Welcome to St Thomas The Church Its People Our Community Our Confidence In Our Future
The Church There has been an Anglican presence in southwestern Virginia since 1738, with the two decades prior to the Civil War seeing rapid growth in the present Diocese of Southwestern Virginia. Thriving parishes were founded in nearly every county seat, including Abingdon.
The Church Early worshipers met at the county courthouse, and formed a congregation which they named in honor of the New Testament saint and apostle Thomas.
The Church The first building was consecrated October 22, 1846. Following a fire that destroyed the building in 1924, the present sanctuary was consecrated in 1928, having been built in the style of an English Tudor Gothic chapel.
The Church In 1968 parish status was granted to this longtime mission. In the years since, St Thomas has grown until it now ranks among the stronger churches of the Diocese of Southwestern Virginia.
The Church The 1924 fire consumed what was the first pipe organ west of the Blue Ridge Mountains. It had been carried to Abingdon years earlier on horseback. It was not until 1980 that another pipe organ was built a baroque organ with the pipes located in the rear of the nave.
The Church The Sunday worship service includes music with choir at 10:30 AM. Wednesday Holy Eucharist and Healing Service takes place at 9:30 AM. St Thomas also offers a 6:30 PM Taizé service on the second Wednesday of each month.
The Church In 2017, average Sunday worship attendance was 73, and the Wednesday healing service normally drew 6 participants. The monthly Taizé service, begun in 2017, grew to an average of 23 during the third quarter of the year.
The Church St Thomas is well known throughout the Abingdon community for its Christmas Eve and Easter worship services. In 2017, 54 attended church on Christmas Eve, and 247 joined us for Holy Week and Easter Sunday services.
Its People When asked in a parish meeting What were your most positive first impressions of St Thomas, those responding said the friendly people, the liturgy, and its music and outreach programs.
Its People One person added the way I feel when I leave, and yet another stated I always feel at home when I come back.
Its People Worship... The people of St Thomas consider worship to be the cornerstone of what we value.
Its People As one parishioner expressed it, The church has enabled me to grow and think in new ways.
Its People Learn... Among the unique strengths of St Thomas that one person highlighted is the observation that I learn something every time I come here. Wednesday Bible study and Sunday Adult Forum offer that learning
Its People as does Godly Play, held every Sunday from September through May, where children participate in their own worship and education. A unique ministry also exists through the icons that line the walls of the sanctuary. Docents are available for tours and an explanation of the art form, upon request.
Its People Serve... We enjoy a cohesion within the church that fosters good lay leadership, with a variety of outreach opportunities happening as a result. Individually, we support causes like Walk MS and the Crop Hunger Walk.
Its People Collectively, we give of our time to outreach programs like our monthly We Care dinners that provide a nutritious meal to all who come
Its People or Social Club which in rotation with other local churches treats developmentally challenged adults from the community to a meal and an evening of hospitality.
Its People Among the organizations St Thomas supports, Ecumenical Faith in Action and its Stone Soup Food Pantry benefit from both our volunteer help and from the food donated by our parishioners. One person summed it up by saying this church is a treasure trove of people and their talents.
Our Community The first white settlers arrived in what is present day Washington County in the 1760's. Famed frontiersman Daniel Boone named the area Wolf Hills, after his dogs were attacked by a pack of wolves during a hunting expedition. Thus, Abingdon has a long and interesting history, with its historic district including buildings dating as far back as the 1770 s. The Tavern, est. 1779 The Historical Society of Washington County, Virginia, headquartered in the old Norfolk&Western Passenger Depot in downtown Abingdon The Cave House, geographical site of Daniel Boone s encounter with wolves, is located on Main Street. The cave lies under the house.
Our Community With a town population today of close to 8,200, Abingdon is located in southwestern Virginia, 17 miles from Bristol and its famous NASCAR speedway. It is the county seat of Washington County, which has a total population of approximately 55,000 residents. CameronDavidson@CameronDavidson.com
Our Community Looking towards the county courthouse Downtown shopping CameronDavidson@CameronDavidson.com The Virginia Creeper locomotive at the trailhead Harry L Coomes Recreation Center The Barter Green in the springtime Abingdon Farmers Market
Our Community Agriculture, manufacturing and tourism-related businesses are the main economic contributors to Washington County. The big crops are tobacco, corn, alfalfa, livestock, poultry and dairy products. The area is also a major manufacturer of crushed rock, fabricated metal products, machinery, consumer goods and food. PHOTO CREDIT: Jeff Adkins
Our Community One of Abingdon s most famous attractions is the Barter Theatre the State Theatre of Virginia. The theatre began in 1933 with one man s idea to have patrons pay with produce, and has grown into a year-round theatre with over 160,000 visitors annually. Among its alumni are Gregory Peck, Patricia Neal, and Ernest Borgnine, all of whom got their start at the Barter.
Our Community Theater is just the beginning of the arts in Abingdon. Heartwood gives regional artisans a venue to display and sell their work, and The Arts Depot, housed in a 19th century freight station, accommodates working artists studios and gallery space. Heartwood: Southwestern Virginia s gateway to craft, music, and local culture. Helen Morgan, a St Thomas parishioner, creates artwork in weaving, jewelry-making and mixed media at The Arts Depot.
Our Community William King Museum of Art displays fine world art, contemporary regional art and cultural heritage exhibits that change frequently. Educational opportunities include artist talks, lectures, workshops, and classes for adults, college students, children and families.
Our Community Abingdon is served by Washington County Public Schools, which includes three elementary, one middle and one high school in the town s proximity. Additionally, several private schools serve the area. Higher education is provided at Virginia Highlands Community College which offers 2-year degrees. Sullins Academy (private school) Abingdon High School
Our Community Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center provides the region with access to undergraduate and graduate degree programs and courses at nine participating academic institutions, while Emory & Henry College, a four-year institution, is located 7 miles outside of town and King University is a short ride to Bristol. Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center Emory and Henry College King University
Our Community The great outdoors truly is great in Abingdon and southwest Virginia. Hiking, fishing, water sports, and just plain rambling can fill a day. The Channels Natural Area Preserve South Holston Reservoir Parks Mill Virginia Creeper Trail
Our Community The Virginia Creeper Trail, a 34.3-mile rail-to-recreation trail starting in Abingdon, travels southeast through Damascus, VA and ends just past Whitetop Station at the Virginia-North Carolina border.
Our Community Abingdon has become an educational and cultural hub of southwestern Virginia. Its schools are highly rated and fully accredited. It has attracted medical professionals serving clients from a 100-mile radius... The Crooked Road, Virginia's Heritage Music Trail Johnston Memorial Hospital
Our Community... and both Emory & Henry College and King University offer programs of interest to adults. Moreover, Jubilee House, a Roman Catholic retreat center in Abingdon, extends its resources to groups of all faiths. The Knobs, looking toward Abingdon Jubilee House Abingdon is, indeed, a good place to live and work.
Our Confidence In Our Future Our Priest-in-Charge is The Rev. Boyd Evans, who began his tenure with us in November, 2016. During our search for a new priest, we learned that our parish needed a priest who would care for it as home. We needed someone who would visit our newborns and our sick our troubled as well as our vigorous and prosperous. We needed someone who was willing to help us build into our future. We found a pastor with a stabilizing presence: a facilitator for the work we now do, and an honest and challenging enabler for the work to come. Come worship with Rev. Boyd and us as a fellow disciple in Christ.
Links to websites of interest: Abingdon Convention & Visitors Bureau -- http://visitabingdonvirginia.com/ Barter Theatre -- http://www.bartertheatre.com/ Harry L Coomes Recreation Center -- http://www.coomescenter.com/ Heartwood -- https://www.myswva.org/heartwood Historical Society of Washington County, VA -- http://hswcv.org/index.html Virginia Creeper Trail -- http://www.vacreepertrail.org/index.html Washington County Public Schools -- http://www.wcs.k12.va.us/ William King Museum of Art -- http://www.williamkingmuseum.org/