Places of worship in Palo Alto

Palo Alto is a small city with a wide range of faith communities. Within a few miles of downtown you can find a 1902 Carpenter Gothic church, a Japanese American Buddhist temple that has held Obon for generations, a Quaker meeting that worships in silence, several synagogues and a Christian Science reading room. Mosques, Hindu and Jain temples, Orthodox parishes and a gurdwara are a short drive away. Stanford adds a nondenominational church and a multi-faith center open to the public.

This guide is for newcomers and visitors. It is neutral. We do not rank, review or compare beliefs. For each community we give what it says about itself, where it meets, the languages it uses, its main service times as published in fall 2026 and any visitor or accessibility information it publishes. Every community we name had a current website or official listing showing 2026 activity when we checked. Schedules change, so always confirm on the community's own site before you go.

Find a tradition

The sections below cover communities that do not have their own page on this site, including the Quaker meeting, the Unitarian Universalist church, Christian Science, Unity, Latter-day Saints and the nearest Sikh gurdwara.

Quakers: Palo Alto Friends Meeting

Palo Alto Friends Meeting is at 957 Colorado Avenue in Midtown. Quakers, formally the Religious Society of Friends, gather mostly in silence. Anyone may rise to speak briefly if moved to. The meeting's website lists:

• Sunday: meeting for worship from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m., with child care and Sunday school. An online option on Zoom is available.
• Wednesday: an online mindfulness meditation at 8 a.m., in-person midweek worship at 4:30 p.m. and online worship at 6 p.m.
• Stanford Worship Group: meets at the Windhover Contemplative Center on some Tuesdays from 6 to 6:30 p.m. during Stanford's fall quarter 2026.
• San Mateo Worship Group: under the meeting's care, Sundays from 10 to 11 a.m. at 15 Second Avenue, San Mateo.

The meeting says a greeter at the door will welcome you and answer questions. It also invites newcomers to stay after worship to meet people. Its newcomers page explains Quaker terms such as "First Day" for Sunday. The phone is 650-856-0744. The meeting has deep local roots: in 1942 its members served refreshments to Japanese American families boarding buses for incarceration, a story told on our historic houses of worship page.

Unitarian Universalist Church of Palo Alto

The Unitarian Universalist Church of Palo Alto is at 505 East Charleston Road in south Palo Alto. Unitarian Universalism is a liberal religious tradition that draws on many sources and does not require a shared creed. The church gathers for Sunday services at 10:30 a.m. in person in its Main Hall and online, with Sunday school for children and youth from preschool through eighth grade at the same time. A Sunday forum meets at 8:45 a.m. and a Saturday meditation at 9 a.m.

The church is in the middle of a campus remodel it calls the Campus Vision project and posts notices about closures during construction, so check the website before a weekday visit. Its site has pages on what to expect in worship and on location and accessibility. The phone is 650-494-0541.

Christian Science

First Church of Christ, Scientist, Palo Alto, is at 3045 Cowper Street. Its website lists a Sunday church service and Sunday school from 10 to 11 a.m. and a Wednesday testimony meeting from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m., both in person and on Zoom. Sunday school is open to young people up to their 20th birthday, whether or not their families study Christian Science. The church says well-behaved dogs on a leash are welcome at services. Its Reading Room, a small bookstore and quiet study space, is at 459 California Avenue. The church phone is 650-493-7870.

Unity Palo Alto and Ananda

Unity Palo Alto, part of the Unity movement, is at 3391 Middlefield Road. Sunday services are at 10 a.m. in person and livestreamed, preceded by a meditation from 9 to 9:30 a.m. Its Unity Kids program cares for babies through sixth graders during the service. The phone is 650-849-1100.

Ananda, a meditation and spiritual community in the lineage of Paramhansa Yogananda, has its temple and teaching center at 2171 El Camino Real near College Avenue. Its Sunday services include readings from the Bible and the Bhagavad Gita and are livestreamed. Our Hindu and Jain temples page has more on Ananda.

Latter-day Saints, Bahá'í and other communities

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Latter-day Saints attend a local congregation, called a ward, based on where they live. Several wards often share one meetinghouse at different hours. Rather than list buildings we could not confirm, we suggest the church's official meetinghouse locator on churchofjesuschrist.org, which shows the correct ward and Sunday time for any address. Visitors are welcome at Sunday sacrament meetings.

Bahá'í Faith

The Bahá'í Faith has a long local history: ʻAbdu'l-Bahá spoke at Stanford in 1912. Bahá'ís in Palo Alto have traditionally gathered for devotional meetings and children's classes in homes rather than in a dedicated building. We could not find a 2026 schedule online, so the best contact route is the national Bahá'í website, bahai.us, which can connect you with local Bahá'ís.

Sikh gurdwara

There is no gurdwara in Palo Alto. The nearest we could confirm with 2026 activity on its own website is the Sikh Gurdwara Sahib at 3636 Gurdwara Avenue in San Jose, about 25 miles away. It hosted a Raag Darbar in September 2026 and serves langar, the free community meal. Call 408-274-9373 for program times. Visitors of any faith are welcome. Cover your head and remove your shoes before entering the prayer hall. Our page on worship in other languages has more.

Stanford's open religious spaces

Stanford's Office for Religious and Spiritual Life runs three spaces. Memorial Church hosts an ecumenical Christian service on Sundays at 11 a.m. during the academic year, Catholic Masses and concerts. The CIRCLE Multi-Faith Center on the third floor of Old Union has an interfaith sanctuary and is open daily. The Windhover Contemplative Center is for Stanford ID holders, but its outdoor labyrinth is open to all. Our religious life at Stanford page has the details.

Visiting any place of worship

Major holy days, late 2026 to spring 2027

Dates set by lunar calendars can shift by a day. Our cultural festivals page lists public celebrations in the area.

Practical tips for newcomers

Many places of worship double as community hubs. They run food pantries, English classes, senior lunches and youth groups that are open to neighbors whatever their beliefs. Our guides to food assistance and volunteering list several. If you are new to the country, our immigrant resources page covers legal help and citizenship classes. For accessible transit to services, see our accessible travel guide. When you move, our moving to Palo Alto checklist covers the rest of settling in.

Frequently asked questions