Cathedral of St.
John the Divine
(Episcopal)
1047 Amsterdam Avenue (at West 112th
Street)
Manhattan
(212) 316-7540 Public
Tours:
Tuesday through Saturday, 11:00 a.m.
Sunday, 1:00 p.m.
Vertical Tours:
1st and 3rd Saturday of the month at noon
and 2:00 p.m.
Summary: Begun in 1892,
this magnificent stone structure, which
is roughly the length of two football
fields (larger than Notre Dame and
Chartres combined), continues to be a
work- in-progress and is likely still to
be under construction decades from now.
Concerts are frequently held here and
guided tours are available.
The most impressive feature
of the Cathedral of St. John the Divine
is, without a doubt, its size. This
building is HUGE! Tour guides for this
cathedral proudly note that the Cathedral
is the largest cathedral in the world and
that the Statue of Liberty would fit
comfortably under its central dome. It's
design combines soaring Romanesque and
High Gothic architecture.
History
The cornerstone for the
cathedral was laid on December 27, 1892,
St. John's Day. Its nave (the main aisle
in the Cathedral) was dedicated in 1941,
one week before Pearl Harbor was bombed,
and after that, no construction took
place until 1979, when the cathedral
began training local youth to help with
the stone work. There should be plenty to
keep these local workers busy: the
cathedral is still unfinished, and it is
not expected to be completed for another
75 to 100 years!
Favorite Features
If you stay only for the
one-hour tour, the fee you paid for the
public tour will have been worth it.
Designed with a wide range of interests
in mind, the Cathedral has something for
everyone.
One of our favorite features
is the beautiful stained-glass windows in
the bays on either side of the nave ,
which are dedicated to what one tour
guide called "human endeavors."
For example, one window is devoted to
sports. You will see biblical figures in
each frame of the window, surrounded by
scenes of football, soccer, and baseball
players. The person who designed this
window quite tastefully brought together
ancient religious figures with twentieth
century sports. Other windows are
dedicated to topics such as American
history, the armed forces, and medicine.
Higher up are another set of
larger windows which tell the story of
Christ. Even if you are not religious you
will be able to appreciate the color that
these windows bring in to an otherwise
dark cathedral.
We also enjoyed looking at
some of the secular exhibits, such as the
Poet's Corner, where the names of famous
American authors lie in the floor with a
quote from each author underneath and the
wall where children's poems are posted.
Stone Sculpture
The Cathedral itself is a
masterpiece of stone work. Within this
huge stone structure lie many smaller
stone treasures. Two pieces bear special
mention here. First, be sure to visit the
baptistery. The fountain is an incredible
piece of work (though it held no water
when we were there). While you are there,
look for a glimpse of the oldest
cornerstone of the cathedral, which is
directly under the baptistery.
Equally interesting are the
nineteen two-foot tall statues that
surround the front of the high altar.
Each statue is of a significant
individual who lived in one of the last
twenty centuries. Most of these statues
are of religious figures, beginning with
Saint Paul. But Christopher Columbus,
Shakespeare, George Washington, and
Abraham Lincoln are also represented. The
twentieth slot has been left open,
indicating that there has not yet been a
decision regarding who will represent our
century. Note though that the cathedral
has already given some indication of whom
they regard as the great figures of the
twentieth century. For example, the face
of Nelson Mandela has been carved into a
stone that will one day be part of the
exterior of the cathedral.
More to See and Hear
About
The stories and sights in
this cathedral are endless. Take your
time and take in as much as you can. In
particular, make sure your guide tells
you about:
- How the cathedral
acquired the vase from Emperor
Hirohito that sits on the high
altar.
- The silk tapestries
that hang on either side of the
main altar.
- The sixth largest
rose window in the United States.
- The St. Francis Day
festivities, when an elephant
participates in the processional
down the aisle of the cathedral
(yes, an actual, live elephant,
the kind that needs a
pooper-scooper in its wake!).
Recommended Strategy
We recommend four things to
make your tour more informative and
enjoyable:
First, take a leisurely
stroll throughout the cathedral before
your tour. St. John the Divine is immense
-- so no matter how hard your tour guide
tries, he or she will simply not be able
to explain every aspect of the cathedral.
If you have already looked around a bit,
you can ask your tour guide questions
about things that are especially
interesting to you.
Second, remember to bring
your camera. The Cathedral is gorgeous
and as long as there are no services in
progress, you can take pictures anywhere
you like.
Third, get a map of the
Cathedral as soon as you arrive. You
won't get lost, but the map will provide
you with a better idea of what you are
looking at.
Fourth, save time to explore
the glorious gardens, keeping an eye out
for the peacocks who wander through them.
The Vertical Tour
The vertical tour takes you
up to the walkways near the ceiling of
the cathedral. Note that reservations are
required (call the Public Education
number below). Although this tour may be
interesting and may give you a better
view of the high windows of the church,
keep in mind that Michelangelo (or anyone
else) did not paint its ceilings.
Getting There
By subway, take the #1 or
the #9 train to either 110th or 116th St.
Walk east one block until you come to
Amsterdam Ave. If you got off at 110th
St., take a left and walk until you reach
the cathedral. If you got off at 116th
St., take a right. You will not be able
to miss it.
The Best Time to Go
Although the
cathedral is busiest on weekends, it is
large enough to withstand the crowds.
Remember, though, that this is a place of
worship. You will not be able to inspect
the altars while a service is taking
place, nor will you be allowed to take
photos. It would be wise to avoid coming
here on Sunday mornings.
Information and
Events
Consider attending a service
at the Cathedral. The schedule is as
follows:
Sunday Services:
8:30 am - Morning Prayer & Holy
Eucharist
9:30 am - La Santa Misa en Espanol
11:00 am - Choral Eucharist & Laying
on of Hands
6:00 pm - Choral Evensong & Organ
Meditation
Monday-Saturday Services:
8:00 am - Morning Prayer
8:30 am - Holy Eucharist
12:15 pm - Holy Eucharist
5:30 pm - Evening Prayer
Thursday Only:
7:15 am - Morning Prayer & Holy
Eucharist
4th Saturday of every
month:
1:00 pm - AIDS Memorial Service
The cathedral presents
events that are often free to the public,
ranging from poetry readings to musical
concerts. Call the Box Office for more
information.
The cathedral has a host of
different phone numbers:
Public Education: (212)
932-7347
Cathedral Information: (212) 316-7540
Cathedral Offices: (212) 316-7490
Cathedral Shop: (212) 222-7200
Box Office: (212) 662-2133
Or hop over to their web
site for
more information.
by Andrew Roche
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