Our History
About Saint Patrick's Church...
Saint Patrick's was founded in 1953 as a mission church from the Falls Church. The congregation met for the first time on January 3, 1954 in the cafeteria of the Graham Road School. The building was completed in 1956. Members of St. Pat's have been known for their involvement in outreach ministries since the very early days of the parish. In 1995, Saint Patrick's became an Anglo-Vietnamese church, a mission of the Diocese of Virginia, and has become more and more multicultural. In January of 2012, Saint Patrick's full parish status was restored and recognized at the 217th Annual Council meeting of the Diocese. Some of us say that St. Pat's is like a window through which we can see God's love. Other parishioners suggest St. Pat's is a "safe haven" for all who seek peace, a quiet place for those who want to find rest. Many in the congregation mention caring is what makes St. Patrick's special to them. Our vision statement reflects what we are in our hearts: St. Patrick's Episcopal Church is a community of care called to be Christ-centered and multicultural in worship, Christian education and action to proclaim Christ's love to the world."
About the Episcopal Church...
The Episcopal Church of the United States was organized in 1789. It derives its doctrine, liturgy and traditions from the Church of England. That Church was brought to America by the Jamestown colonists in 1607 and established by law as the Church of Virginia in 1619. After the American Revolution, the Church reorganized itself as the Diocese of Virginia in 1785. Today's 2.5 million American Episcopalians are part of the world- wide Anglican community of 70 million. The Book of Common Prayer contains a brief summary of the Church's teaching beginning on page 844.
About the Diocese...
The Diocese of Virginia is the oldest Christian community in Virginia, and is the third largest diocese in the Episcopal Church in the United States, with 183 parishes representing more than 81,000 baptized members and about 400 clergy. Our diocesan headquarters are located in Richmond with an additional office at the Virginia Theological Seminary in Alexandria.
The Diocese of Virginia has two bishops: The Rt. Rev. Susan Ellyn Goff, Bishop Suffragan and Ecclesiastical Authority; and the Rt. Rev. Jennifer Brooke-Davidson, Assistant Bishop.
About Saint Patrick...
Saint Patrick is remembered as a missionary to Ireland, the first person to bring Christianity to the Irish people. When he was 16 years old, Patrick was captured by Irish raiders on the shore of England, and was taken to Ireland, to shepherd a flock as a slave. Six years later,
Patrick left the flock as he heard a voice from God telling him to do so. He fled to a port and found his way aboard a ship back home in England. Patrick hoped never to return to Ireland. But later, after receiving his education and ordination, he heard a voice from God telling him to go back to Ireland to preach the Good News to the Irish people. Seeing himself "a slave of Christ," Patrick went back as Bishop of Ireland, preaching Christ and called the people of Ireland to believe in the Savior. His ministry made a great impact on the Irish society, and since then Patrick has been Ireland's national saint. As we think of the saint whom our church is named after, we are reminded of our mission of proclaiming Christ's love to the world.
Saint Patrick's was founded in 1953 as a mission church from the Falls Church. The congregation met for the first time on January 3, 1954 in the cafeteria of the Graham Road School. The building was completed in 1956. Members of St. Pat's have been known for their involvement in outreach ministries since the very early days of the parish. In 1995, Saint Patrick's became an Anglo-Vietnamese church, a mission of the Diocese of Virginia, and has become more and more multicultural. In January of 2012, Saint Patrick's full parish status was restored and recognized at the 217th Annual Council meeting of the Diocese. Some of us say that St. Pat's is like a window through which we can see God's love. Other parishioners suggest St. Pat's is a "safe haven" for all who seek peace, a quiet place for those who want to find rest. Many in the congregation mention caring is what makes St. Patrick's special to them. Our vision statement reflects what we are in our hearts: St. Patrick's Episcopal Church is a community of care called to be Christ-centered and multicultural in worship, Christian education and action to proclaim Christ's love to the world."
About the Episcopal Church...
The Episcopal Church of the United States was organized in 1789. It derives its doctrine, liturgy and traditions from the Church of England. That Church was brought to America by the Jamestown colonists in 1607 and established by law as the Church of Virginia in 1619. After the American Revolution, the Church reorganized itself as the Diocese of Virginia in 1785. Today's 2.5 million American Episcopalians are part of the world- wide Anglican community of 70 million. The Book of Common Prayer contains a brief summary of the Church's teaching beginning on page 844.
About the Diocese...
The Diocese of Virginia is the oldest Christian community in Virginia, and is the third largest diocese in the Episcopal Church in the United States, with 183 parishes representing more than 81,000 baptized members and about 400 clergy. Our diocesan headquarters are located in Richmond with an additional office at the Virginia Theological Seminary in Alexandria.
The Diocese of Virginia has two bishops: The Rt. Rev. Susan Ellyn Goff, Bishop Suffragan and Ecclesiastical Authority; and the Rt. Rev. Jennifer Brooke-Davidson, Assistant Bishop.
About Saint Patrick...
Saint Patrick is remembered as a missionary to Ireland, the first person to bring Christianity to the Irish people. When he was 16 years old, Patrick was captured by Irish raiders on the shore of England, and was taken to Ireland, to shepherd a flock as a slave. Six years later,
Patrick left the flock as he heard a voice from God telling him to do so. He fled to a port and found his way aboard a ship back home in England. Patrick hoped never to return to Ireland. But later, after receiving his education and ordination, he heard a voice from God telling him to go back to Ireland to preach the Good News to the Irish people. Seeing himself "a slave of Christ," Patrick went back as Bishop of Ireland, preaching Christ and called the people of Ireland to believe in the Savior. His ministry made a great impact on the Irish society, and since then Patrick has been Ireland's national saint. As we think of the saint whom our church is named after, we are reminded of our mission of proclaiming Christ's love to the world.