter Tau.
The garden is ample and a good place to relax.
It must be kept in mind that the Cathedral is not finished and there are construction artifacts around.
There are plenty of statues and depictions of saints which is unusual in an Episcopalian church. Some objects are real pieces of museum.
On the left nave there is an impressive crucifix that has a particular point. It is not a Latin cross, but rather a cross that resembles the Greek letter Tau.
The garden is ample and a good place to relax.
It must be kept in mind that the Cathedral is not finished and there are construction artifacts around.
Written 25 October 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Matthias
Wa, Ghana319 contributions
Aug 2023 • Family
Church open, security checks bags but allows dogs and men with shorts and caps on their heads. Nice and bright for a Catholic church, lots of beautiful altars, nice window pictures that are a must-see. There is an explanation of each altar in English, an app in English, French and Spanish to download. And free wifi. Great. Only a small souvenir shop in the church that also has nice souvenirs.
The visitors, on the other hand, are amazing and will test your tolerance level. Lap dogs on the pew, walking into the cordoned off bed area with a video even though it's forbidden (who watches these films anyway???) Hat on head, breasts barely covered, we love diversity. All God's children. Patience and tolerance.
The visitors, on the other hand, are amazing and will test your tolerance level. Lap dogs on the pew, walking into the cordoned off bed area with a video even though it's forbidden (who watches these films anyway???) Hat on head, breasts barely covered, we love diversity. All God's children. Patience and tolerance.
Written 8 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Conny Wylie
Ottawa, Canada997 contributions
Jan 2023
The Cathedral of Saint John the Divine is situated in Upper Manhattans Morningside Heights. It can lay claim to the largest cathedral in the world and for that matter the 6th largest church in space. I admired the remarkable Gothic architecture, sparkling stained glass windows and the ornate tapestries. Of particular interest to me was the Keith Haring's white gold and bronze altarpiece and a 9/11 memorial sculpture which holds debris of the towers in it out of respect of the incident. Mostly though, the Cathedral is an ideal place to pray, meditate and contemplate.
Written 27 January 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
NYCTexan
New York City, NY145 contributions
Oct 2023 • Family
I wouldn't recommend going here.
The security here are very disrespectful. They treat everyone as if they are criminals. They must get paid extra the meaner they are.
This place is VERY unwelcoming, and charges high entrance fee.
I have never seen a church that works so hard to exclude people.
The security here are very disrespectful. They treat everyone as if they are criminals. They must get paid extra the meaner they are.
This place is VERY unwelcoming, and charges high entrance fee.
I have never seen a church that works so hard to exclude people.
Written 26 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Check out the church's wonderful webpage for history and other religious facts/affiliations. It is an experience you will enjoy and a surprise of cathedral proportions!
Written 14 December 2020
I will be visiting New York in April next year and want to maybe go to the evensong at Cathedral of John the Divine...i just want to get an idea of the proper dress code...on holidays i normally dont pack smarter clothes...i mainly spend time in jeans but not sure if it will be appropriate...the church i attend it will be fine but dont want to go there and be disrespectful?
Written 10 October 2018
You can go to St. John in pretty casual clothes, even for services and holidays. I was at the Feast of St. Francis recently and many were wearing jeans (including me) and polo shirts (even some t shirts).
Written 18 October 2018
Can I use tripod inside the church?
Written 24 August 2018
quiero saber si siempre se realizan conciertos ahi. Me emociono la majestuosidad de la catedral y la musica que ejecutaba una orquesta.Otra maravilla imperdible de la Gran Manzana-
Written 1 June 2018
Hello--Can anyone please tell me approximately how long the Winter Solstice celebration is? I am trying to make plans that include traveling by bus and subway to and within the City. Thank you!
Written 3 October 2017
You'll need to contact the church, but my recall is about 2 1/2-3 hours.
Written 7 October 2017
Allow about 1.5 hours - it's very elaborate.
Written 25 May 2017
Can we do everything on our own (i.e. climb to the top, tapestries, etc) without formal tours? There are only 4 of us. We plan to just self tour. Thanks
Written 31 March 2017
Yes, this is a very easy self-tour. In fact, tours take place even during services, so you're somewhat expected to be self-sufficient.
Written 15 May 2017
thinking about going to the winter solstice, can buy seats AA or A? looks like the music in the middle, what seats are best?
Written 21 November 2016
whenever I have gone to a conert I always sit on the side with the single letter seats. So if I had a choice I would select "A"
Written 23 November 2016
Their website says the Cathedral is open at 7.30am but the visitor center is open at 9am. So can people start go in at 7.30 and look around or do you have to wait until 9? Thanks:)
Written 15 November 2016
Church is open for "looking around" at 7:30. The visitors (guided tours, etc.) opens at 9.
Written 15 November 2016
Do you think that we should attend the 9am or the 11am service tomorrow....I want to see it in all its glory...wnat to hear singing and beautiuful music?
Written 14 May 2016
For all the pomp and circumstance and great music, come to the 11:00 for sure! And enjoy.
Written 14 May 2016
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