★★★★★ 5.0
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Cathedral of St. John the Divine
May 1911, and architect Christopher LaFarge receives a devastating cable from his partner... he's just been fired from the world's fourth-largest cathedral project after dedicating nearly two decades to its creation. Standing here on Amsterdam Avenue at Morningside Heights - one of Manhattan's highest natural elevations - you're witnessing the result of one of architecture's most dramatic mid-stream reversals. What began in 1892 as a Byzantine-Romanesque masterpiece to rival St. Patrick's Cathedral was suddenly transformed into Gothic Revival when the trustees ejected LaFarge and hired Ralph Adams Cram. Look up at that "temporary" tile ceiling above you... it's been temporary for over a century, originally meant to be demolished so the cathedral's massive spire could rise. A 1921 guide predicted it would take 700 years to complete using authentic Gothic building methods. As you move through the interior, notice how the seven apsidal chapels around you each represent different nations - Spanish, Italian, French, Eastern Mediterranean, British, German, and Scandinavian - reflecting America's changing immigration patterns. The number seven echoes throughout this sacred space, honoring Saint John the Divine's Book of Revelation. Outside, that truncated bell tower tells its own story of ambition meeting reality - construction halted in the 1990s when funds ran out, leaving it forever unfinished at two-thirds its intended height.
Did You Know?
- The Cathedral of St. John the Divine is famously unfinished—construction began in 1892 and, despite multiple architectural style changes and interruptions due to wars, funding, and even a major fire in 2001, only about two-thirds of the original design has ever been completed, earning it the nickname 'St. John the Unfinished.' It remains one of the largest churches in the world, ranking fourth by area, and has never seen its grand towers or southern transept fully built.
- Originally designed in a Byzantine-Romanesque style, the cathedral's plans shifted to French and English Gothic after the deaths of its first architects, resulting in a unique architectural blend not found in any other major cathedral. The immense granite columns used to build the walls were so massive they had to be shipped on a special barge from Maine, highlighting the extraordinary scale and ambition of the project.
- The cathedral's vast interior and exceptional acoustics have made it a renowned venue for major concerts and events, attracting artists like Paul Winter for annual performances. It also hosts community events, art installations, and even an annual 'Blessing of the Animals' service, reflecting its role as both a spiritual and cultural hub in New York City.