Towering above Morningside Heights on Manhattan's Upper West Side, Riverside Church is the home of the heaviest and second largest carillon (74 bells) in the world, which is played each Sunday at 3:00 pm. The bells range from 10 lbs. to almost 41,000 lbs. (and in total, weigh 100 tons!) -- it is worth the climb up the tower to see them, and you get some spectacular views of the city as an added bonus.

The carillon, a gift by John D. Rockefeller, Jr. in memory of his mother, strikes the hour daily and produces a swinging peal of bells each Sunday morning. We highly recommend the carillon recitals which are held on Sundays at 10:30 Am, 12:30 PM and 3 PM (sometimes 2: 30 instead) and on special occasions (like Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve). In nice weather, listen to the concerts from area parks, such as the plaza in front of nearby Grant's Tomb.

The carillon is open for self-guided tours Tuesday through Saturday from 11 AM to 4 PM and Sunday 12:30 to 4 PM. Tickets are $2 for adults; $1 for students and seniors.

The church building itself is also worth exploring. Art history students may find the structure rather familiar: it is modeled after the 13th-century gothic cathedral in Chartres, France.

Sunday service of worship is held at 10:45 AM; Communion is celebrated the first Sunday of the month.

For further details, we recommend a visit to their web site.

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