A Third-Century Parish at 31st and O
Christ Church, Georgetown, sits at the corner of 31st and O Streets NW in Washington, DC, where it has been a worshiping community for more than two hundred years. The congregation describes itself as an historic Episcopal parish in the heart of the nation's capital, a place where, for more than 200 years, "the people of Christ Church have sought to be a body through which the light of Christ is seen, his life is shared, and his work is done." Now in its third century of ministry, the parish is a member congregation of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington, governed by a Vestry of twelve members, a Senior Warden, a Junior Warden, and the Rector, and committed to what it calls traditional, reverent worship, lifelong Christian formation, and a substantial program of outreach to neighbors in need.
The parish lives by four stated values: Service and Servant-Leadership, Compassion, Inclusivity, and Stewardship. Its mission statement calls it "an inclusive Episcopal community of faith and a living witness to the love of Christ," a sanctuary from "an often-chaotic and divided world, a place where politics are left at the door." That inclusive posture is reinforced by an explicit welcome: "All are welcome at Christ Church regardless of race, sexuality, politics or any of the myriad of other ways that human beings are different from one another. Here we all kneel at the same altar and seek the same forgiveness and grace."
Worship on Sundays: Five Liturgies Across the Morning and Evening
Sunday at Christ Church is shaped by the Book of Common Prayer and offers a range of services that lets worshipers choose the tone of their morning. Three celebrations of the Holy Eucharist are scheduled, together with Morning Prayer and Choral Evensong, all grounded in what the parish calls "a quintessentially Anglican, devotional piety."
- 8:00 a.m., Holy Eucharist: Rite One. A quiet, contemplative celebration of the Holy Eucharist using the traditional-language rite from the Book of Common Prayer. The liturgy runs about forty-five minutes, includes a homily, and is unaccompanied.
- 9:00 a.m., Holy Eucharist: Rite Two. A lively celebration in contemporary language, about an hour in length, with hymns and music from members of the parish choir. Young people serve as acolytes, lectors, and intercessors. The service runs concurrently with Sunday school and is followed by coffee and adult Christian education, which makes it especially well suited to families with small children.
- 11:15 a.m., Holy Eucharist: Rite One (1st, 3rd, and 5th Sundays). A solemn celebration that "embraces the fullness of the Anglican liturgical and musical traditions," with musical leadership and choral offerings by the fully professional Choir of Christ Church. The service is followed by a coffee hour in Keith Hall.
- 11:15 a.m., Morning Prayer: Rite One (2nd and 4th Sundays). A sermon and choral music from the Choir of Christ Church, also followed by coffee hour in Keith Hall.
- 5:00 p.m., Holy Eucharist: Rite Two, in the Chapel of Saint Jude. The most informal Sunday liturgy, typically fifty to sixty minutes long, with a homily but no music, followed by a reception.
The 11:15 a.m. principal service is livestreamed on YouTube. Recordings of recent services, Choral Evensong, special liturgies, and Sunday Forum lectures are kept on the parish's YouTube channel.
Choral Evensong: A Jewel of the Anglican Tradition
On the first, third, and fifth Sundays of each month from October through May, Christ Church gathers at 5:00 p.m. for Choral Evensong, sung by the Choir of Christ Church. The parish calls it "one of the great jewels of the Anglican tradition." Drawn from the evening and night offices of the monastic calendar, Choral Evensong is a contemplative service of sung Evening Prayer, with settings of the responses, psalms, and canticles, an anthem, and a sermon (in some seasons). It typically runs about an hour and is followed by a reception.
Music is one of the defining gifts of this parish. Under the direction of Thomas P. Smith, Organist and Choirmaster, the Choir of Christ Church comprises thirteen professional singers and sings a broad repertoire from plainsong to works by living composers. The Choir provides musical leadership at the 11:15 a.m. principal liturgy each Sunday, sings Choral Evensong on its monthly schedule, and supplies a quartet that sings at the 9:00 a.m. Eucharist each week. Special liturgies throughout the year include a Solemn Requiem Eucharist on the Eve of All Souls' Day, a Service of Lessons and Carols for Advent, the Service of Nine Lessons and Carols for Christmas, and Choral Evensong services that trace the church year through Lent, Palm Sunday, Easter Day, and Pentecost.
As part of its Third Century Capital Campaign, the parish is raising funds to install a new, state-of-the-art organ with an antiphonal division in the rear of the nave, designed to support the congregation and the Choir for decades to come.
The Daily Office Kept Faithfully
Christ Church is one of a relatively small number of Episcopal parishes to keep the Daily Office and regular weekday Eucharists. Morning Prayer is said at 8:00 a.m. on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, and Morning Prayer with the Holy Eucharist is said at 8:00 a.m. on Wednesday in the Chapel of Saint Jude. After the Wednesday Eucharist, the Healing Rite (anointing and prayers for healing of body, mind, or spirit) is available by request. Evening Prayer is said at 5:00 p.m. each day, also in the Chapel of Saint Jude.
These brief, informal weekday services include readings from scripture, canticles, and prayers, and they are led by members of the clergy and trained lay officiants. The parish sees the Daily Office as central to its identity: "At Christ Church, everything we do begins and ends with prayer." The worship of the Daily Office is paired with the Eucharistic liturgy, which the parish calls "the beating heart of the life of our church."
The Sacraments and Pastoral Rites
The parish celebrates the seven sacramental rites recognized in the Anglican tradition: Holy Baptism, the Holy Eucharist, Confirmation, Holy Orders (Ordination), Holy Matrimony, Reconciliation of a Penitent (Confession), and Unction (anointing of the sick). Confirmation typically takes place at the twice-yearly diocesan liturgy at Washington National Cathedral, where the bishop lays hands on candidates. Those previously confirmed in another tradition are formally welcomed through a rite known as Reception.
Baptisms are usually celebrated within the context of the Sunday Eucharist, ideally on the Baptism of Our Lord, the Great Vigil of Easter, the Day of Pentecost, or All Saints' Day. Adult baptisms are especially appropriate at the Great Vigil of Easter. Reconciliation of a Penitent is available by appointment with the clergy and is especially fitting during Lent. Unction is offered in several contexts: the clergy visit those who are ill or hospitalized, and the Healing Rite is open to anyone in need of God's grace at the Wednesday 8:00 a.m. Eucharist or by appointment.
Weddings and funerals are arranged with the parish clergy, who provide marriage and funeral liturgy planning guides. The clergy ask to be notified as soon as possible when a parishioner is seriously ill or near death, and they visit the sick and homebound, distributing Holy Communion in homes and hospitals as needed.
Children, Youth, and Families
Children's formation is a central priority at Christ Church. The Rev. Andrew J. Stump, Associate Priest for Next Generation and Outreach Ministries, oversees this work. Sunday School classes meet within the context of the 9:00 a.m. service on the 1st through 3rd and 5th Sundays of each month, mid-September through the end of May. A Children's Homily is given in place of class on the 4th Sunday.
- Ages three through first grade use Godly Play, a Montessori-based program; classes are divided into "Caterpillars" (Pre-K) and "Butterflies" (K-1st grade).
- Second through fourth graders use the Spark Lectionary, which follows the lectionary used in church each week.
- Fifth and sixth graders use the Connect curriculum, which walks through the Bible chronologically.
All classes include prayer, storytelling, discussion, and art, with routine guest visits from clergy and a music teacher. After the 9:00 a.m. Eucharist and Sunday School, children ages three to eleven are invited to musical formation classes in the Parish Hall, divided into two age groups (3 to 5, and 6 to 11).
The Christ Church Nursery, for children four months through three years, is open Sundays from 8:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on the first floor of Linthicum Hall, the large brick building three doors down from the church. The nursery is staffed by professional childcare providers and is also available on liturgically significant days such as Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and Easter Sunday. Beginning in fifth grade, students may serve as greeters, assisting ushers, oblation bearers, acolytes, and lectors at the 9:00 a.m. service.
Family ministry includes "All-Ins" at the start of each new liturgical season, an annual guided Eucharist class for parents and children of nursery age and up, a Christmas pageant performed by the Sunday School, an annual Easter Egg hunt, a Youth Sunday celebration at the end of each program year, and an annual summer Vacation Bible Study.
Youth Ministry: The Canterbury Class and Breakfast Club
Middle and high school youth gather for the Canterbury Class, led by Father Andrew Stump, which meets Sunday mornings at 10:00 a.m. in the Sunken Classroom. Beginning in March, the class invites last year's confirmation class and all middle and high school students to continue their journey of faith, deepening what was learned in confirmation and exploring how the Anglican tradition shapes everyday life. Confirmation itself takes place in May at the National Cathedral.
Breakfast Club meets at 7:07 a.m. on the first and third Tuesdays of each month at Open City Cafe on the Cathedral Close. Father Nate and Father Andrew lead a morning of food, Bible study, and connection for middle and high schoolers. Each year the youth group travels on a summer mission trip; the 2026 trip is to Asheville, North Carolina.
Adult Formation: Scripture Seminar, Parish Groups, and Retreats
Adult formation at Christ Church is built around the Scripture Seminar, which meets Sunday mornings at 10:15 in the Memorial Room. Led by the parish clergy and visiting biblical scholars, the seminar offers a book-by-book overview of the entire Bible, with optional readings and a course notebook. Recent and upcoming seminar sessions trace the biblical narrative from Genesis through Revelation, with teachers drawn from both the parish staff and the wider academic world.
Sunday Short Courses meet at 10:15 a.m. in the C. Boyden Gray Auditorium and run on a five- to four-week rhythm: New Members with Fr. Tim Cole; Spiritual Parenting with Mother Tiffany Clark; Marriage and Relationships with Dr. Ernest Clark and others; Discernment and Decision Making with Rev. Dr. Frank Wade; and Unity Amidst Disagreement with Fr. Tim Cole.
A varied set of parish groups meets for study, fellowship, and prayer. The New Parents Group meets monthly for fellowship with infants and toddlers. Going Deeper gathers on alternating Tuesdays at 6:30 p.m. for those hungry for a deeper life with God. GriefShare, led by Father Andrew Stump, meets every other Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. in the Memorial Room. Keeping Faith, for parishioners further on in life, gathers in homes for potluck and discussion. Light on the Hill is a group for those working on Capitol Hill, at the White House, and in federal agencies, meeting monthly on Monday evenings. Next Chapter, for those transitioning from active parenting, gathers monthly over potluck. Agape Suppers (formerly Prime Timers) offer a Wednesday-night meal and a "Behind the Scenes" look at a guild or parish ministry. The Gathering, a women's group, meets monthly in Wesley Heights. Centering Prayer and Lectio Divina meet weekly on Tuesdays from 8:45 to 9:30 a.m. via Zoom.
A Women's Bible Study meets on alternate Monday evenings from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. in the Memorial Room, with a Zoom option. Recent studies have worked through the Gospels of Matthew and the Letter to the Hebrews, led by Mother Tiffany Clark. Bible studies also include Bite-Sized Bible Study, a thirty-minute gathering for parents of nursery and Sunday School-aged children, Sundays at 10:15 a.m. in Room 201 of the Parish Hall, and a Thursday Morning Bible Study on Genesis that meets from 8:00 to 9:00 a.m. in Keith Hall.
Women's, Men's, and Young Professionals Ministries
The Women's Ministry creates spaces for women across generations to connect and deepen their faith. Monthly Women's Social Hours are hosted in parishioners' homes on Thursday evenings from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. An annual Women's Retreat combines prayer, reflection, and fellowship; the 2027 retreat is planned for a Shenandoah Valley location.
The Men's Ministry meets monthly, bringing together men of diverse ages and walks of life for friendship, conversation, and service. Members have assisted the Georgetown Ministry Center's Winter Shelter by preparing and serving meals and welcoming overnight guests in the parish hall. An annual Men's Retreat is held at a retreat center off the coast of Maryland.
The Young Professionals Ministry serves those in their twenties and thirties through fellowship, Bible study, service, and outreach, with monthly socials such as happy hours, brunches, and game nights, and a Young Professionals Progressive Dinner that travels from home to home for appetizers, main course, and dessert.
Feeding Ministries and the Thrift Shop
Outreach is a central expression of life at Christ Church. The parish commits an annual tithe (ten percent of income) to outreach and ministry beyond its own walls, allocated by the Mission Committee. Within its own buildings, Christ Church operates a remarkable range of feeding ministries, coordinated by Father Andrew Stump.
- Weekly Sandwiches. Teams of volunteers prepare sack lunches every Sunday for distribution through the Georgetown Ministry Center.
- Soup Kitchen and Grate Patrol. On the second Sunday of every month, parishioners partner with the Salvation Army to provide hot, healthy meals at multiple locations across Washington. Food is prepared in the Parish Hall from 4:00 to 6:30 p.m., then delivered and given to those in need from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
- Food Pantry Volunteering. On the third Tuesday of each month at 9:00 a.m., parishioners stock the food pantry at the Episcopal Church of the Atonement on East Capitol Street SE.
- Saturday Night Suppers. On the first Saturday of even months, Christ Church volunteers partner with Mt. Zion United Methodist Church in Georgetown to prepare a hot meal for roughly seventy neighbors experiencing homelessness. Set-up begins at 4:00 p.m., dinner is served at 5:00 p.m., and cleanup finishes by 6:15 p.m.
- REACT DC. A newly formed partnership with REACT DC supports refugee resettlement through airport welcomes, transportation, grocery runs, and a wishlist of essential supplies.
The parish also hosts the Winter Shelter in cooperation with the Georgetown Ministry Center, and members of the Saint Francis Guild assist parishioners and neighbors with animal care needs, partner with Oak Hill Cemetery on community events, and support the Humane Rescue Alliance and the Afghan Stray Animal League.
The Christ Church Thrift Shop, located on the lower level of Linthicum Hall, is open September through June on Wednesdays from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and on the fourth Sunday of the month from 10:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The shop accepts clothing, accessories, linens, dinnerware, flatware, glassware, cookware, and bakeware. Through the years, the Thrift Shop has raised almost $600,000 in support of organizations including the Aged Woman's Home of Georgetown, Community of Hope, the House of Ruth, Iona Senior Services, Meals on Wheels, My Sister's Place, Pets with Disabilities, the Salvation Army, Seabury Resources for Aging, the Washington School for Girls, the World Central Kitchen, the Christ Church Discretionary Fund, the Diocese Memorial Scholarship Fund, and the Episcopal Church Women.
Mission Partners: Local and International
Christ Church makes an annual tithe to ministry in the local DC area and beyond. Local mission partners for 2025 are the Bishop John T. Walker School for Boys, Breadcoin, Free Minds Book Club and Writing Workshop, the Georgetown Ministry Center, the John Wesley Institute, Jubilee Jobs, and Seabury Resources for Aging. International partners include the East Partnership for Theological Education (Eastern European Institute of Theology), El Porvenir, Friends of Honduras USA, Help with Compassion, the Jerusalem Princess Basma Centre, the Luke Alliance, Mesa Global, the Mpambara-Cox Foundation Inc., and the West Africa Province of the Society of Jesus.
Applications for mission grants are reviewed by the Mission Committee using the Anglican Communion's Marks of Mission: proclaiming the Good News of the Kingdom; teaching, baptizing, and nurturing new believers; responding to human need by loving service; transforming unjust structures of society, challenging violence of every kind, and pursuing peace and reconciliation; and striving to safeguard the integrity of creation and to sustain and renew the life of the earth.
The Third Century Campaign and Stewardship
The parish has launched the Third Century Campaign, with a goal of $10.5 million, to fund two projects. The first is the renovation of the Parish Hall, originally constructed in 1887, now reopened as Linthicum Hall: a communal space for offices, Sunday School, and church gatherings, with event space capacity that exceeds other non-hotel event spaces in Georgetown, a large room for receptions, a state-of-the-art professional kitchen, a high-tech conference room, and full ADA accessibility. The second project is the installation of a new, world-class organ with an antiphonal division in the rear of the nave, designed to support both the Choir and the congregation.
The parish's annual Stewardship campaign supports the operational mission and ministry of the parish. Pledges may be made online through the parish's Realm database, and the parish also accepts planned gifts including cash bequests, gifts of appreciated securities, charitable gift annuities, charitable remainder trusts, charitable lead trusts, and gifts of closely-held business stock. Christ Church is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, and all donations to its support are tax deductible.
Clergy, Staff, and Governance
The Rector is The Reverend Timothy A. R. Cole, who was ordained in the Scottish Episcopal Church and came to Christ Church in September 2016. Before his call to Georgetown, Father Tim served for twenty years in the British Army's Royal Army Chaplains Department, including deployments to Northern Ireland, Bosnia, Sierra Leone, Iraq, and Afghanistan, and was made an Honorary Chaplain to the Queen in 2014. The Associate Rectors are The Reverend Meredith D. Kefauver Olsen and The Reverend Nathan G. Huddleston. The Reverend Tiffany A. H. Clark serves as Associate Priest for Adult Formation and Parish Groups, and The Reverend Andrew J. Stump serves as Associate Priest for Next Generation and Outreach Ministries. Thomas P. Smith is the Organist and Choirmaster.
The Vestry includes the Rector, the Senior Warden (Al Troup), the Junior Warden (Isabel Kunsman), the Treasurer (Charles "Chad" Thorley), and twelve elected members: Newman Ainsley, Lincoln Foran, Rupert Hammond-Chambers, Gene Hiigel, Babs Hough, Charles Ingersoll, Debbi Jessiman, Marcia Mayo, Michael Miller, Andy Sigler, Tyler Thompson, and John Yasuda. Wardens serve two-year terms and Vestry members serve three-year terms. The Vestry meets monthly except in July and August, usually on the third Tuesday of the month.
Christ Church is located at 3116 O Street NW, Washington, DC 20007. Parking is available on the surrounding streets; on Sundays the west side of 31st Street between O and P Streets is also available. The parish office is open Monday through Thursday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. The phone number is (202) 333-6677 and the email address is info@christchurchgeorgetown.org.
Becoming a Member
Membership in Christ Church is open to any person who has been baptized with water in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, whether in the Episcopal Church or in another Christian denomination. Baptized members of another Episcopal parish may transfer membership by arranging for a Letter of Transfer through the Parish Office. Those coming from another Christian denomination may be received by the bishop at the diocesan liturgy at Washington National Cathedral.
Members of the parish are expected to attend worship regularly, take part in service and outreach, grow in faith through prayer and formation, and make an annual stewardship pledge. Those interested in becoming members may fill out an online contact form or speak with a member of the clergy after a Sunday service.