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)

D5786GJleilal

Dec 2024

Kaisa was at the top she explained very well the history of gospel and Harlem with the different neighborhoods, the moise, Adam clayton. Kaisa also sings and has a very nice life hostility with her husband. Really she was superb a visit to the top thank you Kaisa

Response from Host

Dec 2024

Chers visiteurs et 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

gabrielgJ8759YW

Nov 2024

Thanks to Kaissa we learned a lot and had a very pleasant time. Kaissa is an amazing and very interesting lady. Thank you very much for sharing this time with us. We recommend this activity and gospel mass really superb.

Response from Host

Nov 2024

Cher Gabriel, 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 fetes de fin d'année

charlottepD7435RY

Nov 2024

We had a wonderful time with Kaissa, who passionately shared with us the history of Harlem, its people, its music and the religion that has a great place there. Thank you for sharing!

Response from Host

Nov 2024

Chère Charlotte, 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.