Announcements

Statement from the Professor's Desk

October 29, 2018

Friends of the Memorial Church Community:

We just experienced a tragic week in what has been a tumultuous year of a traumatic decade. Politically motivated pipe-bombs, the assassination of two Kentucky residents by a white supremacist, and the unconscionable slaying of eleven Jewish sisters and brothers inside of their synagogue have left all people of goodwill breathless. We live in a theatre of terror. That the leadership of this nation appears to inflame rather than extinguish the embers of anti-Semitism, xenophobia, and discrimination only pours salt in our...

Haley Curtin ’18 speaks at Morning Prayers in Appleton Chapel as part of the Senior Talks Series.

Morning Prayers will start 15 minutes earlier, beginning Oct. 1

September 20, 2018

With the recent implementation of a new course schedule by the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, which has both united and impacted the entire Harvard community, the Memorial Church of Harvard University is changing the daily schedule for Morning Prayers.

Historically, the service of Morning Prayers, which has been kept at Harvard...

Staff Changes: Interim Minister and Student Program Fellow

July 13, 2018

The Rev. Alanna C. Sullivan will be taking maternity leave effective August 1, 2018 through the end of November. In her absence, we are excited to welcome two new staff hires: the Rev. Katherine Schofield and Lara Glass.

Katherine A. Schofield Rev...

Spring 2018 Calendar of Services and Events

January 18, 2018

Welcome to Spring Term 2018 at the Memorial Church! Read Prof. Jonathan L. Walton's welcome letter and download the Spring 2018 calendar. Read more about Spring 2018 Calendar of Services and Events

The 108th Annual Christmas Carol services

Christmas at the Memorial Church

November 29, 2017

The Christmas Season is here! Save the date for our upcoming Christmas services.

Christmas Carol Services

The 108th Annual Christmas Carol Services will be held on Sunday, Dec. 10 at 5 p.m. and Tuesday, Dec.12 at 8 p.m. Doors will open one hour before each service. Admission is free; an offering for charity is collected. The Dec.10th service will be broadcast live on Harvard's radio station WHRB 95.3 FM and via Internet streaming at whrb.org starting with the organ prelude at 4:45 p.m. The service will also be rebroadcast on Sunday, Dec. 24 at 11 a.m.

Advent / Christmas Eve Service

We hope you can also join us on Sunday, Dec. 24 at 11 a.m. for a combined Advent / Christmas Eve Service, which will feature a community choir. If you would like to sing, come to rehearsal before the service at 9:30 a.m. in the choir room on the ground level of the church.

Carols in the Memorial Church

... Read more about Christmas at the Memorial Church

The Memorial Room of the Memorial Church

Celebrating our 85th Anniversary

November 3, 2017

“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

Westley Conn appointed new Ministry Fellow

June 13, 2017

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...

Exciting news!

February 17, 2017

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!

Reopening Update

January 27, 2017

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're reopening on Jan. 23!

January 22, 2017

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!