The Little Grey Church on the Common
Epiphany Parish stands at 62 Front Street in the center of Walpole, Massachusetts, just off the town Common. Locals have long known the building as "the Little Grey Church on the Common," a name that captures both its modest scale and its long presence in civic life. The parish has gathered for worship in this spot since 1887, more than 130 years, and remains a small but busy congregation rooted in Episcopal tradition and the wider life of Walpole and its neighboring towns.
The church is a member of the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts and part of the worldwide Anglican Communion. Its mission is straightforward: to come together to worship in the power of Jesus' name, to care for one another, and to include all people through fellowship, education, and outreach. That mission shows up in everything from the Sunday morning bulletin to the monthly free community meal served in the parish hall.
Sunday Worship: Rite I and Rite II
From September through June, Epiphany offers two Sunday services, both featuring Holy Communion. At 8:00 a.m., the congregation gathers for a quieter Rite I service, using traditional language drawn from the Book of Common Prayer. At 10:00 a.m., the larger Rite II service takes place, with music, lay participation, and the children of the Sunday School joining their families for Communion halfway through the service. The 10:00 a.m. liturgy is livestreamed on Facebook, with bulletins posted in advance so that those at home can follow along.
During the summer months, the schedule condenses to a single 9:00 a.m. service that alternates weekly between Rite I and Rite II. That single service is also livestreamed on Facebook and is followed by a coffee hour on the lawn or in the parish hall.
All who are seeking a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ are welcome to receive Holy Communion at either service, regardless of church membership. Ushers and greeters hand out bulletins and welcome newcomers, and the coffee hour after the 10:00 a.m. service is a popular place for visitors to meet long-time members and the Rector.
The Christian Year: Advent, Christmas, Lent, Easter, and Pentecost
Epiphany observes the full church year, with special liturgies marking the great seasons. The year begins with Advent, four weeks of expectant waiting leading up to Christmas Eve candlelight services and an intimate Christmas Day service with carols and hot chocolate. Lent begins with Ash Wednesday and includes special services for Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and the Easter Vigil. Easter Sunday brings two services at 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m., followed by an Easter egg hunt for children. Fifty days later, Pentecost celebrates the descent of the Holy Spirit. The parish also observes Epiphany, the feast from which the church takes its name.
Sunday School and the Walpole Multi-Church Youth Group
Children are valued and nurtured at Epiphany, and the Sunday School program is a centerpiece of parish life. From September through May, children age four through grade eight begin the 10:00 a.m. service with their families and are then led downstairs for Sunday School classes that combine instruction, worship, and fellowship. Jean Ford, a long-time member who has been involved in the program since 2001, serves as Sunday School Superintendent. Younger children experience the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, a Montessori-style approach to Christian formation.
The parish is also a founding member of the Walpole Multi-Church Youth Group for students in grades 6 through 9. Epiphany partners with South Walpole United Methodist Church, Union Congregational Church of Walpole, and United Church in Walpole to develop a shared Christian youth ministry for the town. Youth events are held at Epiphany, and the program's mission is to reach out to Walpole-area youth with the joy of the gospel, empowering them to grow in discipleship through inclusive community, formative service, and authentic spiritual practice.
All Sunday School teachers at Epiphany have undergone background checks and Safe Church training as part of the diocese's Protection of Children and Youth policies.
Music Ministry
Hyo Choon Lee became Music Director in May 2024 and plays at Sunday worship during the fall and winter schedule at 10:00 a.m. and during the summer 9:30 a.m. services. She is working to build a choir, open to youth and adults, that provides musical leadership for congregational singing. Anyone interested in joining the choir is encouraged to contact Hyo Choon through the church office. Music at Epiphany is covered under a One License streaming and reprint agreement.
Come Together: A Free Monthly Community Meal
In response to rising food insecurity in local towns, Epiphany launched Come Together, a free monthly community meal served in the parish hall at 62 Front Street. Held on the first Monday of each month from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., the meal is open to everyone: those who need a hot dinner, those who would simply like company, and volunteers who want to help. There is no charge, and RSVPs are encouraged so the kitchen knows how many to expect.
Volunteers from local groups, including the Junior Women's Club of Walpole, assist with serving. Donations to support the program can be made through the church's online giving platform.
The Pumpkin Patch and Other Annual Events
Each October since 2006, Epiphany's lawn has been transformed into a pumpkin patch, with thousands of pumpkins consigned from a farm in Farmington, New Mexico, that employs Native American farmers each growing and harvesting season. The Pumpkin Patch runs from early October through the beginning of November and includes a bake sale and craft table. It is one of the most visible fundraisers of the year and a seasonal landmark in the center of town.
Other annual events include a Mother's Day Plant Sale and Craft Sale in May and a Strawberry Shortcake Sale held during the July 4th celebration on the Walpole Common. Each Advent, the parish also supports Gifts for Kids, an organization that provides Christmas presents for children identified by human service providers in Norfolk County.
Outreach Beyond the Parish
Epiphany's outreach extends beyond Walpole. Parishioners donate fruit, coffee, sugar, and granola bars each month to common cathedral, a Boston-based ministry that serves people experiencing homelessness on the streets of Boston. The parish also supports diocesan and global outreach efforts of the Episcopal Church.
On Friday evenings at 7:30 p.m., the parish hosts an open Alcoholics Anonymous meeting in its facilities. All are welcome to attend.
Baptisms, Weddings, Funerals, and Home Communion
Epiphany celebrates Holy Baptism during Sunday morning worship or at the Easter Vigil, welcoming both children and adults. Parents of children and adults preparing for baptism meet with the Rector in the weeks beforehand.
The parish welcomes all couples seeking to enter into a life-long union, including same-sex couples. Weddings follow the Book of Common Prayer or other approved Episcopal marriage liturgies, and at least one of the two persons must be a baptized Christian. Couples meet with the Rector four to six times for pastoral counseling, and weddings are scheduled at least six months in advance. Remarriage after divorce is permitted, with the bishop's permission required; those previously married twice are asked to undergo professional counseling first. Civil marriages can also receive a blessing in church.
Funerals and memorial services may be held at Epiphany even for those who are not members of the parish. The church considers it a privilege to support families during times of grief and helps them prepare to honor and say goodbye to loved ones.
For those unable to attend in person due to illness or physical challenges, arrangements can be made for Home Communion. Members of the Pastoral Care Team also visit homebound parishioners and the hospitalized and send cards of encouragement.
Getting Involved: Lay Ministries and Groups
Epiphany offers many ways to participate beyond Sunday attendance. Lay Readers and Lay Eucharistic Ministers read scripture and assist with the chalice at worship. Acolytes, both youth and adults, serve as torch bearers, candle lighters, crucifers, and altar preparers. St. Agatha's Altar Guild prepares the worship space each Sunday and for weddings, baptisms, funerals, and special occasions.
Ushers and greeters welcome people at the door and assist with the collection. Coffee Hour Hosts provide hospitality after the 10:00 a.m. service. The Stewardship Committee organizes the annual fund drive, the Finance Committee oversees the parish's finances and investments, and the Property Committee maintains the building and grounds. An Adult Bible Study meets on Monday evenings, moving to Zoom during the darkest weeks of winter and taking a break in the summer.
The Vestry, elected by the congregation at the annual meeting, manages the temporal affairs of the parish in partnership with the Rector. The Senior Warden, Junior Warden, Treasurer, and Clerk serve alongside elected Vestry members, who serve three-year terms.
What Episcopalians Believe
Epiphany shares in the broader beliefs of the Episcopal Church. Parishioners worship a loving, liberating, and life-giving God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. As members of the Anglican Communion in the United States, Episcopalians are descendants of and partners with the Church of England and the Scottish Episcopal Church and are part of the third largest group of Christians in the world.
The Episcopal Church has a legacy of inclusion. Women and men serve as bishops, priests, and deacons. Laypeople and clergy cooperate as leaders at all levels of the church. Leadership is understood as a gift from God that can be expressed by all people, regardless of sexual identity or orientation. The parish welcomes the young and the old, the seasoned and the newcomer, the married and the single, those of any economic, ethnic, cultural, or religious background, and those of all abilities. Diversity is not only welcomed but celebrated.
The Rector and Ministry Team
The Rev. Christen H. Mills has served as Rector of Epiphany Parish since 2019, having been appointed Priest-in-Charge in November 2016. She studied religion and art history at Boston University, served as a Young Adult Service Corps missionary in the Anglican Diocese of Chubu in Nagoya, Japan, and earned her Master of Divinity from Virginia Theological Seminary in 2014. She was ordained a deacon by the Rt. Rev. M. Thomas Shaw and a priest by the Rt. Rev. Alan M. Gates before serving as assistant rector at St. Peter's in Weston. She lives in Walpole with her husband, Dan Hicks.
Music Director Hyo Choon Lee leads congregational singing and is building a choir open to youth and adults. Sunday School Superintendent Jean Ford has been a part of the program since 2001. Parish Administrator Rosa Palomino, who joined in June 2025, can be reached at the office Tuesday through Thursday mornings and Monday evenings. The Vestry includes Senior Warden Thomas Schneider, Junior Warden Alison DiPasca, and Treasurer Jan Nuzzolo, along with elected members Joanne Douglas, Brian Shea, Uvilton Vieira, Jen Hee, Joan Ruuska, and Adriana Martinez.
Visiting Epiphany
Newcomers are warmly welcomed at Epiphany. The church is located at 62 Front Street in the center of Walpole, with a parking lot next to the church and additional street parking available on Front Street and around the Town Common. Dress ranges from suits and dresses to jeans; the only expectation is comfort. Children are always welcome in worship, and the presence of children is considered a gift to the church.
Those interested in learning more can join the weekly email list, follow the parish on Facebook, or request a visit with the Rector. The church office is open Monday from 4:15 to 7:15 p.m. and Tuesday through Thursday from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Weekly newsletters are published on Tuesday afternoons and posted online.