Gospel Mass in Harlem: 9 best churches

If you want to experience a different kind of day in New York and soak up the cultural diversity, there's no better plan than to go to Harlem and see a gospel service. There are numerous Baptist churches where you can enjoy this spectacular and indigenous experience. We make it easy for you to choose with a list of churches that allow tourists.

Here's a list of the best churches in case you want to visit them on your own. Are you up for it?

Abbyssinian Baptist Church is the most popular church. It holds a gospel mass on Sundays which is not included in any tour, but is open to tourists who wish to attend.

The estimated duration of the service is two and a half hours and no one should leave until the service is over because it is frowned upon. To gain access to this mass, tourists should proceed to the entrance point at 9:30 a.m., located at the southeast corner of West 138th Street and Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. Blvd. Access is on a first-come, first-served basis depending on availability. It is advisable to arrive early as there is often a queue.

Group seating is available for groups of 10 or more, but please contact the church at least two weeks in advance at 212-862-7474 ext. 216 or info@abyssinian.org. Another option to enjoy this show is to book a tour of Harlem with gospel mass.

Useful information

• Address: 132 W 138th Street.
• Date and time of service: Sunday, 10am.
• How to get there: Subway line 2 or 3 to Harlem-125th Street.

Bethel Gospel Assembly is, along with Abbyssinian Baptist Church, another of the best known options to enjoy a spectacular gospel mass.

This church has a special feature: Sunday mass is celebrated in both English and French. The French mass is at 9am and the English mass at 10:15am.

During the ceremony, you can also take photos and videos, and there are few churches that allow this. However, remember that you can also book a tour of Harlem with a gospel mass.

Useful information

• Address: 130W 116th Street.
• Day and time of service: Sundays at 9am and 10:15am and Wednesdays at 7pm.
• How to get there: Subway line 2 or 3 to Harlem-125th Street.

Convent Avenue Baptist Church is also another option to consider when deciding to see a gospel mass in Harlem.

It's a church that's off the beaten tourist track so you won't get the chance to see it if you book a Harlem gospel mass tour. It is located in the heart of the Harlem neighbourhood. Tourists are placed in the upper box and have a spectacular view of the service.

Useful information

• Address: 420 W 145th Street.
• Day and time of service: Sunday.
• How to get there: Subway Line 2 or 3 to Harlem-125th Street.

First Corinthian Baptist Church is another popular choice for tourists. This church mixes regular parishioners with tourists, so you can experience the church in a more indigenous and fully integrated way.

Some useful information

• Address: 1912 Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Blvd.
• Day and time of service: Sunday, 7:30am, 9:30am and 11:30am.
• How to get there: Subway Line 2 or 3 to Harlem-116th Street.

Greater Refuge Temple is also a good option to enjoy a gospel mass. The mass has a longer duration, estimated at around three hours. It is a real spectacle that you can also enjoy streaming because it has a live streaming section on its website. What are you waiting for?

Useful information

• Address: 2081 Adam Clayton Power Jr. Blvd (7th Avenue).
• Day and time of Mass: Sunday, 11am.
• How to get there: Subway Line 2 or 3 to Harlem-116th Street.

White Rock Baptist Church is a less touristy church, which is a good thing because the gospel masses are usually quite crowded. But, on the downside, it is not as spectacular a mass as the ones mentioned above, because they sing for less time.

Useful information

• Address: 152 W 127th Street.
• Day and time of mass: Sunday, 9.30am.
• How to get there: Subway line 2 or 3 to Harlem-125th Street.

Memorial Baptist Church, like so many other churches, does not allow the use of cameras, but even you can see that as a positive thing to enjoy the religious spectacle with all your senses.

Useful information

• Address: 141 W 115th Street.
• Day and time of service: Sunday, 11am.
• How to get there: Subway line 2 or 3 to Harlem-116th Street.

AntiochChurch does make a distinction between locals and tourists, however, you can still experience what a gospel experience really is in a vibrant atmosphere.

Useful information

• Address: 515 W 125th Street.
• Day and time of service: Sunday, 10:30am.
• How to get there: Subway Line 2 or 3 to Harlem-116th Street.

Canaan Baptist Church also accepts tourists during their gospel masses. In this case, you'll be seated in the boxes while the congregation is downstairs, but you'll be able to catch all their enthusiasm.

Useful information

• Address: 132 W 116th Street.
• Day and time of service: Sunday, 10am.
• How to get there: Subway line 2 or 3 to Harlem-116th Street.

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There are two ways to attend a gospel mass in Harlem: by yourself or by booking a Harlem gospel mass tour. Personally, I like the second option better because, before attending the service, you can tour the Harlem neighbourhood with a guide who will tell you interesting facts about the history of the area. By soaking up the context and getting to know the surroundings, you can enjoy the experience inside the church and all that surrounds it much more.

Regardless of which option you choose, you should know that most gospel masses take place on Sundays (with the occasional exception on Wednesdays). So bear this in mind when going on your own and organising your trip. If you opt for the guided tour option, these are the options I recommend:

• Tour of Harlem with gospel mass on Sunday: the advantage of going on this day is that you'll find a livelier atmosphere than on Wednesday.
• Tour of Harlem with gospel mass on Wednesday (currently not available on Hellotickets): in this case, the atmosphere may be quieter, but private transportation from New York to Harlem is included.
• You can also book a Sunday gospel mass with locals in Harlem where a guide will take you to gospel-related places of interest such as the Apollo Theatre or Sugar Hill.

And if you want to enjoy a gospel service outside of Harlem you can go to The Brooklyn Tabernacle in Brooklyn. Specifically at 17 Smith Street. The service takes place on Sundays at 9am, 11am and 1pm and lasts about an hour and a half.

The Brooklyn Tabernacle is not as touristy a church as those in Harlem. In fact, it looks more like a theatre and the choir has about 150 people who sing for about 45 minutes. Spectacular!

Another option to enjoy a gospel mass outside Harlem is Times Square Church, which is located in a former theatre and is also really spectacular.

Traveller's tip

Our recommendation is that to visit a gospel mass you should go on a tour or go 30-40 minutes in advance so that you don't miss out on getting in.

Although each of the churches mentioned above has specific recommendations, in general there are a number of things you should keep in mind to get all the details on how to go to a gospel service in Harlem. Here is a brief summary:

• You should enter before the service begins.
• It is advisable to stay in the church until the end of the service.
• It is not appropriate for tourists to wear tank tops, flip-flops, shorts or tights.
• Women and men should enter with their shoulders covered.
• Backpacks are not allowed.
• Unless otherwise stated, no photography or filming is allowed.
• A donation is usually requested from all attendees.
• If you want to know how to make the most of this experience, I recommend this guide on how to attend a Gospel Mass in Harlem.

How to get to Harlem

The most convenient way to visit a gospel mass is by underground. The line that passes through Harlem is line 2 and the closest stops to the churches mentioned above are Harlem-125th Street and Harlem 116th Street.

And if you want to continue enjoying new experiences when this experience is over, visit the post about the 10 best tours of New York in Spanish. You can even stay in Harlem and continue to enjoy all its history and African-American culture.