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There's a place for you here.

New to Richmond? Unfamiliar with the Episcopal Church, or with Christianity? Welcome. 

Whoever you are, wherever you are in your spiritual journey, the people of St. Stephen's Church hope that your experience with this church will encourage and strengthen you. 

As you browse our Web site, you might consider: 

  • visiting St. Stephen's for a worship service and/or watching our livestreamed services

  • coming to an informal supper

  • stopping by the Farmers Market on Saturday morning

  • attending one of our receptions for visitors and newcomers

  • signing up for an Inquirers Class

  • subscribing to St. Stephen's weekly email, the eSpirit; there is no cost, no obligation, and we will not share your email address with any outside group

  • attending a retreat, workshop or group, or participating in any of the other offerings you'll see on these pages.

Do as much or as little as you like. There are no "requirements" for being a part of this community of faith. If you wish to be baptized or confirmed, or to transfer your membership from another Episcopal parish, we'd love for you to do so. But it's not required. Everything we do, everything we offer, is open to all, regardless of whether you are a "member" of this church. If you're here, you belong. 

Here's an online visitor card: it's not required--it just helps us to be more responsive to you!

St. Stephen's Episcopal Church
6000 Grove Avenue
Richmond, VA 23226
804.288.2867

Our services

St. Stephen's is a vibrant parish offering several kinds of worship services. Sunday, of course, is our big day. You are most welcome at any of the services held here.

Sunday schedule (from the Sunday after Labor Day through the Sunday before Memorial Day)

8:00 a.m., Holy Eucharist: Rite One
9:00 a.m., Holy Eucharist: Rite Two*, in the main church and in Palmer Hall Chapel
10:10 a.m., Education for all ages*
11:15 a.m., Holy Eucharist, Rite Two*
5:30 p.m., Celtic Evensong and Communion
6:30 p.m., Sunday Community Supper
8:00 p.m., Compline

Sunday schedule (from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend)

8:00 a.m., Holy Eucharist: Rite One
10:00 a.m., Holy Eucharist: Rite Two*
5:30 p.m., Celtic Evensong and Communion*
6:30 p.m., Sunday Community Supper
8:00 p.m., Compline

*indicates child care available through age 4

Weekday worship

Year-round
8:10 a.m., Morning Prayer with Communion

(When the parish office is closed for a holiday or due to inclement weather, weekday Morning Prayer does not take place.) 

Where we're located

St. Stephen's is located at the corner of Three Chopt Road and Grove Avenue (the address is 600 Grove Avenue), near the University of Richmond and across the street from St. Catherine's School.

If you are coming to the church office, the most direct route is through the double glass doors to the parish house off the parking lot on Somerset.  If you're coming for a worship service, you can enter from Grove Avenue or Three Chopt Road.

Accessibility

There are several entrances to the church and parish house that are designed to be accessible to those with mobility issues or other physical limitations:

All entrances to the church, and the main entrance to the parish house, are equipped with power-assist doors. In addition, the main entrance to the parish house, from the large parking lot, has an elevator on the ground floor that allows you to bypass the steps. The Grove Avenue entrance to the main church is gently sloped, without steps, and the Three Chopt Road entrance has a ramp.

Inside the church, several pews are shortened to allow space for a wheelchair or walker: the first pews on either side of the center aisle, nearest the altar, and the pews near the large baptismal font.

The church is equipped with assistive hearing devices for the hearing-impaired. Please ask an usher for one of these devices as you enter the church.

From birth through high school

St. Stephen's Church has an active ministry for children and youth, staffed by an energetic and talented family ministries staff and dedicated, well-trained volunteers. Our family ministry staff sends an email newsletter to parents for which you may sign up.

Our main offering for young children is Catechesis of the Good Shepherd. For youth in grades 6-12, we use Journey to Adulthood. Both are highly regarded spiritual formation approaches.

We also strive to provide opportunities for parents to learn, grow, and receive support from other parents and from our clergy.

HOLY BAPTISM

Holy Baptism is available for babies, children, and adults. Read more about Baptism and preparation here.

CONFIRMATION 

At St. Stephen's, young people who desire to be confirmed in the Episcopal Church may enter the preparation process in the ninth grade or later. Confirmation takes place when one of our bishops visits St. Stephen's, usually in May.

Young adults

Young adults--single or partnered, with children or not, in college or working--are invited to take part in everything St. Stephen's has to offer, from worship to small groups, choirs to Sunday Community suppers, from outreach and volunteer activities to our environmental stewardship group.

We have tagged 20s and 30s as "young adulthood" but many who participate in young adult activities are in their 40s. The bottom line is, no one will ask you your age--if you think of yourself as a young adult, so do we!

While young adults at St. Stephen's sometimes gather with others in their age cohort, everyone is welcome to join a group or a class with adults of all ages. 

Children and teenagers love having adults who are closer to their age as teachers and mentors. You do not have to be a parent to serve in our ministries among children and youth.

Many young adults particularly enjoy the Compline service at St. Stephen's Church, held Sunday nights at 8 in the church. This ancient service is used as the last service of the day in monastic communities, cathedrals, churches, and schools, and many people say it in their homes. (It's found on page 127 of the Book of Common Prayer.) At St. Stephen's, the service is sung by a mixed a cappella choir. The choir chants prayers and psalms, interspersed with motets. It's an exquisite service, with candles (no other lighting) and incense. Those who attend sit in or lie on a pew in silence, praying, meditating or simply listening to the music. The service lasts just 30 minutes. 

We livestream our main Sunday morning service, our Celtic service, and Compline each Sunday. You'll find these on our Web site, on our Facebook page, and on our YouTube channel.

A fellowship

One of the distinctive things about being an Episcopalian is the sense of connection and fellowship one has with other Episcopalian Christians. St. Stephen's Episcopal Church is part of the Diocese of Virginia, one of the oldest and largest dioceses in the Episcopal Church. The Episcopal Church is part of the worldwide Anglican Communion.

Our diocese includes 80,000 people who worship God and reach out to others in nearly 180 parishes in 38 counties in central, northern and northwestern Virginia. It is one of three Episcopal dioceses in the Commonwealth of Virginia, the others being the Diocese of Southwestern Virginia (based in Roanoke) and the Diocese of Southern Virginia (based in Norfolk). You can read more about the Diocese of Virginia at thediocese.net.

The best way to learn about what it means to be a Christian in the Episcopal tradition is to attend an inquirers class. This class usually meets once a week for seven weeks and is taught by our clergy two or three times each year.

 

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Sunday Schedule

Holy Eucharist: 8:00, 9:00, 11:15

Christian Education for all ages: 10:10 (returning September)

OUR LOCATION

6000 Grove Avenue Richmond, VA 23226
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Parish Retreat at Shrine Mont

Friday, June 28-Sunday, June 30, 2024

For many years, St. Stephen’s parishioners of all ages, individuals, couples, and families, have gathered for a weekend together at Shrine Mont, the diocesan camp and conference center in western Shenandoah County. This is a time for rest and relaxation, reflection and reconnection with God and one another. 

This is a wholly intergenerational event—all ages welcome! 

The weekend begins Friday evening and continues with Saturday morning formation for adults, youth, and children facilitated by St. Stephen’s clergy and staff. Friday evening and Saturday afternoon and evening will offer an abundance of time for fellowship, conversation, play, and rest individually or in small groups. The special time together concludes Sunday morning with Eucharist in the Cathedral Shrine of the Transfiguration. 

Focus for our 2024 weekend

Embodying Christ, Encountering Christ:
Transformation through relationship

In her famous call to discipleship, St. Teresa of Avila wrote that Christ has no hands or feet in this world but our own. For centuries these words have inspired the faithful, including the people of St. Stephen’s Church, to serve those in our community and far beyond. 

But when we serve others we are not the only ones embodying Christ; Jesus reminds us in Matthew 25 that he is fully alive in those who are hungry or thirsty, naked or in prison, sick or estranged. So when we reach out in love to those living on the margins, we not only embody Christ, we also encounter Christ. As we give, we receive. Our own lives are transformed through the power of relationship. 

Join the Rev. John Rohrs for an exploration of these themes as we reflect on how to love and serve our neighbors—to be the hands and feet of Jesus—in ways that open our hearts to new life.

In addition to this time for adults, activities are planned for children and youth.

Costs and registration

Rates including program, lodging, and meals; if you register and pay by March 24, you can receive the discounted rate in parentheses.

  • Double occupancy: $230/person ($205)
  • Single occupancy: $290/person ($265)
  • Children ages 4-13: $125/person ($115)
  • Children ages 0-3: no charge
  • Family Maximum: $835 ($755)

Registration is now open HERE!

To register, complete the form and use the link embedded in the form to make your payment. Both the registration form and your payment are needed in order to reserve your space.

The registration deadline is April 14. But if you register and pay by March 24 (Palm Sunday), you will pay lower rates!

If you are in a position to do so, we encourage you to consider also making a donation to a scholarship fund that makes it possible for more individuals and families to attend the parish retreat.

What is Shrine Mont?

Shrine Mont is the home of the Cathedral Shrine of the Transfiguration—the cathedral of the Diocese of Virginia. It is “a place where people give thanks to God for his creation — from the beauty of the streams, flowers and wildlife which are at home here, to the people who come to this place to celebrate being part of the family of God,” as beautifully stated on Shrine Mont’s Web site. St. Stephen’s annual parish weekend at Shrine Mont is designed to bring us together through fellowship, recreation, reflection, worship and song, all in a lovely setting featuring wildlife, fresh air, blue skies, springs, and friendly people.

The property features a spring-fed swimming pool; hiking trails for various skill levels; tennis courts; large fields for soccer, volleyball, softball, etc.; and plenty of porches with rocking chairs.

Who should come to Shrine Mont?

Shrine Mont is a special place for all people–individuals, couples and families. It is a restful place apart from the hustle and bustle of daily life. Once you arrive, everything is taken care of, and you can do as much or as little as you desire. Activities are organized for Friday night, after dinner, and Saturday morning. After lunch Saturday, various leisure activities are available: hikes, tennis, swimming, reading, napping, conversation. Saturday evening activities bring everyone together. Our Sunday morning worship service is held at the outdoor cathedral, a natural setting where God’s presence can easily be felt.

Those who experience Shrine Mont enjoy treasured memories. With a church the size of St. Stephen’s, attending the parish weekend at Shrine Mont helps both new people and longtime members connect and reconnect, forming relationships that last.

To learn more about Shrine Mont, visit the conference center's Web site.

A reflection on the parish weekend at Shrine Mont

Valerie Abbott, a St. Stephen's parishioner who has attended the parish retreat for many years, gave this reflection during the Celtic service at St. Stephen's Church on Sunday, June 25, 2023, just after returning from the 2023 retreat.

Questions

Caroline Harris // 804.288.2867 

 

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