The choir of Billy Talen, aka Reverend Billy of the "Church of Stop Shopping", gets ready for the service at St. Mark's Church in New York City on March 26, 2006.

Reverend Billy is best known for his anti-consumerism stance. Upon his arrival in New York City in the 1990s he Initially focused on the generic commercialization of Times Square. He then branched out to attack what he saw as needless consumerism and the waning local character of New York City as a whole,...
more »

The choir of Billy Talen, aka Reverend Billy of the "Church of Stop Shopping", gets ready for the service at St. Mark's Church in New York City on March 26, 2006.

Reverend Billy is best known for his anti-consumerism stance. Upon his arrival in New York City in the 1990s he Initially focused on the generic commercialization of Times Square. He then branched out to attack what he saw as needless consumerism and the waning local character of New York City as a whole, the result of national chains making their presence felt. To that end, Talen created the "Church of Stop Shopping" with like minded cohorts (his "choir"), performing in theaters and churches as well as staging street protests. He has been arrested numerous times performing "exorcisms" in various stores, favorite targets being the Disney store and Starbucks. A documentary was made in 2007 about his adventures, titled "What Would Jesus Buy?"
« less