The Abyssinian Baptist Church

An unforgettable experience. The Sunday service at Abyssinian Baptist Church is truly inspiring—filled with powerful gospel music, heartfelt preaching, and a warm, welcoming atmosphere. The congregation made us feel like honored guests. A beautiful expression of faith and Harlem’s vibrant community spirit.

I arrived early, since the last time I visited I was refused entry because I was very late. There were well dressed people blocking the entrance, so I had a hard time getting in. As I climbed the stairs to enter, a well dressed woman, standing on the landing as if she was welcoming people, looked me up a down from head to feet and then looked away. As I tried turning to enter to sit downstairs a man tried directing me to sit in the balcony. I pointed out to him that there were seats downstairs and that is where I wanted to sit. He allowed me. 2 minutes after I was told that I was sitting in a reserved area and that I had to move. I tried to move immediately but before I could get away, 2 other persons around starting poking me to get up. I moved further down front in an empty pew. About 10 minutes later a well dressed man came over and started talking to me. He told me that persons in the church complained to him that tney were concerned for their safety because I had a small backpack with me. I take this backpack everywhere I go, especially if I am taking public transportation. I was dressed in a clean t shirt, a clean pair of jeans and I had on clean socks and underwear. My sneakers were also clean and I wore my best cologne that day. I did take a shower that morning. The man asked me to walk outside with him so that he could search my bag. I told him he could search it right there and proceeded to show him my fruits and nuts and reading material. I walked out 10 minutes later because I could not stand the embarrassment any more. I hopped on the train and walked into a predominantly white church and it was smooth sailing. I enjoyed the service, felt totally at home and as I worshipped I did not for a second feel that my attire mattered. At the second church, the music was beautiful and there was perfect balance between the voices and instruments. The choice of music was also diverse and not overly obscure.

As a longstanding member of Abyssinian, it saddens me to say that I’ve seen a noticeable decline in the spirit and quality of this institution. In recent years, the church has faced multiple lawsuits, and I’ve grown increasingly concerned about the leadership of Pastor Johnson. His actions have not reflected the compassion and fairness that should define a spiritual leader. A particularly troubling incident occurred recently when a female politician was invited to speak. Unlike other candidates, she was given a strict time limit, was interrupted repeatedly, and even had music played over her while she was speaking. This was deeply disrespectful and, frankly, shocking to witness. A pastor’s role is to model the grace, kindness, and impartiality of Christ. What I saw that day did not align with those values. I have never seen a pastor behave in such a dismissive and discourteous manner, especially in a house of worship that should welcome all voices with dignity.

Unfortunately we didn't get to visit this church, we went on Easter Sunday in hope that we could attend the service and listen to the gospel choir. However, they wouldn't let us in, no tourists they said and honestly, I don't blame them after the complete lack of respect I saw from many tourists in the church in the adjacent street. We went from here to Mother Zion church where there were many tourists entering. Some of which were chattering through the service and taking videos and photos immediately after been told that it is a service no a show so please do not take photos or videos. I saw at least 15 people then taking videos of the gospel singers. Anyway, the guy at the entrance was very nice about not letting us in and was totally understandable. If you do go here, don't go on public holidays like Easter Sunday and get there very early, queues are long and DO NOT TREAT IT LIKE A SHOW SHOW SOME RESPECT !!!

Bad welcoming by a lady who pretended to speak French (it was not the case !!) “there was no space for tourists!! “In a place of worship you can not exclude pilgrims , there is always a space for a human!! … moreover when it is Xmas season. Exclusion and discrimination have not place in the kingdom of the lord moreover when there are a lof of available seats !! Bad bad bad

I have never attended this church, I worked in Harlem many years ago, I've traveled to many places around the globe and now, I live in a Southern state. I understand the Black church and how the Abyssinian church was one of the first post emancipation religious organizations that preached a Black liberation gospel. The white people who are complaining about not being able to attend to satisfy their curiosity, perhaps they don't remember all of the white "christian" churches that refused admission to Black people during Jim Crow era and after. Some white nationalist christian groups are outright Apartheidist. For others,perhaps you didn't pray BEFORE you chose to go. Have you considered your motives? It's NOT a museum... maybe it wasn't "your time" to have your ears tickled or be entertained. Think about IT!!! Your obvious need for spiritual growth should begin outside of a building. The negative complaints are a reflection on those who sought admission to a place where it appears, the Spirit of the Lord said ... NOPE! 🤔 🤷🏾‍♀️

After reading the reviews and also being a pastors daughter my family and I won’t be attending this church. The common thing I have found was calling those coming to the church “Tourist”. As I was taught those coming to the lord are His child. And turning away souls is never good in the lords house. And after reading the “dress code” I found it not a place for my family. The Bible Says come as you are, this isn't of the lord.

Best choir ever! Worshipping in the same church as Bonhoeffer and Dr. King will never be forgotten. Glory!

My favorite house of worship. Abyssinian Baptist Church has brought me to God. The church of my family. I go there to be closer to God and all of my loved ones and friends who have passed and gone to Heaven.

My favorite house of worship. Abyssinian Baptist Church has brought me to God

I attended this church for several years and was an usher there. I experienced a lot of spiritual growth and left to attend another equally well known church in the city. I still go there for some holiday services. I agree that the ushers can be rude (which I don't condone), but their job is to keep order in a place that has hundreds of visitors a week. I'm not sure who why the admi- nistrative decision was made to invite large numbers of tourists. My take on this is it's one thing to visit a church for worship. Being a tourist suggests that one is looking for entertainment. It seems that often visitors don't realize that the members of the church are human beings who have their own culture and spiritual expression. It can feel like you're being gawked at by the tourists. For me, church is also a refuge from everyday slights that many Blacks experience. This was part of the reason I chose to change churches.

Rude employees! I live on the same street as the church and one of their employees told me I wasn't allowed to stand on the sidewalk in front of the church. She said The church owned the sidewalk (false) and that I couldn't stand there. Then called me a "rude ass". It was the gross lady with short curly blonde hair. Honey let me tell you something-once your busted church starts paying their hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of debts to the properties they "own", you can start the lip smacking back up.

While visiting NY, I went to Abyssinian in Harlem to get The Word. I was stunned to find out that the church is a tourist attraction with a line of would-be worshippers LITERALLY extending down the street and around the corner. I managed to get in (wink) and get a seat and made friends with the gentleman sitting next to me who wasn't a tourist, but he was originally from the same city I lived in! Small world. I don't think Reverend Butts was in top form (not that I've seen him before, but his reputation precedes him), but I still got what I went for. Didn't know a soul, but felt right at home. One usher in particular was very nice to me.

This church has paid singers in their choir. To serve the Lord it should be free. Rev Butts needs to sit down and take a long vacation. New leadership is needed, all that Diva behavior is not needed Amen lights

The place is amazing!! Is one of the best experiences I ever had. But there is a few things that you need to consider if you go as a "walk-in" tourist. 1) The service starts at 11 on Sunday, but you have to be there earlier because a very long line forms. We got there around 9:00 and barely enter the church. The service last about 2 and half hours and you must stay for the whole time. Leaving in the middle of the service is considered rude. They mentioned that a new service schedule is made for Wednesday evening, you can check the website. 2) They have a very strict dress code and make no exceptions, so: no flip flops, no shorts, no shirts, no back packs, no tight pants, no athletic clothes. We saw a lot of people being pull out of the line because they were not dressed properly. 3) As they say, this is not a gospel concert, this is a sacred ceremony so, no cameras, no cell phones and no recording..... makes sense. 4) Be polite and respectful, the people attending church regularly don t enjoy see people look at them as entertainment. The "people in charge of the line" can be really annoying and even rude in their attempt of enforce the rules, but once you re inside everybody is really nice. So as a retribution don t be cheap with the donation to the church. My advice is that if you don t like these rules, you better stay home and watch the service streaming on the web (yes! live broadcast from the church...!) I would definitely come back whenever I m in NY again. Hope you enjoy it!

Despite the long long line you have to make to get in (and it was freezing outside) the experienced is beautiful, it's not what I expected (up and dancing and praising the lord) but more of a holy experience, the singers are top of the notch, so it's more of like sit down and enjoy a holy concert.

My wife and I went to go experience Jesus in NYC; was turned away because all visitor passes were given away at 8:30. I guess this a new problem for churches; too many visitors. If you want to go make sure you get in get your "vip" passes early. Jesus is the bouncer at this church. Sorry Bonhoeffer. Maybe next time.

i'm not sure i can categorize this as a church. it's more like a circus freak show. is this place for real? i mean really, i half expect snookie or one of the kardashians coming out of the doors by the characters stalking the doors. lines down the block after service time is supposedly past (i'm sorry, how long are they going to continue waiting to go in? it's a hundred degrees out!) oh, and i am rejected because i'm wearing "spandex." (i was wearing tights and a nice shirt). but girls wearing backless dresses and short dresses were allowed in because they brought a sweater. please. it's fine if they say it nicely but you'd think i came in stripper gear with pasties and stilettos the way the guy and girl (old, but not a lady) sized me up. the attitude dripping at the doors of this church, can we say "do not make my Father's house a house of trade"? i mean really. it's about respect and communion but this is just really, a freak show. go check it out one day. i'm sure it's gorgeous inside. but that just leaves me with such distaste that i'd rather not. negative stars.

It was a beautiful experience. I had heard about it and always wanted to go there. I came at 8am and flabberghasted at the long line. I asked one guy walking around do you think I can get in if I tell them I work in Harlem and I give service to the community? They said sure, you got your ID? Fortunately I did, I asked the usher and he set me aside and the usher was very nice to me, bit brusque and abrupt to the tourists with two other people we were ushered in for 9am I thought I'd be getting into the 11am mass! IThe sermon is quite uplifting and they suit it to the community, the chorus is very beautiful. I'm not baptist but now I can see why some baptist are so strong in theif faith, everyone was dressed up and it was a very nice experiencethe men in suits the women in dresses and nice big hats. It was interesting seeing anotehr faith, it was very moving seeing other people worship. I was lucky because I work there, if you are not a member of the church you better find some way to get in, or you'll be like the rest of the tourists left hanging outside. hahahaha (okay maybe I shouldn't get too cocky)I agree with the above guy, there are certain tourist practices I found quite entertaining. I won't mention it either because it's a little controversial!Poor people, it was humorous to watch though. I thanked the usher profusely for letting me in, because I could have been one the countless hundreds left in the cold; in other words, be prepared for a long wait and maybe not getting in if a) you're not part of the community, b) you don't live or work around the area c) you don't have a connection in d) the usher doesn't like you

The most uplifting worship I have ever experienced. I still can't believe I was actually a part of it! Got inspired by a powerful Mother's Day sermon and the magnificent choir & soloist had me fighting back tears. Every part of the service was wonderful. I attended today with a friend who grew up in the Baptist church. We arrived wearing suits and ties and came to worship, not to gawk or be entertained and so were able to go in (usually there are no visitor's on Mother's Day). Meanwhile, European tourists in shorts and t-shirts with cameras dangling from their necks were turned away with a firm "no visitors today." And rightly so. This is a church that's home to a devoted congregation who come to worship God. They are not there to perform or satisfy cultural curiosity. Abyssinian Baptist is not a tourist attraction. If you expect to drop in and see a Gospel floor show put on by colorful characters doing backflips down the aisles you are sadly mistaken. Should anyone from the church come off as curt or less than welcoming to a visitor it's probably because they're tired of their religion being disrespected as someone else's entertainment.