Midday Monday Organ Performances

Cathedral of St. John the Divine. Photo by Kripaks (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons

Enjoy a midday break with The Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine’s Midday Monday organ performances.

Each Monday at 1:00 p.m., a Cathedral organist performs a 30-minute demonstration of the Cathedral’s Great Organ.

These short performances give visitors an opportunity to hear the Cathedral’s spectacular organ while enjoying the architecture of the massive Gothic cathedral. Be sure to allow yourself time to tour the Cathedral while you’re there.

The Cathedral actually has five organs, with the Great Organ being the largest. The Great Organ was built in 1911 and expanded on it 1954 by renowned organ-builders Earnest M. Skinner and G. Donald Harrison. The organ has over 8,000 pipes and includes the famous “state trumpet stop”, one of the most powerful (and loud) organ stops in the world.

 

The Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine

The Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine is the Cathedral of the Episcopal Diocese of New York.  It is chartered as a house of prayer for all people and a unifying center of intellectual light and leadership.

Construction of the Cathedral began in 1828 and although the structure has been fully functional and in use since the 1940s, construction and renovation are ongoing.

The Cathedral, which is the largest in the world, is built in the High Gothic architectural style. The entrance is marked by 18-foot high bronze doors fabricated by the same Paris firm that cast the Statue of Liberty. Fourteen themed bays in the Nave honor professions and human endeavors such as communications, medicine, law, and sport, A centerpiece of the structure is the 40-foot in diameter Great Rose Window, which is the largest in the United States.

The Cathedral grounds include over 11 acres of gardens and greens. You’ll find a biblical garden, with plants mentioned in scripture; and the 40-foot high Peace Fountain; the Pulpit Green here. The grounds are also the home to several resident peacocks.

Brochures for self-guided tours of the Cathedral can be acquired from the Cathedral’s Visitor Center, or downloaded in advance. Guided tours are also available for a fee.

 

Location and Hours of Operation

The address for the Cathedral is 1047 Amsterdam Avenue. It is located in the Morningside Heights neighborhood of Manhattan, at the intersection of Amsterdam Avenue and 112th Street.

The Cathedral grounds (known as The Close) are open to the public during daylight hours. Entrances are located on Amsterdam Avenue at 110th and 11th Streets.

The Cathedral is open from 7:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., with limited access on Sundays. Full access on Sundays available between 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m..

The visitor center is open from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. daily.

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