About Our Parish
Christ Church is a parish in the Diocese of Virginia in the Episcopal Church in the United States, part of the Anglican Communion. We are dedicated to knowing Christ and to making Christ known. We come from a variety of backgrounds and perspectives, but share a common commitment to growing in faith and love of God and neighbor. Christ Church is a place to ask and explore life's big questions without easy answers.
We are a community of Christians guided by Scripture, Tradition, and Reason, as we seek to interpret our ancient faith in the modern world. The Episcopal Church has historically been characterized by regularized forms of worship and a generous latitude of theological interpretation. We use the Book of Common Prayer, two-thirds of which is taken from Scripture. In the sacraments, we look for outward and physical signs of inward, spiritual realities. We proclaim the ancient creeds of the church as symbols of our orthodox faith, and our continuity with Christians throughout the ages.
We would love to get to know you! Please fill out a welcome card so that we may be in touch with you, or call the church at 540 662-5843. Our clergy would welcome the opportunity to greet you personally.
Our faith community dates from 1738 -- the first parish organized west of the Blue Ridge. The first building was a log cabin, later rebuilt as a stone church in 1766. The current brick structure was built in 1828. From the beginning we have blossomed into a community of over 500 members that, by God's grace, will continue to grow.
About Our Worship
Worship is at the heart of this faith community. A traditional Holy Eucharist, without music, is 
offered every Sunday at 8:00am Our Sunday 10:30am service is Holy Eucharist with full choir.
If there is a fifth Sunday in the month our 10:30am service is Morning Prayer.
We are a lively Christian community, growing and changing with Winchester. The heart of our time together as a gathered community is in worship. We hear the Word of God through scripture and preaching, celebrate the sacraments, and seek to follow Jesus Christ as ministers in the world.
The liturgy at Christ Church is according to the Episcopal Book of Common Prayer and can be described as full and varied. The norm of corporate worship is Holy Eucharist, with Morning Prayer offered on the second and fourth Sundays of the month.
The Holy Eucharist
All baptized Christians are invited to receive Holy Communion at Christ Church. Communicants come 
forward to the communion rail where they kneel or stand to receive the Sacrament. The communion wafer
is received in the palm of the hand, and consumed either before taking a sip of the wine from the common cup or by dipping the communion wafer into the wine. After communing, leave by the right or left side aisle.
Weekly Worship
Wednesdays at Noon Holy Eucharist is held in the Pilgrims Chapel. On the third Wednesday of the month, the service of laying on of hands and anointing with oil for healing is also offered.
Thursday 10:30 a.m. on the first and third Thursdays, Holy Eucharist is offered at Westminster-Canterbury, a life care community.
Young Children and Worship
We value children and want to make their worship experience as valuable as yours.
Nursery Care is provided during the 10:30 a.m. service in our fully equipped Nursery on the second floor of the Parish House. It is supervised by a paid staff member as well as by volunteers.
Children's Chapel is located on the second floor of the Parish Hall. Children ages 3-7 participate in age appropriate worship during a portion of the 10:30 a.m. service. Children join their parents in the nave before Eucharist.
Parents with very young children may be taken to the Fairfax Room, which is directly below the nave. Speakers in this spacious room enable parents to follow the service. There are also restrooms and a small kitchen located on this level. Parents who are concerned that other worshipers might be distracted by their children's activity or noise are invited to use the Fairfax Room.
Children's Worship, a booklet on "Holy Communion for Children," as well as bulletins, crayons and coloring sheets are available from the ushers.
Accessibility
Large print Prayer Books and Hymnals are available from the ushers. They can also provide age-appropriate worship materials for children. All buildings are handicap accessible and smoke-free.
Tape Ministry
Audio tapes of the 10:30 a.m. Sunday service are available. They are played every Saturday morning at Westminster-Canterbury.To order a tape, fill out a form found in a basket at the back of the nave. The tape will be in the basket the following Sunday. Please return tapes for reuse if possible.