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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 
  • coming to an informal supper
  • stopping by the Farmers Market on Saturday morning
  • attending one of our receptions or lunches for visitors and newcomers (info here) 
  • 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!

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Our Services

St. Stephen's is a vibrant parish that offers worship, prayer and more seven days a week. Sunday, of course, is our big day. You are most welcome at any of the services held here.

Sunday Worship (summer schedule begins May 27)

  • 8:00 a.m., Holy Eucharist: Rite One
  • 9:00 a.m., Holy Eucharist: Rite Two*
  • 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
*indicates child care available through age 4

Weekday worship 

  • 8:10 a.m., Morning Prayer with Communion
  • 5:30 p.m., Evening Prayer (on Wednesdays during the academic year, this service includes the Virginia Girls Choir) 

Saturday worship

  • 5:30 p.m., Holy Eucharist: Rite Two

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.

More about Services Contact Us

Nursery - Senior High

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. Michael Sweeney, the director of family ministries, sends a regular email newsletter to parents for which you may sign up.

Confirmation

At St. Stephen's, young people who desire to be confirmed in the Episcopal Church may do so in the ninth grade or later. They are prepared in a year-long course called "Philip's Way," and confirmation takes place when one of our bishops visits St. Stephen's, usually in May.

More about Children More about Youth

Are you in your 20-30s?

Young adults are part of every facet of parish life at St. Stephen's, and you are always welcome at any worship service, adult education opportunity or social event—membership is NOT required. You (and your friends and family) are always welcome here. Single or married, with children or not, in school or not--all are welcome.

Get Connected

Some activities and ministries at St. Stephen's are designed especially for young adults, including a young adult Bible study group, social gatherings, retreats, and outreach and volunteer opportunities. The best way to keep up with what young adults are doing at St. Stephen's is to sign up for our e-newsletter.

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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.

Our diocese includes 80,000 people who worship God and reach out to others in 181 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.

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Sunday Schedule

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

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

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OUR LOCATION

6000 Grove Avenue Richmond, VA 23226
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Sunday Forum

AUDIO FILES OF PAST FORUM TALKS

The Sunday Forum convenes on Sunday mornings, 10:10 a.m.-11 a.m., in the Large Fellowship Hall, September-May. You do not have to be a member to attend, and no registration is required. On most Sundays, the rector or other St. Stephen's clergy speak. On occasion, we welcome outstanding guest speakers. When an audio file is available of a particular forum session, it will be found on the Forum audio page.

Books by our guest speakers are available in the Bookshop @ St. Stephen's. 

Other Sunday morning offerings are described here.

2017-18 speakers/topics

2018
January 14 | The Rector
January 21 | The Very Rev. Lucinda Laird, Dean, American Cathedral in Paris
January 28 | The Rector
February 4 | No forum (annual parish meeting and vestry election)
February 11 | Family Ministry presentation with Michael Sweeney and Andy Russell
February 18 | Br. Luke Ditewig, Society of St. John the Evangelist (Lent I)
February 25 | Gardner Campbell, "Paradise Lost," part 1 of 3 (Lent II)
March 4 | Campbell, part 2 of 3 (Lent III) (not recorded)
March 11 | Campbell, part 3 of 3 (Lent IV)
March 18 | The Rev. Becca Stevens, Magdalene and Thistle Farms, "Love Heals" (Lent V); links to video shown during forum: YouTube // Spotify
No Forum on Palm Sunday (March 25) or Easter Day (April 1)
April 8 | Keith McMullin, parishioner and author of Missing Mary: A Crash Course in Alzheimer's Dementia
April 15 | Tracey Lind, retired cathedral dean, speaking about her own dementia
April 22 | The Rector
April 29 | Michael Sweeney and graduating seniors
May 6 | The Rector 
May 13 | The Rev. William L. Sachs (final Forum of 2017-18 year)

Previously in 2017-18

September 17 | Mr. Fred Bahnson, author of Soil and Sacrament (the video shown during the Forum is available here)
September 24 | Outreach staff, volunteers, and our overseas missionaries
October 1 | The Rector (see descriptions of Gary Jones' fall series below)
October 8 | The Rector
October 15 | Ms. Denise Thomas Brown and parish staff discussing employment assistance
October 22 | The Rev. John Philip Newell, authority on Celtic spirituality
October 29 | The Rector
November 5 | The Rector
November 12 | The Rector
November 19 | The Rector
November 26 | No forum (Advent Fair)
December 3 | Father Martin Laird, author of Into the Silent Land
December 10 | A conversation with the Rector (final forum until January 2018)

 

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