15 min
APPROX
DURATION
“Grace Cathedral,
praying for peace.”
Pause for a moment to take in the elegant silhouette of Grace Cathedral against the sky. Many United Nations anniversary celebrations have been hosted here.
You may be surprised to learn that regardless of religion, leaders from all over the world have stood here and taken in the same sights you are now. Grace Cathedral wasn’t officially a part of the 1945 United Nations Conference, but it was used by many of the thousands of attendees throughout the conference. Since then, Grace Cathedral periodically celebrates the U.N.’s history in San Francisco.
One of the more momentous anniversaries was the 50th, in 1995. World leaders and diplomats attended, climbing the steps in front of you. The U.N. Secretary General at the time, Boutros Boutros-Ghali went, with many other world leaders. Bishop William E. Swing and Dean Alan W. Jones led the service. San Franciscans attended too, and everyone crammed into the cathedral on what became a 99 degree day. This year, for the 80th anniversary, yet another special service was officiated by Bishop Austin Rios on June 26th.
Dean Malcolm Clemens Young is the ninth and current Dean. Who else would be better to talk to about Grace Cathedral? 2025 marks his tenth year in the position. He will share some highlights of the U.N. that can be found in and around the cathedral in the video below. It is pretty incredible how strong the connection is between the U.N. and Grace Cathedral.
Once in front of the Cathedral. Take this chance to head up the front steps and walk to the right. Stop by the labyrinth carved into the patio. It doesn’t matter what your religion is, and we mean that in the best way. Walking along it can be calming for anyone. From here, take a look at the nearby steps up to the courtyard. In it, you will find a fountain. This fountain is called the Grace Cathedral Fountain. It contains sacred waters from 20 holy sites around the world, combined as a symbol of peace. Its dedication was on September 30th, 1995. Dean Young himself was at that ceremony, before he became Dean.
On this visit or your next, make time tostep inside Grace Cathedral. You will quickly see how the relationship between Grace Cathedral and the U.N. becomes more obvious. Directly to your left after you walk past the front desk, there is a massive colorful mural by Antonio Sotomayor. It is labeled Founding of the United Nations, 1945. The mural, seen below, shows people from different cultures coming together to walk towards a peaceful future, while surrounded by symbols of the U.N. Funnily enough, the artist inserted himself into the painting as one of the men. It’s hard not to love a humorous artist like that.
The mural is big, but the Brotherhood of Man plaque is massive. It’s difficult to even call it a plaque. It’s about 8 feet tall, made from a combination of oak wood and brass. To find it, head down the North Aisle, past the Chapel of Nativity, up a few small steps, and you’ll be in the North Choir Aisle. The plaque is on the right-hand side, and almost impossible to miss because of its massive size. It was completed in 1969, symbolizing peace, human achievement, and the shared spiritual roots of religions around the world.
As you leave, look up into the highest part of the cathedral, the Nave. This is the section of roof that runs straight down the middle aisle between pews. Here, you will see the Human Endeavor Windows. These stained glass windows commemorate impactful historical figures and the endeavor they represent. Franklin D. Roosevelt has a window, and for good reason. He was a massive driving force behind the formation of the United Nations. Even though he passed before he could see his dream finalized, his contributions are immortalized here. To find his window, face the High Altar and look up at the Nave. His window is the second one on the right-hand side, counting back from the High Altar end of the cathedral. You can tell it’s his because of the blue and white stained glass behind him, representing the seal of the United Nations.
These four treasures—the fountain, the mural, the plaque, the window—were added to Grace Cathedral in support of peace and international collaboration. Today, Dean Young continues to steer the Grace Cathedral towards a bright future that aligns with these values. His mission is human dignity for all. Once you finish soaking up the calming presence of Grace Cathedral, it’s time to move on to the next landmark.
made possible with support of the following partnerships for the goals (SDG 17):
