St. Paul & St. Andrew has been a presence on the Upper West Side since 1897, when architect Robert H. Robertson designed its soaring towers and unique blend of Romanesque and Renaissance styles. Inside is an equally remarkable sanctuary—praised by the NY Times for its elliptical dome and striking octagonal proportions—along with winding staircases and light-filled community rooms.

The building is far more than historic architecture. It’s a living community hub, one of the busiest buildings on the Upper West Side. Beyond worship and its initiatives for newly arrived migrants and the LGBTQ+ community, the church is home to numerous community organizations and hosts over 200 events annually. The congregation, which once sought to demolish the church in the 1980s, is now deeply committed to safeguarding its future, calling the building “the engine” for their work. A recent economic study found its impact at $32.2 million annually, nearly twenty times that of the average urban sacred site.

During OHNY Weekend, visitors can experience guided tours of this “fabulously impractical building,” as restoration of the original Spanish tile roof, a $5 million first-phase preservation project, will be underway. Guests will also have the opportunity to watch a recorded presentation by Andrew Dolkart (Professor of Historic Preservation, Columbia University) and Martin Griggs (Principal, Walter B. Melvin Architects) on the preservation efforts. The recorded presentation will be played at regular intervals during open access hours. Professor Dolkhart's presentation is 7 minutes long; Martin Griggs presentation is 12 minutes long.