Welcome to the website for Manakin Episcopal Church. Founded in 1700, the church is a member of the Diocese of Southern Virginia.
We are a suburban church conveniently located in a rural setting of Powhatan County just 1 mile west of Route 288. The congregation is a blend of members from a wide geographic area that includes Powhatan, Chesterfield, and Henrico counties.
Our cornerstone beliefs include a committment to the parish family, Christian education, and community service through outreach.
Thank you for taking a moment to visit our web site. If you are searching for a church home and would like more information about Manakin, please contact us so we can learn more about you. We look forward to your visit.
From the Rector:
“And The Season Continues”
Dear Friends in Christ,
Holy Week and the first part of Eastertide were very rich and meaningful times at Manakin this year. There were countless people who helped iii a variety of ways to make the liturgies and other activities — far too many to try to thank individually here. Suffice it to say that there is joyful gratitude iii heaven and on earth for all the time and talents shared us those endeavors.
As the Easter season continues, the festive nature of the season continues as well. Our first “Tween Scene” event for 4th through 8th graders was a great success! We had 18 young people, along with lots of adult support, and everyone seemed to have a great time. Over a third of the young people in attendance were guests. It is very impressive when young people feel comfortable enough about their church to invite their friends to share in its activities. Thanks to all who were involved — and especially to our young people!
That same weekend, Manakin hosted a dedication ceremony for a new highway historical marker honoring the Manakin Indian Nation. As you know, the Manakins inhabited this region long before the English arrived in Richmond or the Huguenots were granted their 10,000 acres in 1700. The tribe is now centered in Amherst, Virginia (north of Lynchburg), and many arc members of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church there. Many Monacans, including some who are members of their Tribal Council as well as Vestry members at St. Paul’s, along with representatives of other tribes, the Virginia Council of Churches, several local office holders, and a number of our own congregation gathered for the dedication. Karenne Wood, spokesperson for the Monacans, spoke of the relationship between the Episcopal Church, and Manakin in particular, and the Monacans. There were nearly fifty people in attendance, and it was a most memorable occasion for all.
In addition to the festive aspects of this season, there have been other notable events that have made life easier for the Parish. A generous donation from a Parish family provided four loads of crushed rock for the parking lot the week before Easter Sunday. In addition, we have received the gift of a laptop computer for my office (I am typing this missive on it, in fact! I can’t tell you what an improvement it is!). Some of the preparations for Easter, like these gifts, were not “glamorous,” nor were they necessarily too evident to everyone. But the clean-up of the grounds, the thorough scrubbing of the kitchen, right down to the insides of all the shelves and drawers, and other thankless tasks were every bit as important as the more obvious efforts that have given our life together its rich quality. This is a place that is truly blessed by countless caring, generous, dedicated souls.
And now, we move on to a number of other exciting ministry opportunities in the weeks ahead. Here are some important dates for you to mark now on your calendar:
May 31st — The Feast of Pentecost, Church School Recognition Sunday and Parish Picnic.
June 13th — Ordination of Cynthia Duffus (who was an intern with us before going to Seminary) at the Church of the Redeemer at 11:00AM.
August 3rd-7th - Vacation Bible School.
And you thought things slowed down after Easter Sunday!!! Of course, all these events are in addition to our ongoing worship services Sundays and weekdays — and all our other ministries which you can read about elsewhere iii this newsletter. I hope that you will make every effort to participate iii as many of these important events as possible. This will continue to be a joyful, richly spiritual Easter with so many varied expressions of God’s love in our midst. I hope that your joy will continue through this season, this year, and through the whole of your life.
Alleluia! He is Risen indeed!
In Christ’s Love,
Michael +