Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine

Perched on Morningside Heights, this expansive site functions as more than a place of worship, acting as a venue for community programming and the arts. The grounds include the sprawling Cathedral Close and the Pulpit Green, providing an open-air extension to the stone architecture. The cathedral is defined by a commitment to ecological worship and inclusive public events, most notably the long-standing St. Francis Day celebrations. These gatherings transform the space through processions and the annual Blessing of the Animals, a tradition that invites the public to involve their pets in the service.