History
The history of our church and the values of our parishioners influence the spirit of both the physical and personal church where we worship today.
Our tradition at Wicomico Parish Church has its roots in the historic Church of England and particularly the Elizabethan Settlement as we have understood it for almost 450 years.
In its essence, the Elizabethan Settlement sought to include as many people and positions as possible. It was rooted in a conviction that tradition and change were compatible. The belief was that people of profound faith could disagree with one another and yet rally behind the essential truth that there was one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of us all.
It was this reformed Christianity that the English colonists brought with them to Virginia beginning in 1607 with the Jamestown colony.
Our tradition at Wicomico Parish Church has its roots in the historic Church of England and particularly the Elizabethan Settlement as we have understood it for almost 450 years.
In its essence, the Elizabethan Settlement sought to include as many people and positions as possible. It was rooted in a conviction that tradition and change were compatible. The belief was that people of profound faith could disagree with one another and yet rally behind the essential truth that there was one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of us all.
It was this reformed Christianity that the English colonists brought with them to Virginia beginning in 1607 with the Jamestown colony.
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The first Wicomico Parish Church in 1645 was in reality a parish of the Church of England, as were the next two Wicomico Parish churches. The first church building was constructed in 1647/8. In 1680, however, plans were adopted to build a second, larger church. The Vestry voted in 1753 to replace the second church with an exact copy of Christ Church, Irvington/Weems, only five feet bigger. Put into service in 1771, just five years before the American Revolution, it was the largest brick church in Virginia. Unfortunately, in the years following the Revolution and the Disestablishment of the church, this structure decayed and collapsed.
The current church building was completed in 1902, and the parish hall was added in 1954. Major renovations and modernization took place between 1992 and 2002. The size of the congregation also doubled during this time.
Despite many changes over time, Wicomico Parish Church continues to be a small country church in spirit. We face the future today with the same confidence in God's power and grace that led our forbears to establish God's church on this small plot of land over 350 years ago.
The current church building was completed in 1902, and the parish hall was added in 1954. Major renovations and modernization took place between 1992 and 2002. The size of the congregation also doubled during this time.
Despite many changes over time, Wicomico Parish Church continues to be a small country church in spirit. We face the future today with the same confidence in God's power and grace that led our forbears to establish God's church on this small plot of land over 350 years ago.