Stanford Memorial Church

"Stanford Memorial Church stands at the center of the campus, the University's architectural crown jewel. It was one of the earliest and is still among the most prominent interdenominational churches in the West. It was built by Jane Stanford as a memorial to her husband, Leland. Together, Senator and Mrs. Stanford had built the University as a memorial to their only son, Leland, Jr.

The Stanfords, who were deeply religious but not committed to any denomination, decreed that the Church was also to be nondenominational. Adopting such a philosophy, they felt, would permit the Church to serve the broadest spiritual needs of the university community. They also saw spiritual and moral values as essential to a young person's education and future citizenship."

-- www.stanford.edu