Opened in 1930 and modeled after the 13th Century gothic cathedral in Chartres, France, The Riverside Church overlooks the Hudson River, Grant’s Tomb, Columbia University, and West Harlem. As the tallest church tower in North America, Riverside features spectacular 360-degree views and the 74-bell Laura Spelman Rockefeller Memorial Carillon, with one of the largest tuned bell in the world at 20-tons. In contrast, the smallest bell weighs a mere 10 pounds.
Inside the Nave worship sanctuary, the strivings and aspirations of humanity, both religious and secular, shine through carvings, engravings, stained glass, and other iconography. Our pulpit has long been a forum for important civic and spiritual leaders, including Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Nelson Mandela, President Clinton, the Dalai Lama, and countless others.