About Saint Martin’s
We practice an open and intentional hospitality here, and are fiercely committed to serving our wider community. Have a look around our website to get to know us. Then, please let us know how we can get to know you and help you feel at home.
St. Martin’s reverent but relaxed worship are intentional. While we have some folks who wear suits and dresses, you will also see more casual attire. You will be greeted at the door, and we will welcome you to the Table for the Eucharist. We are fully open and welcoming of all, regardless of race, age, family status or gender identity. More important than getting you to sign up for anything is the question: what brings you to St. Martin’s and what do you seek?
St. Martin’s History
On September 23, 1963, the founders of St. Martin’s gathered for their first service in the old Tower Church on Jamestown Island, site of the first Anglican worship in North America. The congregation shared an ambitious vision: to embrace people of all races, backgrounds, ages, and abilities, and to serve the community by giving away half their proceeds, inspired by St. Martin of Tours, who gave half his cloak to a person in need.
New to the Episcopal Church?
The Episcopal Church is part of the worldwide Anglican Communion, which has more than 80 million members in more than 160 countries. The Episcopal Church is divided geographically into dioceses. St. Martin’s is a parish in the Episcopal Diocese of Southern Virginia.
Episcopal beliefs, worship and sacramental life are centered in the use of the Book of Common Prayer. The Episcopal Church website provides comprehensive details of our core beliefs and doctrines.
The classic and grounding metaphor for Anglicanism is a three-legged stool. Anglicans (and, therefore, Episcopalians) look to three primary
sources for wisdom and guidance. The first leg of the stool is Holy Scripture. Episcopalians believe that the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testament were written by God-inspired human authors, and that God still speaks to us through the Bible (see the Book of Common Prayer, page 853). The second leg of the stool is Tradition. We are guided by the wisdom and teaching of the church and its saints over its long history. The third leg of the stool is Reason. Human reason is a gift from God. The Episcopal Church values the use of reason in Scripture interpretation and navigating the changes and chances of our world.
Episcopal beliefs, worship and sacramental life are centered in the use of the Book of Common Prayer.
The Episcopal Church website provides comprehensive details of our core beliefs and doctrines.
You might also be interested in the I am an Episcopalian page.