Gospel Mass in Harlem: 9 best churches

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

Here is 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 celebrates a gospel mass on Sundays which is not included in any tour, but it is open to tourists who wish to attend.

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

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 a gospel mass.

Useful Information

• Address: 132 W 138th Street.
• Day and time of service: Sunday, 10 am.
• Directions: 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 particularity and that is that the Sunday mass is celebrated in both English and French. At 9 a.m. the mass is in French and at 10:15 a.m. the mass is in English.

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 gospel mass.

Useful information

• Address: 130W 116th Street.
• Day and time of Mass: Sunday at 9 a.m. and 10:15 a.m. and Wednesday at 7 p.m.
• Directions: 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 is a church that is off the beaten tourist track so you will not have the opportunity to see it if you book a tour of Harlem with gospel mass. It is located in the heart of the Harlem neighborhood. Tourists are placed in the upper box and have a spectacular view of the mass.

Useful information

• Address: 420 W 145th Street.
• Day and time of Mass: Sunday.
• Directions: Subway Line 2 or 3 to Harlem-125th Street.

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

Useful information

• Address: 1912 Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Blvd.
• Day and time of Mass: Sunday, 7:30 a.m., 9:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.
• 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 to be around three hours. It is a true spectacle that you can also enjoy in streaming because it has a section in its web portal for live streaming. What are you waiting for?

Useful information

• Address: 2081 Adam Clayton Power Jr. Blvd (7th Avenue).
• Day and time of Mass: Sunday, at 11 a.m.
• Directions: Subway line 2 or 3 to Harlem-116th Street.

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

Useful information

• Address: 152 W 127th Street.
• Day and time of mass: Sunday, 9:30 am.
• 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 with all your senses the religious spectacle.

Useful information

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

At AntiochChurch they do make a distinction between locals and tourists, however, you can live what is truly a gospel experience in a vibrant atmosphere.

Useful information

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

Canaan Baptist Church also accepts tourists during the celebration of their gospel masses. In this case, you'll sit 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, 10 am.
• Directions: 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 tour with gospel mass. Personally, I like the second option better because, before attending the mass, you can tour the Harlem neighborhood with a guide who will tell you interesting facts about the history of the area. By soaking in 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 some exceptions on Wednesdays). So keep this in mind when going on your own and organizing your trip. If you opt for the guided tour option, these are the options I recommend:

• Harlem tour with gospel mass on Sunday: the advantage of going on this day is that you will 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 places of interest related to gospel such as the Apollo Theater or Sugar Hill.

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

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

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

Traveler's Tip

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

Although each of the churches mentioned above has a series of specific recommendations, in general there are a series of points that you should keep in mind in order to have all the details of how to go to a gospel mass in Harlem. Here is a brief summary:

• You must enter before the mass 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 leggings.
• Women and men should enter with their shoulders covered.
• Backpacks are not allowed.
• Unless otherwise noted, 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

To visit a gospel mass, the most convenient way is to go by subway. 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 when this experience is over, you want to continue enjoying new experiences, visit the post about the 10 best tours of New York in Spanish. You can even stay in Harlem and continue enjoying all its history and African American culture.