“While a bright future beckoned they freely gave their lives and fondest hopes for us and our allies that we might learn from them courage in peace to spend our lives making a better world for others.” — Inscription in the Memorial Room of the Memorial Church of Harvard University.

Please join the Memorial Church of Harvard University on Nov. 11 & 12 to celebrate the 85^th anniversary of the dedication of the church. As we celebrate this anniversary, we especially honor those who have served and continue to serve.... Read more about Celebrating our 85th Anniversary

We are excited to announce that Westley Conn has been hired as the new Ministry Fellow in the Memorial Church. Wes will be involved in worship life of the church and partner with the ministers to engage the wider community. He will also continue to be responsible for the Church School and the development of Christian Education.

Wes has served as the Church School Director for the Memorial Church for the past three years. Previously, he served as the Ministry Intern and Sunday School Director for Saint Paul’s United Church of Christ in...

Dear Friends & Colleagues,

I write with exciting news! You may have heard about President Faust’s recent announcement of Harvard’s first full-time Muslim chaplain. As the religious and spiritual diversity of the Harvard community expands, we have been working over the past several years towards establishing an independent multi-faith chaplaincy to better serve the needs of our diverse community. This appointment is a vital and necessary step in that direction. Now more than ever, Harvard must rededicate our efforts to serving and promoting understanding among the varied religious and spiritual traditions here at the University and beyond.

As part of this commitment, The Rev. Dr. Lucy Forster-Smith, Sedgwick Chaplain to the University and Senior Minister in the Memorial Church, will now dedicate her efforts full-time to multi-faith initiatives here at Harvard as Sedgwick Chaplain to the University.... Read more about Exciting news!

Great to be back in the church!

It’s been a busy week here at Memorial Church. Morning Prayers kicked off in Appleton Chapel for the start of Spring Term and we’re looking forward to being back in the Sanctuary for the first Sunday Service of Spring Term this Sunday at 11 a.m. Please join us!

Although services have resumed and staff offices have moved back into the church, please bear with us as finishing work continues on the exterior and in the ground level. The restrooms on the ground level will be available for use with services. However, the rest of the ground level will be closed temporarily as we undertake the herculean task of unpacking and settling in, which will continue for the next several weeks. We expect that the ground level will be completed just after Spring Break.... Read more about Reopening Update

We are thrilled to announce the reopening of the Memorial Church building after an eight-month renovation. 

The Sanctuary and Appleton Chapel will reopen on a limited basis with the start of Spring Term 2017. The first Morning Prayers of Term will be held on Monday, Jan. 23 at 8:45 a.m. and the first Sunday Service of Term will be held on Jan. 29 at 11 a.m.

The lower-level of the church will remain closed until Monday, Jan. 30. Although staff offices will be functional at that time, finishing work will continue for the next several weeks and we expect that the ground level will be completed just after Spring Break. 

Compline returns to Appleton Chapel on Thursday, Feb. 2 at 10 p.m. Our Christian education programs begin on Sunday, Feb. 5 with the return of the Faith & Life Forum and Church School for Children. And our wonderful music department will perform several concerts, recitals, and choral services throughout the Term. Don't miss a special service of Evensong directed by Dr. Barry Rose on Sunday, Feb. 5 at 4 p.m.... Read more about We're reopening on Jan. 23!

Construction on the Memorial Church is expected to be completed by late January with Morning Prayers and Sunday Services returning to Harvard’s historic sanctuary early in the Spring Term.

In the meantime, Morning Prayers have concluded for Fall Term, and are expected to resume in Appleton Chapel at 8:45 a.m., Jan. 23. The lower-level of the Church, however, is expected to remain closed to the public until Sunday, Jan. 29.

Sunday Services and Church School for Children will conclude for the Fall Term on Dec. 18. Additionally, the Christmas Eve service will not be held this year due to the construction project. Sunday Services will resume Jan. 29 in the sanctuary. Church School for Children and the Faith & Life Forum will resume on Feb. 5.... Read more about Renovation Update and Winter Recess Schedule

On Tuesday, Nov. 29th, the Memorial Church will participate in #GivingTuesday, a global day of giving held the Tuesday after Thanksgiving and the shopping events Black Friday and Cyber Monday.

All gifts received on November 29th will go entirely to support the work of the Memorial Church's Community Grants Program, which awards funds to non-profit charity organizations that serve the communities of Greater Boston.

Last year, 57 organizations received grants from the program, funding a variety of needs including...

Don’t know where to park for Sunday Services at the Knafel Center? We have a solution!

Starting this Sunday, Sept. 18, the Memorial Church will provide a free shuttle for Sunday Service attendees between Harvard’s Littauer parking lot and the Knafel Center. Parking at the Littauer Lot is free for Sunday Service attendees. Look for the van in the Littauer Lot with the “Memorial Church” sign. 

SHUTTLE PICK-UP &...

We are excited to announce that the Memorial Church will undergo much needed renovations in the coming months. The project will focus on long-deferred building and infrastructure maintenance, including accessibility and safety compliance upgrades; a reconfigured lower level... Read more about Memorial Church renovations

Come out and support housemates, classmates, blockmates, and friends for this special opportunity to celebrate life at Harvard College. Starting on Monday, April 18th at 8:45 a.m., one graduating senior from each residential house will speak at Morning Prayers, one of Harvard's longest-running traditions. Each senior will speak for 5 minutes within the 15 minute ecumenical service that dates back to the earliest days of Harvard College. Five minutes may not seem like a lot of time, but it's just enough for these brave seniors to describe a friendship, an idea, a professor, or an experience that has shaped their Harvard lives.... Read more about Celebrating the Class of 2016!

This coming Sunday, April 17 at 4 p.m., the Harvard University Choir and the Harvard Baroque Chamber Orchestra will perform a selection of J.S. Bach's music including Sinfonia from Cantata No. 29, Magnificat, Singet dem herrn, and Ascension Oratorio.

Directed by Edward Jones and Phoebe Carrai, the Spring Concert is free and open to the public.... Read more about This Sunday: Music of J.S. Bach

Award-winning American author Marilynne Robinson will deliver the upcoming 2016 Noble Lecture on Monday, April 4 at 7 p.m. with a talk entitled "The Divine." Matthew Potts, Assistant Professor of Ministry Studies, Harvard Divinity School will give the introduction. 

Marilynne Robinson is the recipient of a 2012 National Humanities Medal, awarded by President Barack Obama, for “her grace and intelligence in writing.” She is the author of Lila, a finalist for the National Book Award and the National Book Critics Circle Award,...

In anticipation of the 3rd Annual LGBTQ Conference at Harvard, the Memorial Church will feature a special week of Morning Prayers talks next week (Feb 29 – Mar 5) that will focus on "The Queer Divine: Perspectives and Theologies from LGBTQ Lived Experiences."... Read more about Upcoming LGBTQ Harvard events

A unique coalition of Boston-area musicians has been formed to sing and play for victims of the current crisis in Syria and Iraq. 

The October 23 concert,  “Journey Towards A Home: Boston Musicians Perform for Syrian and Iraqi Refugee Relief” will feature many area performers from a wide variety of musical traditions:  American, Caribbean, western European, Greek, Turkish, Syrian, and Lebanese.... Read more about Boston musicians to perform for refugee relief at MemChurch

Dear friends,

As many of you know, our dear colleague Finance Director Nancy Granert, is retiring in just a few short weeks. We are grateful for Nancy's many contributions to the Memorial Church over the years and wish her well on her future endeavors.

It is with great excitement that we announce the appointment of Charles Anderson as Memorial Church’s new Director of Finance and Operations! With more than 20 years working for Harvard, he brings a wealth of experience and skills to the Memorial Church. Charles comes to us from Harvard Divinity School where he served as...