St. Margaret's Anglican Church

/Home/Society and Culture - Woodbridge, VA

Our History

As part of its program to plant churches in the early 1960s, the Diocese of Virginia acquired a ten acre parcel of farmland in July of 1963 in the town of Woodbridge. On Sunday, 6 October 1963 at 11:00 around 50 local residents and members of St. Martin’s Episcopal Church in Triangle and Pohick Episcopal Church in Fairfax attended a service in a classroom at the Fred Lynn School, across the street from the current site of St. Margaret’s. The Venerable Leigh Ribble, Archdeacon, assisted by Reverend Frank Pisani, officiated.

The early services were made possible by the donations of prayer books and hymnals from other parishes and a small, two octave organ given to the fledgling church by the Suffragan Bishop of the Diocese. From these humble beginnings, St. Margaret’s has grown into a vibrant, Christ-centered church with a four decade long record of service to God and the surrounding communities.

Reverend Pisani led the congregation in a ground-breaking service on 1 December 1963 on the hillside just below the knoll where St. Margaret’s stands today.

On 5 January 1964, Reverend Frederick G. Weber came to St. Margaret’s as priest-in-charge and the first service in the new church building was celebrated on 11 October 1964. Shortly thereafter, members of the parish coordinated with the authorities at Lorton Prison for the construction of a cross by their prisoners. This cross still hangs over the altar at St. Margaret’s.

In May of 1966, Reverend Weber was succeeded by Peter Brooke who served until June 1969, when he resigned to enter the Chaplaincy of the US Air Force. In 1971, the Diocese formally established St. Margaret’s as a separate church in the area, moving it beyond mission status. Reverend Rodney Caulkins was then named its first rector. He was succeeded in September of 1981 by Reverend Gary Mathewes-Green.

During his tenure in 1983, the stained glass window above the choir loft was designed and crafted by a team of 16 parishioners. The names of those that contributed are etched in the bottom panels. The window was later featured in the book “Our Churches Tell the Story”.

The physical plant continued to expand during the 1980s with the construction of a new parish hall which greatly expanded the social and educational space.

Reverend Mathewes-Green left St. Margaret’s in November 1989 and was followed by Reverend Sara Chandler who was then succeeded by Reverend Neal Brown in November 2005.

Today, St. Margaret’s Church is a community of Christians called to live in the power of the Holy Spirit, worshipping God, confessing their faith to the world, serving the immediate needs of the broken and hurting people of the world, growing day by day deeper in faith and building a strong community of faith marked by our love for one another.

We begin our life in Christ with a commitment to follow Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. We tell Jesus we want a solid relationship with Him, but then God tells us he wants us to join the church, the fellowship of believers.

What is the point of doing that? Why do we need the church? What is the reason the church exists? Where is it going?
At St. Margaret’s we believe our purpose is summarized in a single sentence based on two key scriptures:

“We believe a great commitment to the Great Commandment and the Great Commission will grow a great church!”

The Great Commandment: “Jesus said, ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart…soul…and mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and Prophets hang on these two commandments.’” Matt. 22:36-40

The Great Commission: “Jesus said, ‘Go make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.’” Matt. 28:19-20

Five Reasons St. Margaret's Exists

To Celebrate God's Presence (Worship)

To Demonstrate God's Love (Ministry)

To Communicate God's Word (Evangelism)

To Cultivate God's Family (Fellowship)

To Educate God's People (Discipleship)

St. Margaret's Church
13900 Church Hill Drive
Woodbridge VA 22191
Phone: 703-494-7621