Cathedral of St. John the Divine

The Cathedral of St. John the Divine is an Episcopal church in Morningside Heights, Manhattan, ranking among the largest houses of worship in the world. The building combines Romanesque elements in its lower sections with Gothic forms in the upper areas, particularly visible in the towers and western facade.

The foundation stone was laid in 1892 following plans by Heins and LaFarge, who favored a Byzantine-Romanesque design. From 1909 onward, Cram and Ferguson took over direction and implemented a Gothic style that shapes the character of the building to this day.

The dedication to John the Divine appears throughout the building in artistic depictions spread across several chapels and stained glass windows. Visitors can view a collection of memorial plaques in the Poets' Corner honoring major American writers such as Emily Dickinson and Walt Whitman.

The church sits on Amsterdam Avenue between 110th and 113th Streets and is open daily for guided visits and services. Those wishing to see the upper levels and tower structures should inquire ahead about special tours.

More than 120 years after construction began, the church remains officially incomplete, with work continuing on different sections. The western facade still shows construction zones and temporary scaffolding, making the ongoing project status visible.

Location: Manhattan

Location: New York City

Inception: 1899

Architectural style: Romanesque Revival architecture, Gothic Revival

Address: Amsterdam Avenue

Website: http://stjohndivine.org

GPS coordinates: 40.80360,-73.96170

Latest update: December 13, 2025 16:05