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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!

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

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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

  • 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. Our family ministry staff 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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Online worship

Like other churches in the Diocese of Virginia and neighboring dioceses, St. Stephen's Church suspended Sunday services beginning March 15, 2020, to safeguard the health and well-being of all during the global COVID-19 pandemic. In response, St. Stephen's began producing weekly videos with prayers, Scripture, hymns, and a homily for each Sunday. In November, we shifted to an online service of Holy Eucharist at 9 a.m., followed later by a time for entering the church for prayer, reflection, and to receive Communion (bread only). 

In November, we provided a livestream of a service of Holy Eucharist each Sunday morning. Since December 2020, we have been recording the service in advance to post here on Sunday morning. This change, coming in response to the surge in COVID-19 cases, allows us to conduct the service with fewer people in the chancel at once, making this process safer as we take into account the risks posed by the spread of the virus. Each service will be posted on this page by 6 a.m. Sunday.

Can we worship in person?

Because of the dangerous rise in cases of COVID-19 as 2020 drew to a close, Episcopal churches in the Diocese of Virginia (and in nearby dioceses) are prohibited by their bishops from holding in-person worship, indoors or outdoors. 

We have continued to work closely with our bishop to allow St. Stephen’s to pilot a way for parishioners to enter our beautiful church, not for full worship services, but for brief times of personal prayer and devotion, and to receive Holy Communion. This offering, from noon to 2:00 and from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. each Sunday, offers much-needed spiritual refreshment for our parishioners. Our musicians, our sacred architecture, our gracious volunteers, and our devoted staff all contribute to a most holy, in-person experience each Sunday. 

Once conditions allow, we plan to open the worship space for brief times of personal prayer during the week. When it is safe to do so, we will allow small groups to reserve large, indoor spaces in our parish house so that they can meet in person (masked, of course).

Lent at St. Stephen's

If you have not yet picked up a Lent bag at church, these free resources (including a small container of ashes) are still available. More about Lent at St. Stephen's is here.

Sunday, March 7, 2021

Communion sign-up for the Third Sunday in Lent

Sunday, February 28, 2021

Celebrant: The Rev. Gary Jones; Homilist: The Rev. Cate Anthony | PDF bulletin

Coming to church in person

The sign-up for coming into the church for prayer, reflection, and receiving Communion on March 7, 2021 is HERE.  

Things to note about coming to church:

  • Sign up in advance.
  • Use one entrance--the Three Chopt Road entrance (the west door)--to enter the church, and the north and south doors to exit. This will allow our ushers to ensure that the maximum number of people permitted in the building at one time is not exceeded, that we have an accurate list of those who attended (should contact tracing become necessary), and that people are able to maintain safe distance from one another.
  • Wear a mask at all times except the moment when you consume the bread.
  • Maintain distance of six feet or more from anyone outside your household, except when receiving the bread from a priest.
  • Follow the instructions of the ushers.

Sunday Forum

Listen to the homilist reflect on his or her message and send in questions or comments. Register to participate in the Sunday Forum (10 a.m.) here. Watch past conversations here.

Coffee Hour

Parishioners who would like to gather virtually after the Zoom Forum are welcome to log on here at 10:45 a.m. (Please note that there is no host for this offering.) 

Recent services

February 21, 2021 (Lent 1); celebrant: Gary Jones; homilist: Cate Anthony | program
February 17, 2021 (Ash Wednesday); homilist: Gary Jones | program
February 14, 2021 (Last Epiphany); celebrant: Gary Jones; homilist: Allison Seay | program
February 7, 2021 (Epiphany 5); celebrant: Cate Anthony; preacher: Gary Jones | program
January 31, 2021 (Epiphany 4); celebrant: Will Stanley; preacher: Claudia Merritt | program
January 24, 2021 (Epiphany 3); celebrant: Gary Jones; preacher: Cate Anthony | program 
January 17, 2021 (Epiphany 2); celebrant: Cate Anthony; preacher: Gary Jones | program
January 10, 2021 (Epiphany 1); celebrant: Claudia Merritt; preacher: Will Stanley | program
January 3, 2021 (Christmas 2); celebrant and preacher: Gary Jones | program
December 27, 2020 (Christmas I); service from the Diocese of Virginia
December 24, 2020 Family Service, preacher: Allison Seay; celebrant: Cate Anthony | program
December 24, 2020 Traditional Service, preacher: Gary Jones; celebrant: Will Stanley | program
December 20, 2020; preacher: Cate Anthony | program
December 13, 2020; preacher: Will Stanley | program
December 6, 2020; preacher: Gary Jones | program
November 29, 2020; preacher: Allison Seay | program
November 22, 2020; preacher: Claudia Merritt | program
November 15, 2020; preacher: Will Stanley | program
November 8, 2020; preacher: Gary Jones | program

Earlier videos are available here.

Other resources for prayer and reflection at home:

 

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