Cathedral of St. John the Divine

  Standing along side St. Patrick's Cathedral as the most impressive cathedral New York City has to offer is the Cathedral of St. John the Divine. Although unknown to most visitors, St. John the Divine is in fact the fourth largest Christian Church in the world and rivals with the Liverpool Anglican Cathedral as the worlds largest Cathedral and Anglican church.

  Located at 1047 Amsterdam Ave. (between West 110th St and West 113th St.) on Manhattan's Upper West Side, this cathedral was designed in 1888 and begun in 1892. An example of 13th century High Gothic style from northern France, the cathedral was originally designed in a Byzantine-Romanesque style, however the plan was changed in 1909 to a more Gothic design. With the interruption of two World Wars, construction underwent radical stylistic changes delaying the completion of this massive cathedral. After a large fire in December of 2001, St. John the Divine was closed for repairs and not reopened again until 2008.

   Boasting an interior of over 121,00 sq ft. and reaching as high as 232 ft., it is no wonder why St. John the Divine ranks among the biggest in the world. Seven chapels sit behind the choir and are known as the "Chapels of the Tongues". They are devoted to St. Ansgar, patron of Denmark and the Scandinavian countries; St. Boniface, apostle of the Germans; St. Columba, patron of Ireland and Scotland; St. Savior, devoted to immigrants from the east; St. Martin of Tours, patron of the French; St. Ambrose, patron of Italy; and St. James, patron of Spain. The designs of the chapels are meant to represent each of the seven most prominent ethnic groups to first immigrate to New York City upon the open of Ellis Island in 1892, the same year the Cathedral was begun.

For any admirers of the great Cathedrals of Europe, St. John the Divine is a must-see when visiting New York City.

Address:

1047 Amsterdam Avenue

New York, NY 10025

Website: http://www.stjohndivine.org/