St. Thomas' Parish (Washington, D.C.) facts for kids
St. Thomas' Parish is a special Episcopal church located in Washington, D.C.. It belongs to the Diocese of Washington, which is like a group of churches in the area.
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History of St. Thomas' Parish
The church began as Calvary Parish in 1891. It was created to serve the Dupont Circle neighborhood in Washington. The first leader of the church, called a rector, was Reverend John Abel Aspinwall. His father, William H. Aspinwall, was famous for building the Panama Railroad.
The first stone for the new St. Thomas' Parish church building was placed in 1894. The very first church service happened on June 25, 1899.
Famous Visitors to the Church
Over the years, many well-known people came to worship at St. Thomas' Parish. These included important political figures like Franklin D. Roosevelt and Harry Truman, who both became President of the United States. Mrs. Woodrow Wilson, the wife of President Woodrow Wilson, also attended services here.
In 1933, the church welcomed Franklin D. Roosevelt back. He had just become President the day before.
Changes in the Neighborhood
In the decades that followed, many white residents moved from the city to the suburbs. This meant St. Thomas' Parish, like other churches in Washington, D.S., lost many of its members. The 1960s brought big social changes to Dupont Circle. The area became home to many artists and people with different lifestyles.
Fire and Rebuilding
In 1970, the original church building was sadly destroyed by a fire. The fire was started on purpose. Even after this, the church leaders decided to stay in the same spot. They wanted to continue their important work in the community.
The Parish Hall, which was a separate building, was still standing. It was changed into the simple, modern worship space that people use today. The rest of the building became a place for community meetings and support groups. Later, the church leaders decided to turn the area where the old church stood into a neighborhood park.
Traditions of St. Thomas' Parish
St. Thomas' has always been known as a welcoming church for everyone. It supported the movements for civil rights for African Americans and women as early as the 1960s. Later, it also supported equal rights for all people.
In the 1970s, St. Thomas' was one of the few churches that welcomed a group of gay Episcopalians. These individuals felt unwelcome in their own churches. St. Thomas' allowed them to hold their services there. Because of this, the church became a spiritual home for many gay and lesbian Episcopalians. St. Thomas' also offered comfort and support to people who were sick or had lost loved ones, even if they were not church members.
Welcoming Leaders
In 1992, St. Thomas' chose Reverend James Holmes as its new rector. He was an openly gay priest. In 1998, St. Thomas' created one of the first special services in the Episcopal Church to bless same-sex unions.
After Reverend Holmes retired in 2002, Reverend Elizabeth Carl served as an interim rector for two years. Reverend Carl was the first woman in an openly lesbian relationship to become a priest in the Episcopal Church.
In December 2004, Reverend Dr. Nancy Lee Jose became the eighth rector of St. Thomas'. She was the first woman to hold this important position. Reverend Jose retired in the summer of 2016. In October 2016, Reverend Alex Dyer became the Priest in Charge.
Bishop Gene Robinson, who was the first openly gay bishop in the Anglican Communion, has a long connection with the church. After he was chosen as bishop, he visited St. Thomas' to share his experiences. He also spoke about the importance of gay and lesbian people leading in the church.
Images for kids
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The rectory building at St. Thomas' Parish
