Religious and Spiritual Life at Stanford

Jane and Leland Stanford put a church at the center of their university, but they did not tie it to any one denomination. More than a century later, Stanford's Office for Religious and Spiritual Life, known as ORSL, carries that idea forward. It runs Memorial Church, a multi-faith center in Old Union and a contemplative retreat. It also supports chaplains and student groups from many traditions and none.

This page describes what the office does, what is on its published schedule for fall 2026 and where each space is. It is written for visitors, new residents and families of students. For the architecture and mosaics of the church itself, see our Memorial Church guide.

What the office does

ORSL describes its mission as guiding, nurturing and enhancing spiritual and religious life within the Stanford community. It says it serves people of all backgrounds and at every stage of spiritual life. In its own words, its spaces are "accessible to all and compulsory to none."

The office is led by the Rev. Dr. Tiffany Steinwert, Dean for Religious and Spiritual Life. Associate deans and chaplains include advisors for Muslim, Jewish and Hindu life. Its work falls into a few broad areas:

• Worship and observance. Services, a religious calendar and help for students and staff who need to arrange religious observances.
• Spiritual care. Confidential conversations with chaplains about spiritual, emotional or existential questions, arranged through [email protected].
• Programs. The Rathbun Program for a Meaningful Life, a Design Your Spiritual Life course and retreat, contemplative programs and a leadership and organizing program.
• Ceremonies. Weddings, renewals and memorial services, mostly for members of the Stanford community.

Memorial Church

Memorial Church stands at the head of the Main Quad. Jane Stanford built it in memory of her husband and it was dedicated in 1903. The Stanfords intended it as a nondenominational sanctuary. On campus everyone calls it MemChu.

The 2026 maintenance closure

ORSL closed the church to visitors for scheduled maintenance from June 15 to October 31, 2026. Religious services, weddings and ORSL programs continued during the closure. Docent tours were paused. They normally run on Fridays at 11 a.m. The church's Wednesday labyrinth, normally open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., was paused too. Check the visiting page for when tours and open hours resume. A 360 degree virtual tour and a downloadable self-guided tour are available in the meantime.

Services at Memorial Church

The schedule below comes from ORSL's published service listings in October 2026. Times can change around holidays and breaks, so confirm before you go.

University Public Worship

The Sunday 11 a.m. service is ORSL's own. It is rooted in what Stanford calls the church's progressive Christian tradition and offers ecumenical Christian worship with occasional multifaith celebrations. Preachers rotate. The fall 2026 schedule, which runs from September 20 to a December 24 service, lists Dean Steinwert on most Sundays along with guest preachers who included a rabbi and a Hindu chaplain.

You can join from home. Each service streams on the ORSL YouTube channel and airs live on KZSU 90.1 FM, Stanford's student radio station, at 11 a.m. The 4:30 p.m. Sunday Mass is livestreamed as well.

Music at MemChu

The church also hosts organ, choral and non-Western music concerts under the name Music at MemChu. Memorial Church has five organs. Concert dates are posted on the ORSL music page and the Stanford events calendar. Our live music guide covers other venues in town.

The CIRCLE Multi-Faith Center

The second space ORSL stewards is the CIRCLE Multi-Faith Center on the third floor of Old Union, 520 Lasuen Mall. It has a common room, an interfaith sanctuary, a seminar room, a student lounge and a library. It also houses offices for several member groups of Stanford Associated Religions and for ORSL's associate deans.

The center follows Old Union's building schedule, daily from 7:30 a.m. to 2 a.m. ORSL calls it a safe haven for diversity, worship, ritual, meditation and reflection and encourages students, staff and faculty to visit. The Wednesday Catholic Mass meets in its sanctuary. Our Old Union guide explains the building's history and how to find it.

Windhover Contemplative Center

The third ORSL space is the Windhover Contemplative Center at 370 Santa Teresa Street. It is a quiet building for meditation and reflection built around Nathan Oliveira's Windhover paintings. Inside access is limited to Stanford ID holders, while its outdoor labyrinth is open to everyone at any hour. Alumni can pick up an access card at the Arrillaga Alumni Center.

Faith communities and observances

Much of religious life at Stanford happens through student groups. ORSL lists Stanford Associated Religions member groups in these traditions:

• Bahá'í
• Buddhist
• Christian
• Hindu
• Jain
• Jewish
• Multi-faith
• Muslim
• Quaker
• Sikh

ORSL publishes a religious calendar for the year. Observances it lists for the coming months include All Saints Day on November 1, Diwali on November 8, the First Sunday of Advent on November 29, Ramadan from about February 8 to March 9, 2027 and Passover from April 21 to 29, 2027. Dates set by lunar calendars may shift by a day. Our Diwali in Palo Alto page covers community celebrations in town.

ORSL's pages for Jewish, Muslim and Hindu life focus on holiday calendars rather than weekly service times. For regular prayer times and locations, contact the office or the relevant advisor directly.

Weddings, memorials and spiritual care

Many people first contact ORSL at a turning point in life. Memorial Church hosts weddings and renewal ceremonies for the Stanford community. ORSL says couples of all faith backgrounds are welcome. Memorial services for members of the Stanford community are also held in the church, with planning details on the ORSL website.

Spiritual care is open to students, staff and faculty who want to talk something through. Deans and chaplain associates offer confidential conversations about spiritual, emotional or existential questions. You can write to an individual chaplain through their profile or email [email protected].

Visiting tips

Weekend visitors to services will find the Marguerite shuttle not running, so plan to drive, bike or walk up Palm Drive from the Palo Alto Caltrain station, about a mile to the Oval.

Frequently asked questions