Since 1985
Church of the Epiphany began in 1985 as a mission of Truro Church in Fairfax. Since then we have worshiped in a school, a hotel and in three church buildings. It's been an adventure!
In the summer of 1985, Truro Church began planning a new church in western Fairfax County. That fall, about fifteen Truro members began meeting weekly for prayer and Bible study, preparing to be sent out. Our first Holy Communion service was held in February 1986 at Franklin Intermediate School, and 286 people came. The Rev. B. Clifton Reardon, known to us as “Father Bill,” was appointed our vicar (the title for a priest leading a mission congregation). In 1987 he was named rector, the leader of a self-sustaining parish.
We quickly broke ground on our first building, at Franklin Farm Road and the Fairfax County Parkway, in March 1988 and first worshiped there in February 1989.
Fr. Bill retired in December 1995, and Epiphany entered a two-year interim period. In June 1997, the Rev. Robin Rauh was called as our second rector. In January 2011, the Rev. Peter Frank joined the staff as senior associate rector.
Epiphany was founded as an Episcopal church. Through the first decade of this century, growing differences over theology and priorities led us to leave The Episcopal Church and join the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA), a body of 1,000 Anglican churches formed in 2009.
Our differences centered on the authority and interpretation of Scripture, and they were sharpest on sexual ethics. Epiphany held to the mainstream of Christian teaching across the centuries and across most of the world’s churches, Catholic, Orthodox, Anglican, Baptist, Pentecostal and Reformed: that sexual relationships belong within marriage between a man and a woman. We hold this position with conviction, and we joyfully welcome anyone to worship with us as we seek to follow Jesus together.
In 2012, that decision meant leaving our original property in Franklin Farm. That summer we secured a new home at 13515 Dulles Technology Drive, and the congregation worked together to refurbish it in time to worship there.
Fr. Robin announced his retirement in April 2014. After a summer of discernment and interviews, our vestry (the elected lay leadership of the parish) called Fr. Peter as our third rector, and he began on September 1, 2014.
In spring 2017 we decided to make 3863 Centerview Drive in Chantilly our long-term home. After a year of fundraising, building, and painting, we held our first Sunday service there on March 11, 2018.
Since then, we have come through the COVID pandemic and continued to look for ways to share the good news: that God loves each of us, that Jesus died to save us from the sins and failings that separate us from God, and that the Holy Spirit empowers us for life and ministry today.
We focus on offering beautiful worship to God, building a multigenerational congregation, and equipping every member to share their faith. Our ministries include partnering with Lutie Lewis Coates elementary school, cooking meals for homeless neighbors in Fairfax County, and leading worship for residents at Chantilly Heights, a nearby memory care facility.