Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church has been worshiping on the corner of Fifth Avenue and 55th Street since 1875. But our roots in New York City go back even further—to 1808, and our original home on Cedar Street in lower Manhattan.

Today we are a member congregation of the Presbyterian Church (USA), the largest Presbyterian denomination in the United States, and the Presbytery of New York City.

Join us for worship, either in person or online. Click around to learn more about our ministries. If you are interested in getting to know us better, fill out our quick Getting Connected form, and we’ll be in touch!

1. Some words that define us: Welcoming. Affirming. Diverse.

Lots of churches say “All Are Welcome.” We live those words. The diversity you see in our pews—young and old, white collar and no collar, from practically every state and dozens of countries—is reflected among our clergy, officers and staff. When Jesus said, “Come to me, all..,” we believe he meant for us to include people in every part of the world, families of all definitions, immigrants and refugees, same-sex and different-sex couples, the prosperous and the poor. We figure that, the more diverse we are, the more we mirror God’s kingdom. 

2. Don’t let the name fool you. We’re more faithful than fancy.

Yes, this church was built during the Gilded Age, when the Vanderbilts lived just down the street. But come inside and you’ll find New Yorkers of every stripe, busy doing the ministry we feel called to do—cooking meals for homebound neighbors, teaching children about Jesus, befriending and supporting the vulnerable, raising our voices in praise. Our worship services are traditionally Presbyterian, but we’re not stiff and formal about it. Whether you worship with us in person or online, we are a come-as-you-are church. Settle in, and make yourself at home.

3. We love kids. Really.

Our Family Ministries program enrolls children and parents from the five boroughs, New Jersey, Westchester County and Connecticut. We start teaching Bible stories to toddlers, and we keep nourishing their faith until we send them off to college. All year long, you’ll find our kids singing, serving, studying and helping to lead worship. So bring yours along to church. There’s no better place to grow up!

4. With our neighbors on the Avenue, we help our neighbors on the streets.

In 2017 Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church, Saint Thomas Church and St. Patrick’s Cathedral—three major congregations along a five-block span of Fifth Avenue—created the Ecumenical Outreach Partnership to help alleviate the crisis of homelessness in New York City. Through this collaborative ministry, we help hundreds of men and women access medical care, obtain Social Security and veterans’ benefits, secure housing, prepare for job interviews and more. This partnership is just one part of an outreach ministry that serves vulnerable populations in our city and communities in need around the world.

5. This church may be big, but you’ll never be lost.

Ours is a community of more than 2,000 members. Our magnificent Sanctuary (the largest Presbyterian sanctuary in New York City) can accommodate up to 1,800 people for worship and special events. Our livestream ministry gathers in worshipers from around the world. Yet within this far-flung community are dozens of smaller communities—online book clubs and Bible study, a young adults’ fellowship, an LGBTQ+ community group, a theater crowd, multiple choirs—where you’ll find friendship and family ties. Reach out to us, and we’ll help you find your place within our diverse family.

At Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church, we think less about what we believe as Christians than about what we do to be faithful disciples of Christ.

As a Matthew 25 congregation, we seek to follow Christ’s command that we welcome the stranger, provide for those who hunger and thirst, attend to the sick and needy—that we love and care for “the least of these.” (Matthew 25:40)

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus taught us how to pray and instructed us how to live, so that we might make a meaningful difference in the world. Using his words, we define our vision this way:

We will be Christ’s light, leaven and salt in New York City and beyond.

• LIGHT—shining a beacon of sacred hope for all who seek meaning and purpose for their lives; for all who are lost and walk in dark places; for all who are looking to embark upon or continue the journey of faith.
• LEAVEN—uplifting and transforming people’s lives through inspiring worship, thoughtful study and compassionate service.
• SALT—engaging New York City and seasoning this corner of God’s creation with Christ’s grace and love, even as we extend our ministry to people and communities in need around the world.