Sunday services 8:00 and 11:00 a.m.

Sunday services are at 8:00 a.m. (Rite I) and 11:00 a.m (Rite II).
Please join us for coffee hour in Parish Hall 
following the 11:00 service.

Please scroll down for our Holy Week schedule.

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Special events:
Choral Evensong to be offered at 
St. Thomas’s Episcopal Church in Orange

March 14th

On Sunday evening, March 14, at 4:30, the choir of St. Thomas’s Episcopal Church in Orange will sing the service of Choral Evensong.  Choral Evensong is sung Evening Prayer, a service in the Anglican Communion.  The Church of England, which originated during the English Reformation in the 16th century, is a member of the Worldwide Anglican Communion, and there are many national member churches descended from it, including the Episcopal Church in the United States.  The service consists of scripture reading, prayers, hymns, and choral settings of Psalms, responses, anthems, and canticles, which are songs from the New Testament, including the Song of Mary and the Song of Simeon.  According to the Washington National Cathedral, “The music of evensong is an offering in the same way that the architecture and stained glass of the church are offered.  It is finely wrought music that the musician offers to God on behalf of the people.”

In England, this service is sung almost daily in most cathedrals as well as in college chapels such as those at Oxford and Cambridge.  In our country, a few Episcopal cathedrals and large churches follow this tradition, but many smaller churches also offer Evensong as a special service on occasion.  The greatest composers in the English tradition have been inspired by the Evening Prayer liturgy and by the ethos of the close of day to create a large repertoire of fine sacred music for Choral Evensong.  St. Thomas’s choir will sing settings of the liturgy and anthems by renowned composers Howells and Stanford as well as works by American church music composers.

All are cordially invited to attend the service and enjoy the offering of music, historic architecture, and stained glass at St. Thomas’s.  A potluck supper will be served immediately following the service.  St. Thomas’s Episcopal Church is located in Orange at 119 Caroline Street, a half block south of the intersection of Caroline and Main Streets.  There is off-street parking behind the church.

--- Choir Director Bill Drake 

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Holy Week schedule

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The Rev. Linda Hutton, Rector

 Established in 1740, St. Thomas's is a vital and vigorous part of the community of historic Orange, Virginia, and is involved in numerous outreach programs. 

For a March 22, 2008, front cover story by Patricia LaLand in The Free Lance-Star's "Town & County" section, click here.

We hope you'll enjoy your visit to our site, and 
we invite you to join us in worship when in the area.
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Recent events at St. Thomas's
(click on the thumbnails for larger images)

We warmly welcome our newest confirmands, shown here with Bishop Shannon Johnston during his October visit to St. Thomas's.

The Blessing of the Animals included family pets Cupcake, Sparky, Woodberry, Pepper, Pick, and Colonel.

Everyone has gifts, whether they're musical, culinary, organizational, or of the gardening or handyman type.  If you would like to contribute to any of the rewarding committees at St. Thomas's, please let the church office know.   
 

St. Thomas's Episcopal Church
119 Caroline St., Orange, VA 22960

Orange, VA 22960
Telephone: 540-672-3761  Fax: 540-672-3294
E-mail:  St. Thomas's Episcopal Church

Office hours: 9-1, Monday through Thursday