The mission of St. Francis Church is to follow Jesus Christ, to provide a spiritual home for worship and Christian growth, to encourage love and fellowship with the parish family, to promote harmony with God's creation in the spirit of St. Francis, and to serve the needs of the greater community.
Welcome
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Our church is a mid-sized parish nestled in the rolling hills of Northern Virginia. When established little more than 50 years ago, our parish was known simply as "St. Francis-in-the-Fields" because of its beautiful rural setting. The only building of any size on the seven acre parcel was a dog kennel, and it is there where our first parishioners worshipped.
Since those early days, and in keeping with the spirit of our patron saint, we added a simple but striking sanctuary and fellowship hall with large windows that bring the splendor of nature inside.
Embarking on a spiritual journey to search for a new rector, we developed a theme: "Be prayerful. Be present. Participate." Franciscans have been praying intently; responses to our church-wide survey were very high; the Adult Forum we held was bursting at the seams; and Search Committee members have had numerous communications from many caring parishioners.
We know there are many churches where enthusiasm and interest are high; churches with beautiful facilities in great locations, where the people care and respect one another. So, what is it that makes St. Francis so special? In two words: our people. Our parishioners, who affectionately refer to each other as "Franciscans", make St. Francis a unique place to worship and experience the spirit of the living God in fellowship with one another.
So, instead of speaking for our parishioners, the Search Committee has invited Franciscans to speak for themselves. We think you will see through their comments how the Word and Spirit of God are alive in this very special community.
We appreciate your interest in St. Francis Church, our parish home.
—The St. Francis Search Committee
Click on the photos in the "Franciscans Say" boxes to read parishioner statements.
Slides - History
1960s Aerial Church Property
Aerial View of Church Property, c. 1960
1970 Article
Growing St. Francis Makes the News, 1970
1992 Parish Hall Construction
1992 Parish Hall Construction
Worship in Kennel
John Millen, first full-time rector celebrating the Eucharist in the dog kennel.
BobFriend
Bob Friend, second full-time rector
Penny Bridges
Penny Bridges, third full-time rector
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Outdoor cross
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Early in its history, St. Francis, Great Falls struggled to gain a foothold as a mission church. Over succeeding decades our house of worship has gained its balance, grown, and now flourishes as a home for many parishioners. For more on the history of St. Francis Church, see History of St. Francis Episcopal Church.
St. Francis is a healthy parish, filled with many programs that reflect the power of the Holy Spirit. While our people make this a truly unique and special place of worship, St. Francis Church does not run itself—and so we must be responsible stewards of our talent and treasure. Here are some facts and figures that help to tell the story of our parish home.
2014 Statistics | |
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Average Sunday Attendance | 150 |
Easter Attendance | 579 |
Marriages | 1 |
Baptisms | 8 |
Burials | 3 |
Received by Bishop | 1 |
Church School students enrolled | 90 |
Active Baptized members | 623 |
Communicants in Good Standing | 550 |
Communicants in Good Standing <16 years of age | 140 |
Pledge units | 130 |
Average Pledge | $3,599 |
About 150 parishioners attend one of our three Sunday worship services, which compares favorably with the national Episcopal Church average of between 100 to 150.
Last year we had 130 pledging units. Our financial position has not suffered appreciably due in large measure to parishioners who have increased their pledges.