So far, I'm enjoying myself at church. Today's special was on Martin Luther King for his birthday. They had a special brunch noon to 1pm. The food came out about $10. the drink if you get like you can drink it's like one dollar if you get like a Snapple, which is like the length of like two cans, that's $2.50. Great sound quality and music. I definitely want to attend again. read more

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Never been here before coming here to see my friends chorus perform last week. This church is beautiful and pretty big. Nice people that work here. I would come back for more performances when they have them. read more

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Nothing special A cold ,unwelcoming church with very unhelpful and unkind staff.They aldo operate the worse food pantry from what i have been told by friends who havd used it. Go elsewhere! read more

They keep the building open but would let me into the church itself on a Sunday in the hours between masses. I'm sorry, but what does it say about a congregation when someone just wants to pray and meditate, but they're turned away. read more

Not welcoming or friendly. Staff comes across as annoyed by visitors rather than creating a sense of community.

YUGE Building Beautiful church on THE HILL One of the oldest churches in Harlem close to most things including Columbia University read more

This church should either change their signage or change their attitude. Signs say all are welcome, signs say Nave open until 5:00. We entered around 3 PM very excited to see the historic place. We were quickly met by a surly man demanding that we leave the premises. Very strange place. Look at Trip Advisor for more complaints of the same behavior. Clearly not a one-off. Very strange. read more

Riverside Church not only is a house of interdenominational Christian worship, but art showcase, and music venue for the community. Heavily associated with activism throughout its history and social causes. Today was a concert by The Riverside Church Inspirational Choir in the Main Nave. A friend was singing as a soloist in the choir so we went to support her. The Church's nave and exterior are in neo-gothic style. Impressive, with stained glass windows all around the nave. A simple cross suspended at the main altar. The nave is a large one sitting approximately 2,000 people. A gem of a church in Morningside Heights which already houses magnificent churches read more

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I just love gothic style churches. This one is neo gothic and majestic! Glad I visited during a service today. The tour afterwards gave so much information. (Tours are held every Sunday after 11am service). The bell towers (where I think Quasimodo would live) are finally being reopened for public tours- they had been closed since 9/11. There's a cafeteria, couple vending machines, gift shop, workshop rooms and conference halls with panoramic views of Manhattan/Bronx, a gym, 5 chapels, and so much more in this massive labyrinth of a magnificent church! Fun fact: Rev Martin Luther King Jr. preached here a couple of times. read more

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A nice wonderful place to visit. The architecture is stunning. Take the time to go to the upper balconies for a closer look at the stain glass. Stunning views of the inside of the church. The day I visited, a choir was giving a performance. It added to the atmosphere of the church. It is a nice place to visit away from the crowds of Midtown but very easy to get to. When in the area, one can visit Columbia Univeristy and St John the Divine. read more

Amazing Gothic architecture that sits in Morningside Heights! My party of three ventured to Riverside Church for a outdoor random photo session. Sadly with lack of time compound with sheer physical exhaustion, thus we did not enter the grounds. Glorious outer view of this massive structure which worshipers of all faiths and respective ethnicity backgrounds adore as this review is entirely based on. Since I have not enter Riverside Church's grounds--I cannot comment further. read more

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Man, it must be good to be God if it means people build buildings like this for you. I suppose it must be good to be God for other reasons too, but whatever. I am not a religious person in the slightest, and I was raised Jewish, but I've always been fascinated by churches. Riverside is hands-down my favorite in New York City. Besides its sheer size and stunningly beautiful gothic architecture, it's like the church that keeps on giving. You want a massively beautiful chapel? Check. Smaller choir chapels? Check. A huge tower with offices and meeting rooms with stunning views? Check. Welcoming congregation? Yup. A really nice theater in the basement? You got it. Don't forget the Flemish stained glass windows. I've seen the New York Philharmonic play The Messiah here twice, and I'm currently rehearsing for a show that goes up in the theater downstairs. A beautiful, liberal Church that supports the arts? That's enough to make a convert out of me! read more

The Riverside Church - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - New York, New York

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Giant skyscraper that is part of history, modeled in the 1930's. It has a 21 story tower with great views of the city. I have been here many times, unfortunately just like some of the rest of population only on Christmas and Easter. Most popular days to be seen in a church for sure. However, just being on the grounds here is really special. It is worth a visit when in New York City. The church itself does have a very diverse and active congregation. read more

The one and only non-denominational church that bears the architectural grandeur and materials that I have always admired and loved. I can't wait to attend the service and feeling God's grace and blessing through the choir. Serious security staff. Endearing and helpful staff that welcomes your presence with an open heart. With the river view outside the church, the walking experience makes you forget that you are in Harlem, NYC. read more

The Riverside Church - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - New York, New York

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The Riverside Church opened in 1930, and financed by John D. Rockefeller Jr. And it is currently an interdenominational church, as it welcomes Christians from different denominations or sects. The church does have a tall tower, but not accessible at all. So you will not be able to go to the top of it. It has its share of famous people speaking there. The church is free to enter. There is the worship area, with nice art of stained glass windows. And there is the Gethsemane Chapel, which is by the right of the entrance, outside of the main worship area. While it is not worth going out of your way, just to see this alone, it is a good place to check out and look around while waiting for Grant's Tomb to open to visitors. And a place to relax your feet, and escape from extreme weather. In other words, this place can be visited along with Grant's Tomb. It can be seen really quickly, and free to enter, so not really a waste of time. read more

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BRIDES BEWARE! The Riverside Church is one of the most dramatic and beautiful venues imaginable for a wedding in New York City. Your guests will be awed by the Nave's architectural splendor, enjoy cocktails overlooking the Hudson River, and dance the night away in a gothic ballroom. There are so many good things to say that The Riverside Church would be a five star venue were it not for the fact that you and your closest family/friends will be biting your nails, praying that you'll get through what's supposed to be a perfect day without too much friction from in-house Wedding Coordinator and resident killjoy, Ms. Angela Gregory. When we did an internet search for prior reviews by couples who had been married there, most were glowing with specific praise for Angela. We should have read closer as many of those reviews appear to come from vendors who work with the church regularly and no doubt rely on Angela's referrals for some portion of their business. One poor bride's prior review on Yelp, however, rings much truer to the Angela that we came to know: uncommunicative at best, intolerably obnoxious at worst; rude to the bride and her guests before and after the ceremony; and generally acting as the gatekeeper to a highly sought-after product whose obligation to be courteous and service-oriented rivals that of a drill sergeant or offshore call center representative. Within days of making our deposit to secure the date and time of our wedding, Angela's communication became sporadic, never answering the phone and rarely returning calls or emails. We were lucky to get complete sentences in response to questions when she did respond via email, and forget trying to change any times or terms in the contract that she will (eventually) need you to sign. You've only planned one wedding, maybe two. In her mind, Angela has overseen hundreds, knows what works, and won't deviate from her cookie-cutter wedding just because the latest bridezilla wants to add a splash or two of personality to what the church by way of Angela is offering off-the-shelf. Take it or leave it, and if you do push back (or, heaven forbid, push for better communication than you have with a long lost great uncle) be prepared for Angela to snarl and snap at you. Amidst our wrangling with Angela, I must say that the director for the church's mandatory caterer, Leigh Hall-Willhelm of Pasha Events, was a breath of fresh air. Sweet, enthusiastic, responsive, thorough. In short, a professional rather than a grinch. Sadly, this should be standard conduct for by anyone in a service industry -- let alone a church employee -- but in this experience was the emotional crutch on which I relied to anticipate pleasant end to my wedding day. Then, to be sure, I hired a third-party coordinator to remove all doubt and potential Angela-induced headache that otherwise seemed inevitable. If you sign up to have your ceremony at The Riverside Church, just go in with eyes wide open. It is a wedding factory with up to three slots per day (2-2:30pm, 4-4:30pm, 6-6:30pm); and just like any other factory, you can expect the production line to be run with brusque, impersonal efficiency. The only way to insulate yourself from the inflexible dictator of this small fiefdom is, as we did, to hire a real wedding planner who actually cares about your feelings and experience. read more

Yay! This church is so beautiful. I love the gothic architecture and it brings me back to my holidays in Europe. My cousin had her wedding here and it was beautiful. There's a huge area for the cocktail hour and a giant banquet room for the reception. The church provides a great backdrop for photos and the scenery outdoors is equally nice because Sakura Park is right there and there's plenty of trees along the river. read more

The Riverside Church - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - New York, New York

The Riverside Church was one of the places that my ex and I went to for Christmas Eve services. The service was nice, but it didn't wow me. It's most probably the Catholic in me who missed the "pomp" that's in the Catholic mass. That's just my personal bias/taste, and I will not drop my review a star for that. To call this place a "church" is an understatement. It is as grand a Cathedral as St. Pat's or St. John the Divine. The gothic architecture is beautiful, as are the stained glass windows. In my last visit I noticed origami cranes hanging from the ceiling. I don't know if that's a temporary thing, but I loved it. It's more like a small church in its openness. The people who work there make you feel welcomed, and are very nice and helpful. Once while walking by I discovered that the Riverside Church was hosting a group of Buddhist monks. I loved that. I also love that the church is open to people in the LGBT community, immigrants/refugees, and provides services (education, etc.) for the community as a whole. The Riverside Church is a towering presence, both literally (the steeple is very high and you can see it from very far away, even from NJ) and figuratively in the local community. It is definitely worth a visit! read more

An awesome space despite recent construction. Beautiful architecture and it shines as a beacon from below and above the Morningside Heights area. A carillon is a set of tuned bells played from a special keyboard high up in a tower. The bell tower of Riverside church is 22 stories high, and when Kelly Choi paid a visit, you could hear the bells ringing ten blocks away! Home to the largest tuned bell in the world per http://a002-vod.nyc.gov/html/secrets_of_new_york.php?id=2383&pn=1 read more

The Riverside Church - Holy Snow - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - New York, New York

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Somehow we'd never before gotten around to visiting this renowned church, but we attended a performance in the theater this afternoon and finally got to see the church's interior. It's huge, very grand and certainly lovely, but I've seen more gorgeous churches than this one. Everyone working there - and they have a HUGE staff - was very pleasant, with one exception; the woman in the library was (inexplicably) really nasty. read more

It's a really beautiful church and it's massive. The architecture and details on the outside are beautiful. The inside is also nice. The altar area has a little labyrinth pattern on the ground which is pretty unique and cool. Toward the back and on the second floor is a gilded Jesus. Apparently at certain times people can take you up the tower but the exact details elude me. We asked but got a vague answer. Bathrooms are in the basement if that's the primary reason for your stop. read more

We were nearby when we decided to come inside this church. From the outside it was such a magnificent building. It was Sunday , 4PM. The door was open, so we entered. (from the Riverside Drive entrance) The decor inside was as beautiful as the exterior, low vault ceiling in the entrance hall and then the high majestic cathedral ceiling in the sermon hall..When we came, there was a rehearsal going on, people were setting up the stage..We took some photos, sat for a while admiring the beauty. We then went downstairs, towards the visitor center, there when there was a church guard/staff sitting said the church is closed, and she asked us to leave (in a rude way). She didn't let us to go upstairs back to the main floor and told us to leave via the 91 claremont entrance. The door of the front church was open. We thought when the door of the church is open, it means everyone is welcome to come in? This is the first time we were asked to leave the church when it's open..If they don't want people to come, why open the door? What if one lost soul come and were told rudely to leave?... PS: Later on we checked their web, it says it open daily from 7 AM to 10 PM.... read more

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Walking inside, the first thing that you need to stop to appreciate are the proportions. Very tall and spacious in most directions. A spiritually satisfying place to come in and admire for a few moments. read more

The Riverside Church - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - New York, New York

Located on the Upper West Side, the Riverside Church is a breathtaking example of the art and architecture for which New York is famous. Modeled after a thirteenth-century French gothic cathedral, this church covers two city blocks and boasts a 400-foot tower. It has housed such legendary speakers as Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Nelson Mandela. The Christ Chapel is patterned after the eleventh-century Romanesque nave of the fortress church of St. Nazaire at Carcassonne. Thanks mainly to John D. Rockefeller, paintings by Heinrich Hofmann, a Flemish tapestry of the late fifteenth or early sixteeth century, and a French Renaissance tapestry also grace the interior of this gorgeous cathedral. The Riverside Church also boasts breathtaking sixteenth-century stained-glass Flemish windows. Don't forget your camera. read more

An amazing architectural wise church near Riverside Park and Columbia University. I always search out and enjoy the outside architecture and insides of great churches. Riverside is one indeed. While there is some restoration process going on and its towers are now closed, the beauty of the church inside and out can be seen. My companion and I just walked in the sanctuary on a Thursday at 2:30pm. Not a soul was in the church. We walked up to the first pew and admired the intricate carvings of the apostles, scenes from the Bible, and many angels. The altar area is truly magnificent and it looks like a 40 foot carving in marble of 1000's of Biblical figures. One of a kind and so wonderful to look and just contemplate. Just a lovely time there at Riverside which truly is one of the finest churches this traveler has visited. read more

This place is gorgeous. I came because I was looking for a non denominational church after being raised catholic, and I'm so glad I found riverside. In traveling in Europe, I always loved cathedrals no matter where I visited. This place is gorgeous and the people are so friendly. The service is not confusing and the sermons were simple and relatable to all human beings. I also heard a woman do a solo, in which I swear the entire church was in tears because it was so beautiful. Excellent service, beautiful place, great people. Check it out. read more

I then walked down to Riverside Drive. A bitter, chilly wind was blowing westward across Riverside Dr. The church is huge and very warm. Very majestic. It did feel like some of the ushers were watching me more than was comfortable. read more

This church is both peaceful and humbling at the same time. This is a wonderful church in the city that doesn't get much attention because it is in the upper part of the island. This is a great church to check out along with the St. John the Divine a few blocks away. Make a trip out of it on a nice day and cut though the Columbia campus to get some nice views! read more

Beautiful church. Photographed a friend's wedding here in the Christ Chapel and it was such a lovely, intimate ceremony. Angela Gregory, the wedding coordinator, was extremely friendly and helpful. Can't wait to return here when the construction is done! read more

The Riverside Church - Riverside Church - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - New York, New York

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If you live in Manhattan or anywhere in NYC, Riverside is an amazing church! I moved here only 3 months ago and am already a member! They are inclusive (of ALL people), supportive of LGBTQ, and are handicap accessible! There are all ages here- children to young adults to older population- and so much diversity- which makes it such an amazing place filled with so many amazing people!! Love this church, it has become my home away from home in the city!!!! read more

If you want to escape the city's cacophony, it doesn't get better than this. They also have wonderful cultural events. Just go! read more

I admire this church. So beautiful!! I've been here twice. Once in the main sanctuary and once in one of the smaller chapels. I can see how they can be great for weddings as there's also function space on the side. read more

Never been in the church but listened on some radio sermons.Church is way too Liberal and the Gospel is hard to decipher in the sermons. Way too political also..Cant believe they bash Trump at this Church...A great place to go to socialize.. To summarize: If you like a place to meet other professing Christians and socialize by all means acceptable as long as you know the truth.... read more

I am from upstate NY originally and most of my friends and family live regionally to NYC (a few hours drive). When we were looking for convenient venues to get married, we decided on NYC and Riverside Church. We chose the church because it's gorgeous, gothic, liberal and inexpensive (compared to so many other City venues). Plus, they have an on-site caterer who is VERY affordable and served delicious food. Everything was great... except the on-site wedding coordinator. I found her to be over-the-top, rude, bossy and inexplicably inhuman. She was rude to my guests, sassy with me on my wedding day and clearly sees each wedding as a factory product. The worst was that she said we could leave our wedding decorations (centerpieces) for pick up the next day. Then, at the end of my reception, she told me we couldn't leave things there! Really?!? I was stunned... and really about to light up on her when I decided to just take some small items and let my wedding planner deal with her. Unbelievable. Again, the venue was lovely, so we were happy overall. The church would be a far more desirable place to get married if their wedding coordinator actually liked weddings and people. Buyer beware. read more

I joined this church in 2014 and had visited numerous times on the years. It is not only a beautiful church but the community was powerful. I joined knowing that there was a search for a senior pastor. Rev. Forbes outstanding and sorely missed. So had great expectations for the new leader. Well I have been SO disappointed, I have stopped going and they don't seem to care. The new pastor is not accessible and has never reached out to the new members brought into the church the same year she came to the church. The times I have there under her reign - the community is riddled with gossip of how she plans to remove the rich culture of the church and she has done just that! I am saddened to write this review but I am so disappointed that the commitment that I made to be a member is not valued by the new leadership. I have not received any correspondence and neither has anyone in my class - to say we need, value you and come and be a part of the community that I have been tasked to lead. It bothers me as the church and having a church family is so important and it is not valued at all by the new leader. It is not just corresponding with us but its having a service that inspires, it is greeting the community - not a distant approach. I don't expect her to be those who have gone before her but it is clear that she is enjoying the history and respect of the church and not bringing along the membership - a new member at that! So sorry Riverside so sorry read more

I had been looking forward to coming to this church when I moved to NYC. William Sloane Coffin and Martin Luther King are two of my heroes who inspired me to want to be in this church--to be in a place where they had been. Well, this was so disappointing. The building is majestic, and there was a lot of empty and unused space. I went in the evening for a class, and I walked in the door and was just amazed at what a psychedelic labyrinth this building is! I walked around everywhere and went up and down elevators, and I began to feel like I was in a horror movie. I finally found the main floor again (in the elevators, there are several "main floors" to choose from) and I found a small library with an employee within. I approached her in a very friendly manner and asked where I might find my class. She was so mean and nasty that I couldn't believe that she was in a church--that she actually worked there! She gave me the wrong directions and I was back in the scary labyrinth again. In the elevator, I got off on a random floor ("C") and walked around, hoping for inspiration, and found what looked like an abandoned cafeteria. It's possible that no one has been there in fifty years. There was a janitor there, and he approached me and asked if I needed help. He was very nice and actually walked me (very very far away) to the room where I needed to be. When I got to my class, I was very surprised at how dour and rude the people were. It's been many, many years since I have been to church, and I guess that I was expecting that people would be a bit more civilized "on the inside." I ended up leaving the class early, since it was really unpleasant to be around such negativity. After I left, I realized that I was the only white person in the church that night. I think that had something to do with how I was treated. Oh, I also got locked in a foyer on the side of the building when I was trying to get out. The stairway door locked behind me, and the only way out was the "Emergency Door" with an alarm. I finally decided that being stuck there was an emergency, so I tried to open the door. It was locked. It was 8pm, in an empty church, and I was locked in. There happened to be a phone there and I was able to call security (although I had great difficulty describing where I was in the building) and they let me out about fifteen minutes later. read more

The former Senior Minister Amy Butler and a few of her colleagues (Christian Peele, Kevin Wright, and Jim Keat) are giving sermons in this amazing new app called Vennly: https://vennly.app read more

Riverside Church is a hidden gem. Well, not hidden based on its size (not to mention the scaffolding surrounding the tower these days), but on the lack of tourists visiting. I love tourists, but one can not really go into St John the Divine or St Pat's without the clamor of keds and the snapity snap of digital devices. On Sunday afternoon the chapel at Riverside was empty. For the 90 minutes I was there, I think I say 4 people. For a whole hour I believe there was no one. Security popped in once and a while to keep us on out toes. It is a beautiful church and a nice atmosphere. Perfect place for a city dwellers respite. read more

Not many people think to visit here, either NYers or tourists. It's a stunning, huge church off of Broadway, near Barnard and Columbia University. Check out their events calendar for music performances. While in the area you can also visit Grant's Tomb, which is across the street, and stroll through the park. You can also visit Mondel's Chocolate on Broadway and Book Culture - both worth a visit. read more

Went here for an Event. It was not the greatest thing ever organized. Venue is gorgeous. God Bless the hands that built this beautiful piece of architecture! read more