Cathedral of St. John the Divine in
New York (NY)

Wonderful cathedral. Striking architecture and always very welcoming. Hosts numerous events throughout the year.

Truly, this is a monument to faith. I was really impressed with the magnitude of this building and a bit off put by the impractical nature of such heights at the same time. It will cost a mint to heat and cool that big expanse of air. That could be why they charge admission and have a gift shop. I went for mass. It was a beautiful service. Great sermon. There choir and organ were in great voice. I felt very spiritual and welcome. It was a lovely experience. It did feel a bit touristy but I can also see that such a building must be expensive to maintain so I can't fault them for the side hustle. This church does a lot of good for their neighbors. I admire them for their faithfulness to their great commission.

ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS, THE STAINED GLASS displays are works of art, a marvel of architecture.

What an amazing and beautiful way to spend Christmas Eve sitting amongst a full house of NYC Holiday revelers to hear words of compassion and faith.

The Halloween Extravaganza was excellent and highly recommended. Watching Phantom of the Opera (silent version) with the church organ for effect was beyond description.

Incredible tours. Amazing building with great architectural history.

I came for a ballet performance and had time to walk around. Really beautiful and impressive looks bigger when you are inside.

Breathtaking. Chorus was practicing when we were there. Be sure to check out the seven chapels behind the main altar.

Beautiful cathedral, definitely worth a visit if you are in NY! ⛪

Amazing gothic church… the experience is so mystical and the architecture and the feel to be in here and worshipping is so divine…

I had a great experience, the blessing of the animals was a great event at this church. My dogs had a blast. That was a great opportunity to support the community. Thanks for the blessing of our animals.

Holly space ? St. John the Divine, NYC – Visit Review ?Location: 1047 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY 10025 ? One of the largest cathedrals in the world ? “This is the Gate of Heaven” ⸻ ✨ First Impressions From the moment you approach the cathedral, you’re struck by its Gothic Revival grandeur. The intricate façade, especially the portal statues and carvings, rivals European cathedrals in scale and detail. The banner declaring “Gate of Heaven” isn’t just decorative — it captures the overwhelming verticality and spiritual aspiration of the building. It’s both majestic and deeply moving. ⸻ ? Exterior Architecture The western façade features: • High-relief carvings of saints and biblical figures, each standing atop elaborately sculpted pedestals. • A rose window framed in stone tracery, a hallmark of Gothic design. • Three main portal doors, each with finely detailed tympanums and archivolts. • Modern touches: a rainbow flag representing inclusivity and progressiveness, blending tradition and modern values. Even the surrounding Upper Manhattan buildings complement the stone cathedral with their brick-and-mortar charm, creating a striking cityscape. ⸻ ? Symbolism & Vibe One of the most powerful elements you captured is the integration of progressive symbolism (like the rainbow flag) into a traditional space. It speaks volumes about the cathedral’s commitment to community and inclusiveness in the 21st century. Despite its monumental scale, the cathedral doesn’t feel cold — the surrounding trees, event posters, and accessible entrance signage give it a welcoming, community-first presence. ⸻ ?️ Visual Highlights Must-see spots from your visit: 1. The Portal Statues: Each column base tells a story — myth, faith, architecture, or human history — beneath serene stone saints. 2. “Gate of Heaven” Banner: A bold, photogenic reminder of the cathedral’s spiritual mission. 3. Rainbow Flag + Cathedral Spires: A fusion of tradition and progress in one powerful frame. 4. Staircase Entrance: Wide, elevated steps that add a ceremonial gravity to your visit. ⸻ ? One-line Summary “More than a church — a sacred monument of art, history, and living values in the heart of New York.” ⸻ BUT ENTRANCE FEE IS NOT FREE

There’s no doubt this is a beautiful church architecturally (5 stars), and it is worth visiting. However, there are a couple of reasons why I had to take off two stars. First, there’s an admission fee, and I have to say it’s pretty steep: $15. It’s presumably an entrance fee with a self-guided tour. However, I was only given a postcard with a QR code, your self-guided tour! If I had been asked for a donation to enter the church, I wouldn’t have any issue. If I had to pay an additional fee for a self-guided audio tour, I wouldn’t have had any issues with that, either. Finally, the sign outside the visitor entrance is misleading (my photo). It says ‘The Cathedral of St John the Divine is a house of prayer for all people. You are welcome here. Please be ready to show your bag(s) to Security upon entering. Please check-in at the Visitor Center.’ When I read this seemingly warm welcome, I did not expect or dream of being charged $15 just to enter the church. Second, the lady at the Visitor Center was nice and friendly. However, the security guard at the entrance was rude. The security guy at the exit was UNBELIEVABLY rude. So, the cathedral is on W 112 street. When you exit the building, you walk on a small walkway towards W 111 street, and there’s a security booth. As I was exiting the premises and right before the security booth, I saw beautiful old stone buildings, which I think are school buildings. I was just amazed and had to stop. As soon as I stopped, the security guy in the booth shouted ‘Can I help you?’ in the meanest possible way. He did not mean ‘(you seem lost) how can I help you?’ It was clear by his tone, he meant ‘what the hell are you doing?’ I simply told him ‘I’m looking at the buildings.’ I was not trespassing; I had pay an admission fee to the church, I was on the path to exit the premises. All I did was stop and admire the buildings. I was not even taking pictures or anything. You know what he did to me? The security guy gave me a ‘GET OUT’ hand gesture. Based on my experience, I suggest that you look at the cathedral from outside. There’s a small park on W111 street. Go there and look at the cathedral from a different angle. I do not recommend going inside unless you want to pay $15 AND get yelled at. Just so that you know many other churches do not charge admission, including the St Patrick’s Cathedral in Midtown.

15$ to enter. I thought it was a bit too much to enter simply because the cathedral is stunning from the outside but it’s not that special inside. It’s okay to skip the inside if you’re on a budget.

I was able to take the C train up to 110th Street & then it was just a few blocks away. Well worth the stop to visit the cathedral, which is the largest on the island of Manhattan and is not as busy as St. Patrick's or some of the other cathedrals mid/downtown. They had 7 different mini-chapels that were connected to the main cathedral. The architecture was amazing as well as some of the displays, art & antiques. They also hold daily services that you can check out on their website or displayed out front.

$15 Entrance fee for adults as of 7/19/25. The Cathedral of St. John the Divine (sometimes referred to as St. John's and also nicknamed St. John the Unfinished) is the cathedral of the Episcopal Diocese of New York. It is at 1047 Amsterdam Avenue in the Morningside Heights neighborhood of Manhattan in New York City, between West 110th Street (also known as Cathedral Parkway) and West 113th Street. The cathedral is an unfinished building, with only two-thirds of the proposed building completed, due to several major stylistic changes, work interruptions, and unstable ground on the site. The original design, in the Byzantine Revival and Romanesque Revival styles, began construction in 1892. After the opening of the crossing in 1909, the overall plan was changed to a Gothic Revival design. The completion of the nave was delayed until 1941 due to various funding shortfalls, and little progress has occurred since then, except for an addition to the tower at the nave's southwest corner. After a large fire damaged part of the cathedral in 2001, it was renovated and rededicated in 2008. The towers above the western elevation of the facade, as well as the southern transept and a proposed steeple above the crossing, have not been completed. Despite being incomplete, the Cathedral of St. John the Divine is the world's fourth-largest church by area and either the largest or second-largest Anglican cathedral.[a] The floor area of St. John's is 121,000 sq ft (11,200 m2), spanning a length of 601 feet (183 m), while the roof height of the nave is 177 feet (54 m). Since the cathedral's interior is so large, it has been used for hundreds of events and art exhibitions. In addition, the Cathedral of St. John the Divine has been involved in various advocacy initiatives throughout its history. The cathedral close includes numerous buildings: the Leake & Watts Orphan Asylum Building, the cathedral proper, the St. Faith's House, the Choir School, the Deanery, and the Bishop's House. The buildings are designed in several different styles and were built over prolonged periods of construction, with the Leake & Watts Orphan Asylum predating the cathedral itself. The cathedral close was collectively designated an official city landmark by the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission in 2017.

We couldn’t get inside the church but it was our mistake. The outside gardens are a gem inside the city. Beautiful architecture. I was here a long time ago and the inside is beautiful. They are still building the inside of the church like all gothic cathedral.

I was here for a choral concert that I was a part of. The staff were so amazing and attentive to our needs. It was a great concert. The inside is so spacious and the reverberation from some of our music echoed for at least 10-15 seconds. It is an amazing space.

The textile conservation lab tour blew my mind. Such an illuminating glimpse into an incredibly niche craft located in one of the biggest cathedrals on earth, which also houses some gorgeous stained glass windows, a beautiful Keith Haring altarpiece, and an oddly secular art collection. Went during pride month and found it to be very welcoming, absolutely massive, and honestly just so different from the countless cathedrals I’ve been in across Europe and Asia.

It goes way beyond church! It's a tribute to New York City a bit of a museum where art and God meet! Yes, it's also an active Episcopal Church with Services! The height and vastness will hve your jaw drop! The latest event they housed was PRIDE EVE!

A true piece of art and history that I wish more and more people were aware of. This place is absolutely gorgeous, both outside and inside. I try to visit every other year, and it still doesn’t cease to amaze me. I like to take my time walking inside and reading everything about it. I hope they finally finish construction sometime during my lifetime. I would love to see it totally completed. I’d also add that it’s one of the biggest churches around, super impressive with its old Romanesque and Gothic looks, and it’s been built since 1892. I love how it brings people together as a place for prayer and cool events like art shows. It’s right in Morningside Heights, Manhattan, at 1047 Amsterdam Avenue, and it’s a must-see spot that always wows me.

Such monimental buildings always make a great impression. The cathedral is one of the largest in the world. It makes a great impression. When we realize that it is unfinished, the impression is greater. For visitors, tickets $15. If you want to pray, you will enter for free.

The Cathedral of St. John the Divine is absolutely stunning. That Gothic design, so intricately detailed and peaceful, feels like a step back in time. It is a breathtaking and unforgettable experience. You can buy tickets in advance if you wish to do a self-guided tour.

St. John the Divine is such a beautiful cathedral. An architectural marvel, it is truly breathtaking from the moment you walk inside. They often have an art installation, which only adds to the beauty. There are also mini exhibits (as I like to call them) throughout. It’s the largest cathedral in the world and is really worth the visit. One note is that there is an admission fee. It’s pretty reasonable and there’s no need to buy tickets in advance, but just an FYI.

The largest cathedral in the world! Still not finished yet but will continue to be constructed over many centuries. The architecture is really special and stunning. On one sculpture, you can see the 2 World Trade Center towers before 9/11 event, another there’s hand and ears. If you are planning to enter in the cathedral, it is $15 for an adult. Still worth visiting this incredible cathedral!

Visited this as part of our trip to New York, neither myself or my wife are religious but we enjoy looking at the architecture of churches and cathedrals. This one is huge and everywhere you look there is something to grab your attention. Great visit and would recommend to people visiting the city.

Beautiful grand cathedral! It's hard to appreciate the size of the building until you are inside it. Standing next to the columns reminded me of standing next to a giant tree. The architecture and stained glass throughout were incredible as was the artwork and carvings. I think there is a guided tour available but we just paid $5 each to walk through on our own. A large section is under renovation but there's still plenty to see.