St. Thomas Church

1 West 53rd Street

St. Thomas Church was designed by architects Ralph Adams Cram and Bertram Goodhue, the architect of St. Bart’s, in the French High Gothic Revival style. Originating in the mid-12th century in France, Gothic architecture has distinctive features like pointed arches, large stained-glass windows, and flying buttresses.

Completed in 1914, the church features 10,000 panels of stained glass and three organs. Stained glass in gothic architecture is extremely prevalent. With their typically tall and arched shape, they were intended to bring as much natural light into the building as possible. Islamic architecture acted as inspiration for Gothic builders who utilized tall, thin, pointed arches to create extremely dramatic vaulted ceilings. The church has an asymmetrical front elevation on Fifth Avenue, which is divided into three sections, reflecting the building’s interior divisions. The famous St. Thomas Choir of Men and Boys upholds the Anglican tradition of all-male choral ensembles, performing five services per week.

Now let’s continue along 53rd Street toward 6th Avenue. You’ll note an abrupt transition from the St. Thomas Church’s historic facade to the modern one of the Museum of Modern Art, or MoMA. When MoMA expanded in the 1960s and built the large addition adjacent to St. Thomas, blasting from construction damaged the church’s reredos, or the ornamental screens covering the wall at the back of the altar, as well as one of the organs.

Continue to the main entrance of MoMA at 11 W 53rd Street. Once you reach the entrance of MoMA, on your tour screen, select Museum of Modern Art from the pull-down menu.

‍

Welcome to your Midtown Manhattan walking tour.

St. Thomas Church

Want more
Humane Experiences?

Start your journey.

Start your journey.

St. Thomas Church

Want more Humane Experiences?

Rate this tour!

Thank you! Your submission has been received!

Start your journey.

Start your journey.

Want more
Humane Experiences?