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Washington National Cathedral

4.5 (317 reviews)
Closed 10:00 am - 4:00 pm

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Bell towers and flying buttresses.
B. W.

I had to walk out of this service half way through. Beautiful picturesque building, it represents both America, and her old European heritage well. I believe it to be the most beautiful building in America. Why then am I leaving such a horrible review? Because the point of the church is to preach the law, to preach the gospel, to preach Christ crucified, and to preach Christ risen. This church is not a church in any way. It is a shell reflecting the faith and the conviction of the men that designed it and laid its foundations. From the pulpit of this church is only evil and lies.

Rachel B.

We had a lovely visit to the National Cathedral. We did the Behind the Scenes tour with Camille as our guide. The tour started on time and lasted for about an hour and forty minutes. The Behind the Scenes tour was very cool! We learned about so much hidden history. We heard the history of some of the stained glass and architecture. We got to go up to the very top of the building and see the giant bells. Camille was friendly and informative. She led a great tour! I would definitely recommend!

Outside of the Washington Cathedral
Kent D.

This place is amazing. It really is a wonder, and the photos don't do this place any justice. If you're visiting the area, or just looking for something to do that's not the traditional DC type activities, put this place on your to do list. I recommend taking the sightseeing tour, as you get more of the history, and you can see things at your own pace. The coolest thing, is that cathedral is used to host all religion ceremonies. Before you leave, don't forget to go to the 7th floor observatory. Beautiful views of the city. And, make sure you check out the LEGO exhibit. You actually get the chance to contribute to a 500,000 piece Lego set that is an exact facsimile of the Cathedral.

Came during the annual flower Mart. The cathedral was open to the public so I was able to see the main area, crypt and viewing area for free. The cathedral is very large with great views. I think it could be worth the regular price but it was especially worth it during this weekend. They also had a children's choir and various dance performances. My favorite part was seeing the ongoing Lego replica of the cathedral that they are building. Overall it was a great experience. Recommend.

Johnnie C.

A short walk from where I was staying in the Cathedral Heights area of DC is the National Cathedral. Sitting in a park like setting with large grounds they also have a coffee shop. Modern in age, gothic in style, this Cathedral is awe inspiring. The scale and architecture is beautiful. "Officially" completed in the 1990s and later rocked by an earthquake, this structure takes you back to European churches. Our visit started with the grounds and then self tour of the crypt and guided tour of the main floor with its many chapels and notes. One such note is that a parishioner (astronaut) donated a moon rock which was embedded into a window. Also, I learned that a cathedral is merely where the Bishop sits, not the style or size of the building. Following the tour we were treated to a pipe organ lesson and the ability to see it up close. I asked the organist if she ever wanted to go full on phantom of the opera - she said oh yes... and then gave us a sample! The entire experience was $15, a great value. We enjoyed it so much we came back on Sunday for church - just beautiful and welcoming.

Sylvie C.

I attended the Evensong service with my really good friend on Sunday and absolutely loved the experience. I personally found the experience profoundly moving and soul quenching. Evensong is held every Sunday between 4-5pm and has live organ, and choir music. In other words, the service is mostly held using live music and singing. It uses Hymns and other passages to help wind us down for the evening as the week draws to the end. The service is free to attend -- however, you are encouraged to make an offering if you are willing or able to. Parking was free and easy to find on the street. I am looking forward to attending the Evensong service again in the future.

Washington National Cathedral
David W.

What a beautiful place to visit, great views, a lot to learn, amazing people. If you haven't had a chance to visit the Washington National Cathedral, I encourage you to do so, you won't be disappointed. Such a beautiful place.

Sumi K.

Cathedral at Washington DC Attended Christmas day organ recitle and it was packed with attendees. Beautiful music and beautiful stainless glass designed windows throughout the cathedral...

Washington National Cathedral
Kim R.

Simply put, just wandering the grounds is enjoyable if you don't have much time. There does seem to be a lot of repair work being done around the exterior right now, but the cathedral is stunning even in not-so-perfect weather conditions!

One of the cathedral attics
Katie W.

Incredibly beautiful and interesting building! The behind the scenes tour was spectacular. You are taken up in to the multiple attics of the Cathedral and get to learn really interesting details of the construction. I've also attended concerts here and it's an excellent venue with great acoustics.

Cyndy K.

Cyndy's Bottom Line: The Behind the Scenes Tour is not to be missed *Parking structure onsite *Tickets for the tour can be purchased online. *Recommend purchase in advance . If you want to discover the National Cathedral's hidden stories the behind-the-scenes tour is for you. You can see up close and marvel at the building's artistry and engineering. You will Journey through stone stairwells and passageways to see stained glass windows up close and take in magnificent views from the heights. So if you are afraid of heights this tour may not be for you unless you want to challenge yourself. We did a bit of stair climbing, and being in close quarters, and heights. We had the best docent Camille who really elevated the tour and made it fun and interesting. Camille was so knowledgeable and enthusiastic and brought to light interesting aspects of the National Cathedral. I learned that there were many wonderful connections to Hawaii in the Cathedral for instance: ~A scene of Molokai, where Father Damien ministered to the lepers, is shown in a window in Humanitarian Bay, on the north outer aisle. ~The Hawaii state flag hangs in the nave. ~The Hawaii state seal is part of the narthex floor and is represented on a needlepoint wall hanging in the War Memorial Chapel. ~A Hawaii state flag can be found on the lower level. One week, each year, the flag is moved to the crossing platform. ~I was also surprised when stumbled upon a plaque "Aloha from The Church School of Hawaii"... *Highky recommend visiting and taking the Behind the Scenes tour.

Main hall, beautiful rainbow lights from the stained glass
Solongo Nicole E.

This review is for the Tower Climb: Angels & Monsters tour held by the Cathedral. This tour gives you the best views of Washington DC and a behind-the-scenes look at the beautiful architecture of the cathedral. Tickets were $60 each for a 90-minute tour where you climb up the two western towers and get an up-close look at the statues that are perched around the open-air walkway 125 feet above the ground! The tour ends at the very top of the northwest tower. This is also the closest you'll get to the Darth Vader carving. Our group was around 10 people and you will be climbing a flight of stairs that are around 100 steps up. Doable as we had older members in our group. It was not a problem if you take your time! There will also be small passageways where you need to squeeze through. It was a thrilling tour and very educational. Definitely worth a visit next time you're looking for something more hidden to do in Washington DC.

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The District Church - Prayer Walk 2024

The District Church

4.9(15 reviews)
1.9 mi

The pastors really live out the gospel. If you hear how much they have sacrificed for God and where…read morethey have served, you can see they really live out a life of service and love sharing the gospel to people who have been neglected. They use to live in the ghettos of Boston where there were as many funerals there as there are wedding in DC. They opened their house to the neighborhood children who often didn't have enough to eat or needed a safe place. On a side note regarding the post on Chinese New years, all the Christians I know in China and Taiwan celebrate Chinese New Years because it's a time to connect with family and friends and to share and tell them how much you love them. It's not easy being Christian in China and some of them have given up professions, suffered persecution, and are barely scrapping by, but they celebrate Chinese New Years....maybe differently from others....like with prayer and church services along with visiting family, feeding and helping the poor and witnessing to them. Chinese Christians definitely celebrate and share Christ's love during the two week national celebration!

When we walked in the door, I was struck by how the pastor greeted us, walked us up to "kid city"…read morewhere we could drop off our kids, and then found us seats. As a campus minister, it challenged me to think about how when we are in positions of leadership we can think we are "above" normal tasks such as ushering and welcoming people at the door. However, are there ways I can live out my faith and service in doing humble tasks as the pastor of this church modeled out? Thanks District church, for helping my faith to grow from that visit!

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The District Church - Come say hi to our hospitality team on Sunday Morning. We hope to welcome you soon.

Come say hi to our hospitality team on Sunday Morning. We hope to welcome you soon.

The District Church
The District Church

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All Souls Church - The music program at All Souls is eclectic and electric.

All Souls Church

4.3(14 reviews)
1.9 mi

My wife and I were married at All Souls Unitarian Church in 1981 - so we have been attending there…read morefor over 45 years. We have seen the church go through some very wonderful times with Ministers like Rev. David Eaton and Rev. Dr. Rob Hardies and also some difficult times - especially around the departure of Rev. Dr. Susan Moore, when she left the church. Moving on from the past to today, the church is in great shape. It is very well attended, with newcomers receiving a warm welcome and often returning many more times. Overall it is well managed and well ministered, although it has often struggled with an operating deficit. In addition, as sometimes happens there is a hiccup right now due to some misallocation of funds - some funds which were raised to help with building restoration (it is well over a century old) were used instead to help close an operating deficit. This is being addressed now. The good news is that the church has set itself on a pathway to be able to "live within its means". While it very well attended, there are many attendees who put money in the plate during the service, but do not make a financial pledge. This is now an imporant topic for the church and as I write this, my hope and my prayer, is that everyone/family who attend on a regular basis will be moved to make a pledge - which is important both for the giver, as a personal committment to the church, and to the church officers, for budgeting and financial planning purposes. God Bless all who read this and all who attend the church and all who serve the church. Amen,

Extraordinary congregation set in a community where people of all colors, backgrounds, and cultures…read moregather. The church is architecturally a copy of St. Martin's in the Fields in London. I find it a very beautiful space. The music reflects this eclectic composition and is gorgeous. Often Bach played on the fine organ completes the service.

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All Souls Church - A rousing service at All Souls.

A rousing service at All Souls.

All Souls Church - Pulpit after service

Pulpit after service

All Souls Church - Voting rights is just one of the social justice ministries at All Souls.

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Voting rights is just one of the social justice ministries at All Souls.

Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle - Front of cathedral

Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle

4.6(54 reviews)
2.3 miDowntown, Dupont Circle

This is really my favorite church in Washington, D.C. There are a number of hours that the church…read moreis open for walk-in tourists and prayer ministry. One thing is that slender altar coordinator does not understand that after afternoon mass a few of us are there to pray. She has interrupted several people while they were praying to urge them to attend the Novena. "It will only take two minutes," she tells us, as if in admonition. This interruption was not polite, but in your face. The family masses are friendly, but weekdays, some people seem overly somber and caught up in reflection to the point of a weird head-trip they can't even offer a Christian hello, smile, or ask. So I invite this prayer for all visitors & regulars that whoever they are, rich or poor, whatever color, whatever employment, that they feel safe, cherished and welcome. Pray your guardian angels keep you safe from vudu. A Prayer for Gratitude and Appreciation Lord, I thank You for the opportunity to work with such amazing people. Please help me to express my gratitude and appreciation for my colleagues. May I encourage and uplift others with my words and actions? 1 Thessalonians 5:18 "Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." Lord, thank You for the gift of my colleagues and the work I have. May I always have a heart of gratitude, and may my actions reflect Your love. Amen. Prayer Heavenly Father, thank You for the people I work with. Please help me to appreciate them more and to express my gratitude regularly. May my heart be full of thankfulness for the opportunity to serve others through my work. Amen. Source: Prayerlit.com

If you have the opportunity to celebrate Mass here, pls take it! It is a wonderful experience at a…read morebeautiful church. We had the privilege of attending a Palm Sunday service and wow. We were so grateful to be a part of it. The choir was outstanding and there is plenty of room to accommodate everyone. I highly recommend attending!

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Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle
Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle
Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle - Outside

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Outside

Union City Church

Union City Church

5.0(6 reviews)
2.3 miLogan Circle

To know Union City Church is to live their tagline- "A church united in a world divided." Founded…read morewith Biblical principles, it's not conservative or progressive. It's a church that pushes people toward Jesus so that congregants can be bridge builders and a witness to Washington, D.C. That's who Union City is at their core. Now for the details. 1) Service: There are two services- 9:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. every Sunday. Each service starts with 3-4 songs for worship with lyrics projected onto a main screen and two side TVs. Announcements are made by various members of the congregation. Sermons are around 30-45 minutes and are steeped in Scripture. The wife-husband team takes turns preaching and both are equally gifted communicators and orators. Each service ends with a reading of the Union City liturgy. (It's the liturgy- how Biblical and bridge-building- that first convinced my family to make Union City our home.) 2) Atmosphere: Union City Church is intentional about creating a welcoming space. Greeters with "welcome" signs say hi to you as you walk in and the lobby is set up with places to sit and connect with people, coffee/water/juice, and the "Connect" area for people who want to go deeper in the church. When my family and I were visiting churches, Union City was the most genuinely friendly. 2) Location: They rent space in the Showroom in downtown Washington, D.C. Although there aren't as many coffee shops and restaurants open Sundays nearby, you can always find free street parking. And it's easier to get to from all different parts of the city. Living in Southeast D.C., it takes me 12 minutes to drive. The McPherson Metro Station is two blocks away! If you're a Christian and want a church family, consider going to Union City Church. It's led by the most thoughtful and integritous people, filled by kind congregants, and is intentional about serving the city and world.

The pastors are absolutely amazing and the services are really something special!! People are so…read morefriendly, and atmosphere is super welcoming!! Also, between the parking garage and the close proximity to the metros, union city is super accessible!!

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Union City Church
Union City Church
Union City Church

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Grace Reformed Church - Grace Reformed Church DC

Grace Reformed Church

5.0(2 reviews)
2.5 miLogan Circle, Downtown

Might there be a museum or educational center about mainline Protestantism in the United States? If…read moreso, maybe this old church is good place for that. The gorgeous stained-glass windows are an education in themselves. Then there is the furniture and the architecture. This place is more than history, if you ask me. It's about our heritage as a nation. That heritage encompasses many other traditions as well. Bear in mind that mainline Protestantism is not about the extremism many of us associate with religion today. These religionists were not and are not Science deniers. They wanted to, and still want to, better understand the Big Picture. For them, this big picture was partly based on the Bible and partly based on the experiences of civilization since ancient times. We need to remember our mainline Protestant tradition, I believe. It's one of many traditions, but still, worth remembering, Full disclosure: I was raised in this congregation during the 50s and 60s. The people I knew here were good-hearted; definitely not self-righteous. I've lived in another state for decades. After college, I gave up on religion but, over the years, sensed that my academic rationalism was not very fulfilling. Those intuitions eventually led me to join a Quaker meeting. I'm sure my upbringing in this congregation helped me get here.

It saddens me to write this review, because yet another historical institution steeped in history…read morewill likely soon cease to exist. Grace Reformed Church is a traditional church that oozes history. This is the church that Theodore Roosevelt built. The President was a member of Grace Reformed and, in fact, walked to it from the White House to its location on 15th St NW every Sunday while in DC. Built in 1877, Grace Reformed is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Like so many Protestant churches nationwide, attendance at Grace Reformed was sparse. Still, that didn't stop Reverend David Massey from belting out his sermon as if to an auditorium full. Reverend Massey is one of those unique ministers who knows how to balance Bible teachings with everyday life. He doesn't "preach", he converses. He tells personal stories--honestly--and finds a way to relate life to the highlighted passages of the day. The small congregation meets in the church social hall for coffee and refreshments after every service. We were invited to join and are so glad we did! Church members were very friendly, welcoming and warm. Some come from miles away in Virginia and Maryland just to attend this special church. They were interested in our lives and weren't shy about sharing theirs (many of which are quite interesting!) We learned, however, that dwindling attendance is likely going to force the church to sell its building, which is very distressing to hear.

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Grace Reformed Church
Grace Reformed Church

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Washington National Cathedral - churches - Updated May 2026

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