A rose window with 10,000 pieces of glass, seating for 4,500, seven elaborate chapels and 14 themed sections behind the nave make this cathedral one of the largest and most stunning in the world. Located in Manhattan's Morningside Heights at 1047 Amsterdam Avenue near 110th Street, this church covers more than a city block, is about two football fields long, and could fit the Statue of Liberty in its central dome.
Originally planned in a Byzantine-Romanesque design, the architectural style was changed to Gothic in 1909. Because of interruptions due to the bombing of Pearl Harbor and World War II, building efforts were intermittent across many decades. Therefore, the cathedral today reflects a multitude of architectural styles showcasing a Gothic nave and Roman arches and columns, while the bronze doors at the entrance feature biblical characters rather than Gothic gargoyles. The High Alter contains the Gothic-style tomb of Reverend Horatio Potter, the cathedral's founder, and the chapels behind the choir are designed to represent the most common ethnic groups that came through Ellis Island in 1892, the same year construction began at St. John.
The year 2001 brought a large fire to the cathedral, damaging part of the interior and the pipe organ as well as valuable tapestries. Since 2005, the building has been under restoration to remove smoke damage and to reconstruct parts of the architecture that were lost.
Today, the chapel is used for a variety of concerts and performances including the annual celebration of the feast day of Saint Francis of Assisi, and Memorial Day brings the New York Philharmonic concert. During your visit, be sure to view the American Poet's Corner on the left near the entrance – a memorial to American writers, listing famous one-liners from over 30 poets such as Robert Frost, Gertrude Stein and Emily Dickinson. On your way out of the church, the Peace Fountain, depicting the struggle between good and evil, will be to the right of the building's entrance. This 1985 sculpture by Greg Wyatt, the cathedral's sculptor-in-residence, shows an intense display of the Archangel Michael sparring with Satan, a DNA synapse to show the source of life, and several animals – a large crab, lions, lambs and giraffes, the most peaceful of creatures.
Attraction Information
- Hours:
- 7am to 6pm daily
- Tours: Tuesday through Sunday: 11am and 1pm
- Admission:
- Adults: $5, Students and Seniors: $4
- Subway Stop:
- 1 train at Cathedral Pkwy/110th Street
- Contact:
- Location: 1047 Amsterdam Avenue, New York, NY
- Website: www.stjohndivine.org
