Hi! We’re really glad you’re here.

Get to know more about St. Thomas, and please let us know how we can help.

Calendar

View upcoming events.
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Worship

View worship resources.
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Staff

Meet the St. Thomas clergy and staff.
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History

Find out more about the historical roots of St. Thomas.
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Links & Resources

View some helpful resources we’ve compiled for you.
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FAQs

Check out answers to some common questions.
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Meet our Clergy & Staff

We’re happy to serve you.

Rev. Mark McKone-Sweet

Priest-in-Charge

We are looking forward to having Fr. Mark start with us in August. Read more from him and from our Vestry here.

Donna Holub

Parish Administrator

Donna has been with St Thomas since 2003, where she serves as the Parish Administrator and Pledge Recorder. A transplant from the suburbs of Philadelphia, Donna has made a career of working in church administration since 1995. She lives just south of the border in NC with her husband Tim and their golden retriever, Sophie. “I continue to feel blessed by both the fulfilling work and the warm relationships that I have found in the St. Thomas community.”

Amanda Ipock

Communications Assistant

Amanda joined the staff of St. Thomas in January 2016. She has a degree in Communications from Virginia Wesleyan College and lives in Chesapeake with her husband and twin daughters. Amanda and her family are members of Christ & St. Luke’s in Norfolk.

Pat Spoettle

Music Minister

Pat Spoettle has served St. Thomas as Minister of Music since October 1992. She is a graduate of Montclair State University (NJ) with a B. A. degree in Music Performance (piano/vocal). She studied organ with W. Lee Hendricks of Norfolk. She has taught young children for Yamaha Music School and continues to give private piano lessons. Pat also serves as accompanist for the United Methodist Mens Choir and middle school choruses in Chesapeake and performs in the percussion section with the Hampton Roads Metro Band, a community concert band. Pat assists her husband, Ralph (Organist/Choirmaster at St. Brides in Chesapeake) in his business, Sound/Organ Design KBD SYSTEMS, selling and repairing organs and electronic keyboards in the Hampton Roads area.

Tom Smith

Sexton

Tom joined St. Thomas in 2017 as our Sexton.

Frequently Asked Questions

How are you worshipping during the COVID-19 crisis?

We are excited to be meeting in person again. Worship services are at the following times:

Sunday at 8:00 a.m.
Sunday at 10:30 am

What's the Episcopal Church?

We are a liturgical (a set order of worship) and sacramental (Baptism and Holy Eucharist) church. Our heritage is from the Church of England brought to Virginia in 1607 with the settling of the Jamestown colony. We ordain both women and men to each office in our tradition and believe in the ‘real presence’ of Jesus in the celebration of Holy Communion.

We have been described as the Via Media (middle way) between the Roman Catholic tradition and the Protestant Reformation of the 16th and 17th century in Europe.

Traditionally Anglicanism (the global expression of our Episcopal faith) privileges ‘right worship’ over ‘right belief’. This means that the community, united by the life, ministry, death, resurrection and ascension of a fully human and fully divine Jesus, is formed by worship that informs belief rather than the other way around.

Certainty is not necessary for belonging nor is doubt a disqualification.

Are you LGBTQ+ friendly?

St. Thomas is a community that welcomes and affirms the rich variety of humanity. The first letter of John calls us thusly,

“Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love.” (1 John 4:7-9)

We accept all seekers of Truth, Beauty and Goodness to encounter the Good News of God in Christ Jesus. Taste and see if we might be a place for you and yours to grow in your faith and deepen your relationship with God, Creator, Redeemer and Sanctifier. We believe Christian community is a place where,

“The gifts he gave were that some would be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until all of us come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to maturity, to the measure of the full stature of Christ.” (Eph. 4:11-13)

Do I have to wear a mask?

Currently we are not requiring masks, but we are constantly re-evaluating the need for masking in our services. Please contact the Church Office if you have any questions.

Will there be singing?

We are continuing to limit singing indoors to masked choir members.

Is there childcare?

We are not currently offering childcare.

How will communion be different?

We are only offering bread during communion.

What other changes can I expect?

Some changes will include an abbreviated service, no passing of the peace, and offerings will be collected in a basket at the back of the church.