Harlem & The Rise Of Gospel Music Walking Tour

Overview

The tour is conducted by a New York City licensed tour guide. We offer this tour in French or English. Our tour guides are native speakers if each languages. In this tour we will visit 9 landmark sites which include the first Black Episcopal, Methodist, Pentecostal, and Baptist churches. We will examine their history, their leaders, and their role in the anti-slavery movement as well as the civil rights movement. This tour also looks at the role of Gospel music in the history of the Black church. We will study its growth from the ring shout (the foundation of all African American music), to the Spirituals, the role of the Protestant hymnals, ending with what became known as Gospel Blues, today simply called Gospel music. The tour ends with a visit to a church service where we will listen to a live Gospel choir, it is not a concert but a real church service.

City: New York City

Wed 14 May

Other dates

You can choose the date already on the booking website

Starting at $57.00

Make a reservation

Wed 14 May

Starting at $57.00

Make a reservation

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What's Included

A Licensed New York city born Tour Guide with a portable video and audio system.

Additional Info

Wheelchair accessible
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Public transportation options are available nearby
Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level

What To Expect

Abyssinian Baptist Church

Our license tour guide will share with you the history of this church. Founded in 1808, Abyssinian Baptist Church is one of the oldest African-American Baptist churches in the United States. Housed in a landmark Gothic- and Tudor-style building in Harlem, Abyssinian embraces a rich history of worship, spiritual leadership, social activism and community service.

Mother African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church

Our licensed tour guide will share with you the history of this church. "The Freedom Church" was formed in 1796 by African-American members of the predominantly white John Street Methodist Church. Although that church was abolitionist in its orientation, racial segregation was still enforced in other ways. As one A.M.E. Zion historian described it: The colored members were not permitted to come to the sacrament (Holy Communion) until all the white members, even children, had communedhe first church foundation stone was laid in 1819, and the first rector, serving from 1826 to 1840, was the Rev. Peter Williams, Jr., a leading abolitionist and the first African-American Episcopal priest in New York. He was one of three blacks who served on the first executive committee of the American Anti-Slavery Society

Bethel Gospel Assembly

Our licensed tour guide makes reservations to secure our visitors seats. We will end the tour here. Experience an authentic Sunday morning worship service. This congregation and its members are warm and well coming. The choir gospel and the band are excellent. Very often they are special musical services with gospel music celebrities such as Israel Houghton, Tasha Cobbs, Hezekiah Walker, Johnathan Nelson among others... We do recommend that you stay throughout the whole service, however we do understand if you have to leave.

Apollo Theater

The iconic, world famous theater where countless musicians, comedians have performed.

Show 1 more stops

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Traveler Photos

Reviews (30)

jbm34000

Jan 2025

Mass was excellent! A warm welcome and a good communicative mood despite sad events related to the Los Angeles fires. The bad point goes to the Francophone guide who did not wait for the group (many people needed to go to the small corner) and especially who cared about the right number of people only at the time of tipping, which we very averagely appreciated. To be redone but not in these conditions!

Response from Host

Jan 2025

Bonjour. Nous sommes désolés de lire que votre expérience n’a pas été à la hauteur de vos espérances. Veuillez s’il vous plaît nous procurer votre numéro de réservation afin de savoir qui était votre guide. Notre entreprise s’engage à fournir des services de haute qualité et un service clientèle exceptionnels. Nous nous efforçons de fournir des expériences enrichissantes et inspirantes, et vos retours, avis ou commentaires sont importants pour nous. Après investigations, nous n’avons pas trace de votre réservation. Quand avez vous fait cette visite? Une norme que nous observons depuis plus de 2 ans est que nos guides préviennent toujours nos visiteurs avant le départ des 3 options pour les toilettes 1- à l’hôpital de Harlem jusqu’à 8 H 2- au Harlem Café avers 9H 3- à 9:30 à notre arrivée à l’église. Nous sommes extrêmement surpris et n’avons jamais eu de plaintes de ce côté là. Veuillez également prendre en considération que nos guides doivent conduire des visites avec des groupes qui comptent souvent plus de 27 personnes., cependant aucun de jis guides n’a jamais “perdu” de visiteurs. Ensuite, ce que vous dites ne correspond pas du tout à nos guides. “La guide ne s’est soucié du bon nombre de personnes qu’au moment du pourboire? Nos guides n’ignoreraient jamais vos besoins. Sachez également qu’aux Etats Unis, les pourboires sont coutumes. Ils font partie du salaire des guides. Il est recommendé sur toutes les plateformes il est fréquent et nous dirions même normal qu’un guide le rappel aux visiteurs. Nous n’avons jamais reçu de critiques négatives en ce qui concerne les guides francophones sur nos visites diverses. Pas sur leur connaissance de l’histoire ni sur leur attention au bien être de nos clients. Nous attendons votre réponse fournie d’une référence de réservation afin de nous assurer 1- que cette visite s’est faite avec notre compagnie 2-du nom du ou de la guide 3-Continuer nos investigations concernant un fait troublant…. Vous êtes arrivés à l’église mais la guide ne vous a pas attendu? Bien à vous. Sylvie

Camille f

Jan 2025

We are delighted with our experience. We really recommend this experience It’s really great! You have to do it if you come to NY

Response from Host

Jan 2025

Chers visiteur/visiteuse, Merci pour votre commentaire positif, ce fut un plaisir de vous accueillir lors de notre visite à pied de New York. Sachez que votre avis est vraiment apprécié. Notre entreprise s’engage à fournir des services de haute qualité et un service client exceptionnel. Votre satisfaction est notre priorité absolue! Belles et Heureuses fêtes de fin d'année

665axellef

Dec 2024

Interesting tour, the guide brings a lot of information and photos to illustrate. Immersion during the visit with some songs

Response from Host

Dec 2024

Cher ou chère Axel, merci pour votre commentaire positif, ce fut un plaisir de vous accueillir lors de notre visite à pied de New York. Sachez que votre avis est vraiment apprécié. Notre entreprise s’engage à fournir des services de haute qualité et un service client exceptionnel. Votre satisfaction est notre priorité absolue! Belles et Heureuses fêtes de fin d'année