Through the eyes of gargoyles
Written: Oct 01 '00
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Beautiful building and good deeds together
Cons: none
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| pambo's Full Review: New York |
Review Topic: Sights & Attractions
For a different, quieter view of New York City, away from the hubbub of midtown, try a visit to the Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine.
Spending an afternoon at the serene and beautiful cathedral has a way of draining away the stresses of the day for tourists and residents alike.
Normally, I prefer churches on a smaller scale, putting their money and energy into good works instead of buildings. But St. John the Divine has managed to do both for a long time.
Located on the Upper West Side of Manhattan (112th and Amsterdam), the cathedral is an impressive building and operation in an area already loaded with the vaunted Columbia University campus and affiliated activities. It is the mother church to the New York Episcopal Diocese and the seat of the bishop.
It is reported to be the largest Gothic-style church in the United States, and it is definitely big in physical size and scope.
For many years, the cathedral has been busy with community outreach, trying to engage the community in its activities while also drawing scores of others to the cathedral for its many special events. For example, when it began its extensive rebuilding and repair of its walls, it hired European stonemasons to lead the work, but then also began a apprenticeship program for young people from the neighborhood. It has several other programs designed to aid the community and involve its neighbors in its good works.
But it also keeps a full schedule of events designed for everyone, including musical artists eager to perform in its cavernous spaces and for the public eager to experience the church in their own way.
Sometimes those two communities merge; a recent listing of events at the cathedral included a Saturday morning Medieval Family Arts workshop, exploring stonecarving, weaving and more. Other events:
An ecumenical holiday workshop in making paper cranes; an exhibit of William Wegman's dog photos, entitled Canes Ecclesiorum (Cathedral Dogs); Several recitals; a series of performances by the Ensemble for Early Music; and Renaissance Christmas music performances, and a "crypt crawl" designed to commemorate the origins of Halloween as a Celtic new year celebration. These activities are open to all who want to register.
At other times, such artists as Paul Winter put on engaging concerts for children and adults, who take full advantage of the chilling and beautiful sounds that echo off the cathedral's huge walls and high ceiling.
Despite the cathedral's size and activities, it can also be a peaceful place for contemplation, and a stroll around its nave can do wonders to calm one's troubles.
This is a pleasant way to spend at least a couple of hours. Children will like it mostly for the gift shop-check out the gargoyles!-- and high walls and ceilings; the benefits of the public tour itself may be lost on children.
A gift shop on the site is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m; its grounds and gardens are open during daylight hours.
Public tours, at $3 per person, for groups of fewer than 10 people are scheduled at 11 a.m. Tuesday-Saturday and Sunday at 1 p.m.
The cathedral also offers a "vertical tour" on the first and third Saturday of the month, at noon at 2 p.m., which consists of a climb of 124 up its spiral stone staircases to the top of the cathedral and a stunning view of the city. Reservations required and tickets are $10.
Like so much of New York, parking is a problem; I'd advise taking a cab or a train to 110th Street (Cathedral Parkway) and walking east to Amsterdam Avenue and then north two blocks. You really can't miss it.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
pambo
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 - Top 1000 |
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Member: Pam Robinson
Location: Long Island
Reviews written: 477
Trusted by: 239 members
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