The Journey Begins
In the summer of 1985, what was then Truro Episcopal Church in Fairfax Virginia, entered into a discussion with the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia about establishing a mission in the Western part of Fairfax County. Before the end of the year, about fifteen people from Truro began a process of discerning, through weekly meetings for prayer and Bible study, the establishment of that mission. By February 1986 it was decided to establish this mission and the first Eucharist was held in Franklin Intermediate School. The Reverend B. Clifton Reardon, affectionately known as ‘Father Bill,’ was appointed vicar. After the first year the Episcopal mission church of the Epiphany was granted parish status and ground breaking for the church building took place in March 1988; our first service was held in the building in February 1989.
In the ensuing years Epiphany Episcopal Church grew - increasing attendance, establishing a vibrant Sunday School, and establishing an extensive outreach program. After many years as Rector, Fr. Bill took a sabbatical in June 1995 and then retired in December of that year. During the interim between rectors we were blessed by the ministry of The Reverend Churchill Gibson until June of 1997, when the Rev. Robin Rauh was called as Rector. Soon after, the Rev. Luke Lucas became Associate Rector. The need for more classroom space and an outreach kitchen to feed the poor became apparent in 2000 as well as the need for a youth center, twenty-four hour prayer chapel, and new Sanctuary so we began a campaign to raise new funds for an addition. The campaign, entitled ‘Building on Christ’s Cornerstone,‘ culminated with the dedication of the addition in 2006.
Beginning with the rectorship of Fr. Rauh the parish began to experience a time of change in which the teachings of the Episcopal Church were challenged and over the course of several years questions of continuing within the Protestant Episcopal church arose. These questions culminated in the decision by those who no longer felt they could support the teachings of the Church to leave the Episcopal Church and align themselves as a mission of the diocese of Nigeria and CANA. The majority of the members voted officially to disassociate themselves with the Episcopal Church. Those who chose to remain Episcopalians found themselves in a difficult position as they no longer had a place to worship or meet (Epiphany CANA retains possession of the building in an ongoing legal dispute).
After experiencing a short time of disappointment and wandering members of The Church of the Epiphany – Episcopal gathered and decided it was time to move forward. Today we are the Episcopal Church of the Epiphany. We meet in Oak Hill Elementary School in Herndon/Oak Hill Virginia. While we meet in a school, our community remains strong and vibrant and we proudly claim our Episcopal heritage. Our future is in His hands – join us and become part of this exciting journey.
