History
St. Clement's started in 1831, in downtown Manhattan. The Congregation of St. Clement's has been at its current location since 1951. In 1962, Saint Clement's began a ministry to the theater arts under the leadership of the Reverend Sidney Lanier, its Rector at that time. Reverend Lanier modeled Theatre at Saint Clement's on the Guild Chapels of sixteenth century England; eventually, the sanctuary proper was gutted and converted into a 160 seat, Off Broadway space, thus bringing church and theater back together again. On Sundays, an altar is placed upon the set of whatever theatrical production is currently being presented and worship is conducted. In addition to notable world premieres at Theatre at Saint Clement's, a host of famous actors such as Faye Dunaway, Dustin Hoffman, Nathan Lane, Harvey Fierstein, Henry Winkler, Al Pacino and John Rubinstein have all performed in this space.
Specialties
A congregation that has always celebrated the ministry of women, of gay and lesbian people, and those of all walks of life; a longtime center of service to the poor, celebrating social activism and creative liturgy, we are one of the most diverse Episcopal parishes in New York City. St. Clement's celebrates and serves the theater district community, symbolized by our famous Mass in the Theater (most Sundays). We remain the third oldest, continually operating Off Broadway Theater in New York City.