Judson Memorial Church Meeting Room (Sanctuary)

Founded in 1890, Judson Memorial Church (1892, McKim, Mead & White) is an open-and-affirming house of worship affiliated with United Church of Christ, American Baptist Church, and Alliance of Baptists. In the 1960s, the Sanctuary was renamed to “Meeting Room” with a purposeful intent to evoke the Quaker principle of “gathering,” with its cross and pews intentionally removed to create an open and creative space that is welcoming of people from all faiths and walks of life. In the 1960s-70s, the church was the site for lesbian and gay political gatherings. With the emergence of AIDS in the 1980s, Judson became one of New York’s first compassionate churches. The church continues to maintain close partnerships with many LGBTQ social justice organizations, including: New Alternatives, Ali Forney Center, the Third Wave Fund, GMAD, Queer Nation, Gays Against Guns, and many others.