Washington Square Methodist Church, ca. 1972. The history of the Washington Square Methodist Church dates back to 1842 and the founding of the Sullivan Street Methodist Episcopal Church, from which the new congregation emerged. The church building on West 4th Street was designed by Charles Hadden and constructed in 1859-1860 and when the community moved into this new building, they changed their name. The Romanesque Revival building was home to the Methodist church until 2004 when the small community moved into a rented space in an NYU chapel. Known as the "Peace Church" for its anti-war advocacy, the congregation in the late 20th century was very progressive community. They welcomed LGBTQ members early on and they were led by the first openly gay clergyman (in New York and of a major major Christian denomination). Rev. Paul M. Abels served as pastor from 1973 to 1984. After selling the building, the church merger with a number of other local Methodist congregations to form Church of the Village, which meets at the former Metropolitan-Duane United Methodist Church on Seventh Avenue. The building was purchased by a real estate developer, but could not be knocked downing owing to its inclusion in a historic district. The building has been converted into condos called "Novare."

Washington Square Methodist Church ca. 1993 The Spiderwoman Theater Ensemble was launched in 1976 at this Greenwich Village church by original members and sisters Lisa Mayo, Muriel Miguel and Gloria Miguel from the Kuna and Rappahannock nations. The Spiderwoman Theater Ensemble is the oldest Native American feminist theater group in the United States, and one of the leading performing arts groups to emerge out of the New York movement, gaining national and international attention. Additionally, this ensemble is the oldest continuing feminist theater group in the United States and internationally. Their work explores the issues of gender roles, cultural stereotypes, sexual and economic oppression – sexism, racism, classism, and violence against women. Spiderwoman Theater’s unique “story-weaving” methodology infuses traditional storytelling genre with organically layered movement, text, sound, music, and visual images. This culminates in a powerful voice for indigenous women and cultural artisans. They founded the Native American Women Playwrights Archive at Miami University in Ohio where they received honorary Doctorates of Fine Arts in 1997 for their life’s work and contribution to the theater.