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Memorial Church & Windhover Contemplative Center Visiting Information

Memorial Church Open Visiting Hours:
Monday - Thursday, 9 AM - 4 PM
Friday, 9 AM - 1 PM

Memorial Church is closed for University holidays, University closures, services, and private events. 
Windhover Contemplative Center is currently closed. There is no expected re-opening date at this time.

More info here
Banner image for the "Rathbun Programs" section featuring 3 images: a photo of Emilia and Harry standing outside of the memorial church, a later photo of the Rathbuns that is a close up shot of their faces, and a photo detail of one of the Memorial Church stained glass windows.

Crafting a Meaningful Life

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Harry and Emilia Rathbun Fund for Exploring What Leads to a Meaningful Life

In this day and age when students are increasingly knowledgeable through classroom training and the demands of specializing are intense, students are thirsty for true wisdom. The Rathbun Fund has created both a timeless and timely opportunity to help Stanford deepen the student experience with a focus on thoughtful inquiry, the pursuit of happiness, and a dedication to making the world a better place.

Stanford is ideally suited for this opportunity, given its preeminence in educating world leaders and the emphasis of the university’s founding grant both on public welfare and “qualifying students for personal success and direct usefulness in life.” Leland and Jane Stanford, who were religious, but not committed to any denomination, decreed that the church would stand at the center of campus and also be non-sectarian. Adopting such a philosophy, they felt, would permit the church to serve the broadest spiritual needs of the entire university community—religious and nonreligious. The Stanfords also saw spiritual and moral values as essential to a young person’s education and future citizenship. As such, Stanford’s Office for Religious & Spiritual Life is located in the center of campus and, as one of only a few university-wide offices, plays a significant role as a convener for all members of the Stanford community, across schools and disciplines.

Tile image featuring an alternate photo of The Rathbuns.

About Harry and Emilia Rathbun

Find out more about the personal story of Harry and Emilia Rathbun. 

The Dalai Lama spoke at a medical school panel on Neuroscience and Buddhism at Memorial Auditorium. Credit: Linda A. Cicero / Stanford News Service

Rathbun Program Offerings

Explore the different types of programs offered through this dynamic program 

PAST EVENT

Leading a Meaningful Life: Marshall Ganz

2022 Mimi and Peter E. Haas Distinguished Visitor

Join us in historical Memorial Church as Marshall Ganz shares insight into his personal values, beliefs, and motivations in order to gain a deeper understanding of life’s meaning. Q&A with the audience will follow.

PAST EVENT

Rathbun Activism Summit

In the spirit of Harry and Emilia Rathbun’s work to advance Stanford students’ development as citizens of the world, we gathered virtually for conversations, panels and experiences with activists who are tackling the issues impacting their lives and futures, such as racial injustice, climate change, gun violence, and gender and LBGTQ equality.