Cathedral of St. John the Divine

The Cathedral of Saint John the Divine, located at 1047 Amsterdam Avenue in New York City (between 110th and 113th Streets) is the official Episcopal Diocese of New York. Though construction on it began in 1892, the first services weren’t held until 1899, and some people still consider it to be “unfinished” to this day, due to the fact that numerous architects and even building styles have been employed in its construction. It was begun in the Byzantine-Romanesque tradition, but was changed to a more Gothic design after the death of one of the original designers. Throughout the 20th century, plans have been changed, things have been torn down and rebuilt, and it still remains in a state of creative flux. The Cathedral is open to the public for tours, and is one of New York City’s favorite concert venues. The grounds and gardens are open from sunrise to sunset, depending on the time of year, and tours of the interior are available throughout the week. Tours of the spiral staircases to the top of the church, known as vertical tours, are available on Saturdays, and of course the church is open for services on Sundays.

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