A Brief History of Varina Episcopal Church​

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The birth of Varina Episcopal Church dates back nearly as far as the beginning of European colonization in North America, when in 1611 a group of 350 settlers from Jamestown established a new settlement which was to be the beginning of Varina Parish. This settlement was founded as the Town of Henricus on a peninsula known as Farrar’s Island, approximately twelve miles from Richmond. A church was built in the Town of Henricus, and it was the first minister, Alexander Whitaker, who was involved in the baptism of the Powhatan Pocahontas. This church, along with the Town of Henricus, was destroyed in 1622 on Good Friday due to fighting between the English colonists and the Powhatan confederacy.

Some years after the 1622 destruction, a second church was built on John Rolfe’s Varina Farm. The exact date of the construction is not known but there is evidence that it was in existence by 1640 and remained until 1720. In these early years, this area was known as both Henrico Parish and Varina Parish. Commissary James Blair, who founded the College of William and Mary, served as rector from 1685-1694.
 
Around 1720, a third church was built about four miles below Varina Farm on the James River and was called the Curles Church. In 1741, the Curles Church was replaced as the parish church of Henrico by St. John’s Church in Richmond and declined rapidly. For the next two centuries, the population of the area moved towards Richmond, and there was not another Episcopal Church in Varina until the 1920s.

Founding and Early Development (1922–1963)

In 1922, a group of citizens in Varina decided that there should be an Episcopalian Church in the area. The meetings of these citizens began with Sunday School classes in one of the buildings of what was then Varina High School. Under the leadership of the Rev. G. MacLaren Brydon, the Executive Secretary of the Diocesan Missionary Society, a Congregation was organized and met in a cottage near the high school. In April 1924, land for the construction of Varina Church was purchased from Lanie and Marie Rasmussen by George J. Stoneman. In May 1925, the Diocesan Council honored the request of the Varina Congregation to become a separate parish, and later in July 1925, George and Mary G. Stoneman sold their purchased land to the Trustees of the new Varina Church for “one dollar, and other considerations”. That same year, Dr. John G. Scott became the first rector of the new church. The present church building was constructed in 1926, and the congregation became self-supporting in 1948.

The church's early development depended heavily on the dedication and resourcefulness of its members. The Varina Aid Society organized numerous fundraising activities, including dinners, bake sales, craft sales, social events, and the production of homemade goods. These efforts helped finance the building, furnish the church, and maintain its grounds. Generous gifts of land and financial support from community members were also essential to establishing the congregation.

Despite this strong commitment, the church faced recurring financial difficulties, compounded by the Great Depression, mortgage obligations, and frequent changes in clergy. Members responded by selling land and cemetery plots, reducing expenses, volunteering for maintenance, and seeking assistance from the Diocese. Over time, the congregation expanded its facilities and ministries, including the establishment of a rectory 1950, of which The Rev. W. Holt Souder and his family became the first residents. That same year, Varina Church achieved its first balanced budget, marking an important financial milestone. This financial strength allowed for the construction of a parish house in 1955 to accommodate Sunday school classes, meetings, and fellowship.

Growth, Ministry, and Community Engagement (1981–2000)

For the next 40 years, Varina Church continued to flourish, and its services were broadcast on the local radio station, WRVA. As a result of this growth, in the mid-1970s it became necessary to enlarge the facility. In 1977, the church was expanded to its present dimensions, and the first service conducted in the enlarged and refurbished church was conducted on December 8, 1977.
The 1980s and 1990s brought continued development in worship, Christian education, music, youth activities, and community outreach. The church strengthened its Sunday school and youth programs, expanded its choir and acolyte ministries, and organized fellowship activities and fundraising events. A food pantry was established in 1986, reflecting the congregation's commitment to assisting people in need. The Parish House also served the broader community, including hosting Alcoholics Anonymous meetings beginning in 1987.

Varina Episcopal Church celebrated its 60th anniversary in 1987 with a homecoming attended by 260 people. The congregation continued to maintain its facilities, improve its property, and support its ministries through festivals, golf tournaments, dinners, and sales. In 1999, an historical marker was installed on church property recognizing the historical significance of Varina Parish in Henrico County. This connection to the region's early colonial history added another dimension to the church's identity and heritage.

These years also brought organizational and leadership challenges. Clergy transitions, differing perspectives about the church's future, and the demands of sustaining its ministries required ongoing attention from the vestry and congregation. Nevertheless, members continued to support worship, fellowship, charitable giving, and service to the community.

Leadership Changes and Organizational Transition (2001–2021)

In the early 2000s, the church continued its pastoral ministries and invested in improvements to worship and church life. Initiatives included a memorial garden for cremated remains, efforts to identify unmarked graves, the formation of a Prayer Guild offering healing prayers, and the continuation of food assistance and other outreach efforts. Gifts and bequests also helped sustain particular ministries, including the choir and Altar Guild.

Financial pressures nevertheless persisted. By 2010, expenses continued to exceed income, prompting the congregation and its leadership to consider a different organizational structure within the Episcopal Diocese. Under the interim leadership of the Reverend April T. Greenwood, the church undertook a transition that emphasized lay ministry, congregational development, and a renewed commitment to becoming a place of healing and wholeness.

In July 2010, Varina Episcopal Church formally requested mission status. The bishop approved the request on October 18, 2010, transitioning the church from a parish to a mission under diocesan supervision. The change included restructuring the vestry, reducing its size, and developing plans for continued pastoral leadership. Although the transition was difficult and some vestry members departed, it represented an effort to establish a sustainable structure for the church's future.

In 2020, with the advent of the global COVID-19 pandemic, Varina Church faced the same difficulties as many other churches: the lack of in-person fellowship, increased anxiety about health and livelihood, and limited opportunities for worship, outreach, and engagement. Despite these challenges, the strong lay leadership of Varina Church helped the congregation whether the storm and strengthen the call to lay service that formed the foundation of Varina Church’s history.

Reemergence and Growth (2022–present)
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Henrico Parish Historical Marker

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1970s: The Rev. Oscar Eddleton

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1984: Varina Church Float in the Henrico County 350th Anniversary Parade

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1998: Trip to Washington National Cathedral

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2007: Varina Church Fall Festival

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Christmas Pageant

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2026: Bishop's Visitation with The Rt. Rev. Gayle Harris