New York City's Beautiful Churches and Cathedrals

If you're visiting New York City over the holidays, you might want to consider visiting some of the city's historic and hauntingly beautiful churches and cathedrals, most of which encourage visits and tours. Many also offer stunning choirs and vocal performances, so check their websites for information about special events, particularly during the holidays. 

St. Patrick's, located in the middle of the holiday action on Fifth Avenu, is the largest gothic Catholic cathedral in the United States. You can walk around inside the Cathedral anytime it is open, but you might especially enjoy attending a Stl. Patrick's mass or musical event. Be sure to visit the cathedral gift shop, which sells all sorts of souvenirs. If you're in a group of 10 or more people, check out the guided tours of St. Patrick's that take place Monday through Friday. Make tour reservations by calling (212) 355-2749, ext. 409. St. Patrick's is on Fifth Avenue between 50th and 51st Streets. The phenomenal six-minute video to the right, filmed during a New York City firefighter's funeral, shows you how important St. Patrick's is to the people of New York. 

What better way to show your respect at Ground Zero than to visit St. Paul's Chapel, the beautiful and tiny church located directly across from the World Trade Center site. St. Paul's remarkably sustained little damage during the attack and served as a key location during rescue and recovery efforts after the Sept. 11th attacks. Completed in 1766, this Episcopal place of worship can be toured on your own during non-worship hours. You can also arrange for a free group tour by registering online at the chapel's website. Now on view at St. Paul's is "Unwavering Spirit: Hope and Healing at Ground Zero," an exhibit about St. Paul's ministry in the weeks and months after 9/11. St. Paul's is downtown, on Church Street between Fulton and Vesey Streets. 

One of the best shows in town happens to be the gospel service at Abyssinian Baptist Church in Harlem, the first African-American church in New York City. Established in 1808, the Abyssinian once served as the home base of the Rev. Adam Clayton Powell. On Sundays, the gospel services at 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. are extremely popular. Tourists have to wait until regular church members are seated. The Abyssinian is at 132 Odell Clark Place, between Adam Clayton Powell Blvd. and Lenox Avenue. 

The Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine, the mother church of the Episcopal Diocese of New York, is an historic and architectural gem. Although parts of the Cathedral are being cleaned and restored after being damaged in a 2001 fire, it remains open for tours. One of the best tours of St. John's is the one-hour "Vertical Tour," which takes 124 feet up spiral stone staircases to the top of the Cathedral, culminating at the Cathedral roof and its breathtaking views of the city. Vertical Tours take place on Saturdays at noon and 2 p.m. and tickets are $15 adults, $10 student and seniors. Reservations are required, so call (212) 932-7347. Regular tours, which cost $5, take place Tuesdays through Saturdays at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. ,and Sundays at 1 p.m The Cathedral is located at 1047 Amsterdam Ave. 

Riverside Church is the church that John D. Rockefeller built and an interdenominational cathedral. Located at 490 Riverside Drive, the cathedral is a bustling place that welcomes visitors and holds many performances worth experiencing. Riverside has its own theater, lectures, choir, chamber singers and handbell choir. Every Sunday, Riverside conducts free tours at 12:15 p.m., and no advance reservations are required. The Visitor Center Gift Shop is open after the tour and you can even have lunch in the church dining room. Check out their website for a slew of special events and performances.