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  • Directions
  • What to Expect
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Welcome

Welcome to St. Alban’s Church! Every Sunday, and most days in between, people gather in this place to worship, to learn, to grow, to share the joys and struggles of our lives, and to seek God’s grace in the midst of our lives. We do not come because we have it all figured out, but because we are seeking light on the way. We come as we are and welcome one another.

On this website, you can find information about our worship, our classes for people of all ages, membership at St. Alban's, and about how we seek to make a difference in this world. We warmly encourage you to join us for a Sunday service or for some of the many other events that happen here. You belong at St. Alban’s.

Please fill out this welcome form to connect with us.

Contact us with any questions. Call (202) 363-8286 or email the church office.

 

Service Times 

Weekly In-person Sunday Service Schedule (Please note: Service times may be changed during the seasons of Christmas and Lent and during the summer. Please refer to our calendar to confirm the times.):

8 a.m. (English) in the Church
9 a.m. (English) in the Church
11:15 a.m. (English) in the Church
11:15 a.m. (Spanish) in Nourse Hall (same building as the Church)

Communion in one kind (i.e. wafers) will be offered at the main altar, although we will happily bring communion to those for whom steps are challenging. 

Weekly Live Sunday Services are live-streamed on our Youtube channel (St. Alban's DC) at 9 a.m. every Sunday, as is our Spanish service at 11:15 a.m. 

Evening Prayer Thursdays, 5:30 p.m. via Zoom, join us for a time of reflection and sharing at the close of your busy day. Contact Paul Brewster for the link. 

 

Directions

St. Alban’s Episcopal Church is located next to the Washington National Cathedral at the corner of Massachusetts and Wisconsin Avenues in the northwest section of the District of Columbia.

From either direction on the north loop of the Capital Beltway/I-495 follow signs for Route 355/Wisconsin Ave south toward DC. St. Alban’s is located on the left just before the intersection of Massachusetts and Wisconsin Avenues NW. Make a left onto Lych Gate Rd before you reach Massachusetts Ave. As you enter the drive, the church will be on your left and Satterlee Hall and the Rectory on the right. Stay on Lych Gate until it becomes Pilgrim Rd.

From any Virginia main in-bound thoroughfare (George Washington Memorial Parkway, I-395, Route 50, I-66), follow signs to Rosslyn and take the Key Bridge from Rosslyn north across the Potomac River into Georgetown. Go right on M St, left on Wisconsin Ave. St. Alban’s is located on the right just after the intersection of Massachusetts and Wisconsin Avenues NW. Make a right onto Lych Gate Rd after passing Massachusetts. As you enter the drive, the church will be on your left and Satterlee Hall and the Rectory on the right. Stay on Lych Gate until it becomes Pilgrim Rd.

Parking is available on Pilgrim Road Monday-Friday after 3:30 pm and all day Saturday and Sunday. Parking is also available in the Cathedral’s underground garage for a fee Monday- Saturday and for free on Sunday.  You may also park on neighborhood streets according to DC parking signs.

What to Expect

Visiting a church for the first time can be a bit daunting. So we have tried to put together the answers to some of the questions you’re likely to have and to ensure that you find a warm welcome here. Click on the questions to learn more.)

How do you worship?

What time are services on Sunday morning?

How long do services last?

Where can I park?

Do you offer programs for children?

What should I wear?

Do you have provisions for the differently-abled?

For Your Kids

Children’s Ministry

At St. Alban’s, we believe that a child’s spiritual growth is just as important as their physical and intellectual growth. Our goal is to help children name and value the presence and love of God in their lives. We do this through a variety of means – by providing stable and consistent adult mentors, encouraging strong peer relationships, and supporting parents in their families’ faith lives at home.

Worship: This Fall, Children's Chapel meets during the first half of the 9:00 a.m. service in Nourse Hall (a spacious parish hall in the same building as the main worship space.) Kids and families join "big church" at the Peace so everyone can receive Communion together. To learn more, contact the Rev’d Emily Griffin.

Education: We've resumed our formation programs for the 2022-2023 period. Here’s everything you need to know:

  • Sunday School and Youth Group Classes are from 10:15 to 11:05 a.m.
  • Nursery, 2s & 3s, PreK to 1st Grade, 2nd to 3rd Grade, and 4th to 6th Grade all meet upstairs in Satterlee Hall. Youth classes meet downstairs in Satterlee Hall.
  • If you haven’t registered your child or teen yet, it’s not too late. Register in person at the start of class or click here

Questions? For children, contact the Rev’d Emily Griffin at . For youth, contact the Rev’d Yoimel González Hernández at .

Learn more about Children's Ministries
Youth Ministry

Four teen groups participate in formation classes at St. Alban’s on Sunday mornings. We use the nationally recognized Episcopal curriculum “Journey to Adulthood," or J2A. J2A has two guiding principles: 1) Manhood and womanhood are gifts of God; and 2) Adulthood must be earned. This is a strong program with over 50 youth participating, many of whom engage in a wide variety of ministries at St. Alban’s. Two or three adults mentor each of the groups for two years, sharing their own faith journeys and forming strong bonds of fellowship with the participants.Learn more about Youth Ministries

The Episcopal Church

As Episcopalians, we follow Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. We believe in the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. We believe God is active in our everyday lives through the power of the Holy Spirit.  

The mission of the Church is to restore all people to unity with God and with each other in Christ. The Church pursues its mission as it prays and worships, proclaims the gospel, and promotes justice, peace and love. The Church carries out its mission through the ministry of all of its members.

We uphold the Bible and worship with the Book of Common Prayer. We believe the Holy Scriptures are the revealed Word of God. In worship we unite ourselves with one another to acknowledge the holiness of God, to hear God's Word, to offer prayer and praise, and to celebrate the Sacraments. The Celebration of Holy Eucharist is the central act of worship in accordance with Jesus' command to His disciples. Holy Communion may be received by all baptized Christians, not only members of the Episcopal Church.

The Episcopal Church is part of the worldwide Anglican Communion with 70 million members in 165 countries.  The word "Episcopal" refers to government by bishops. The historic episcopate continues the work of the first apostles in the Church, guarding the faith, unity and discipline of the Church. Both men and women, including those who are married, are eligible for ordination as deacons, priests and bishops. 

We strive to love our neighbors as ourselves and respect the dignity of every person. We welcome all to find a spiritual home in the Episcopal Church.

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Baptisms, Weddings, Confirmation & Funerals

Baptism

Baptism officially marks the beginning of our life as Christians, when we are “sealed as Christ’s own forever.” Baptisms are scheduled at particular times each year at our regular Sunday services, usually in conjunction with major feast days of the church.

If you are thinking about having your child baptized here and would like to talk about preparation and timing, please email the Rev'd Emily Griffin.

Infants & Children

Parents of infants and children to be baptized should make an appointment to discuss baptism with the Rev'd Emily Griffin. Parents and godparents also attend a preparation course offered by our catechumenal team. Two or three sessions and a rehearsal are held prior to baptism.

Adults

Adult candidates should contact The Rev'd Yoimel González Hernández to discuss their intent for baptism and enroll in our Enquirers’ course.  

Preparation for Baptism

The catechumenal team seeks, through discussion and reflection, to deepen the spiritual understanding of baptismal candidates or the parents of children being baptized. Members become knowledgeable about the history and theology of baptism in the Episcopal Church, and share that knowledge with those preparing for baptism. If you would like to be involved, contact the Rev'd Emily Griffin to learn more.

Confirmation

Youth

Youth at St. Alban’s are prepared for confirmation in the context of the Journey to Adulthood class and through other special gatherings. Confirmation is offered to youth in grades 10 and above. The decision to be confirmed is made by each individual and reflects their own experience of God’s grace and their commitment to the Christian faith. For more information, contact the Rev'd Yoimel González Hernández.

Adults

In confirmation, we make a mature commitment to Christ. A course of preparation is held for adults interested in baptism, confirmation, reception or reaffirmation in the Episcopal Church. These classes provide careful exploration of Christian faith and practice and help participants to grow in their relationship with God. Classes are conducted by the clergy. To learn more or to enroll, contact The Rev'd Yoimel González Hernández. 

Marriage

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We believe that Christian marriage (whether between a man and a woman or between two persons of the same sex) provides the context for lifelong growth in faithfulness, love, patience, and grace, and we celebrate such marriages with joy and dignity. Marriage is a sacrament which the members of the couple confer on one another in the presence of a priest, and so it is necessary that at least one of the participants have been baptized.


Marriage at St. Alban’s is open to all who are parishioners, children of parishioners, or who are in the process of becoming parishioners. If you are not a member of our congregation, you are welcome to begin attending St. Alban’s and to explore the ways in which we can grow in faithfulness together. For further information, please email the church officeThe Guide to the Celebration and Blessing of a Marriage at St. Alban’s will help you plan your service. 

Funerals and Memorial Services

Clergy help parishioners who wish to discuss arrangements for their own services or services for their loved ones. It is best to make arrangements for a funeral or a memorial service with a member of the Clergy as soon as the death occurs. The Clergy may be reached by calling (202) 363-8286. Please follow the emergency contact instructions. The Guide for Burial and Funeral Planning will provide you with the information you need to start planning the service for your loved one. Email the church office for more details.

St. Alban’s Columbarium

St. Alban’s offers space in its columbarium for the interment of ashes of members and their immediate families. Niches in the columbarium are beneath a low wall outside the church, on the side facing the National Cathedral. Names and dates are engraved on the marble slabs. For more information contact Charles Porter.