St. Francis of Assisi Episcopal Church sits on Old Lexington Highway in Chapin, a small town on the shores of Lake Murray in Lexington County, South Carolina. The parish is a member congregation of the Episcopal Diocese of Upper South Carolina and traces its life through two Sunday Eucharists, a long-running thrift shop on Courtland Road, a partnership with the local We Care food bank, and a mission in Cange, Haiti that has been carried by the parish for more than three decades.
Two Sunday Mornings in the Sanctuary
Worship at St. Francis follows the rhythms of the Episcopal Book of Common Prayer. At 8:30 a.m. on Sundays the parish gathers for a quieter Holy Eucharist with a simpler format and piano music, an early hour designed for those who prefer a contemplative start to the day.
At 10:30 a.m. the full Sunday service unfolds, with hymns and the choir, a sermon, the Holy Eucharist, and the occasional baptism or other Episcopal rite. This later service is livestreamed on Facebook for those who cannot attend in person, and it is followed by a fellowship gathering. Both services take place in the Sanctuary on the church campus at 735 Old Lexington Highway.
Wednesday Mornings with Father Doug
Wednesday belongs to Morning Prayer. Father Doug leads the 8:00 a.m. service in the Sanctuary, and at 9:00 a.m. the congregation moves to the Parish Hall for coffee and conversation with the clergy. The parish calls it a way to begin the day grounded in prayer and community, and notes that "early birds are invited to make a strong start to the month."
Christian Education Between the Services
The 9:30 a.m. hour between the two Sunday Eucharists is the church's classroom hour. Adult Christian Education and Children and Youth Sunday School both meet in the Parish Hall Building, and the parish describes its curriculum as wide ranging and intellectually curious. Past offerings have included a viewing and discussion of "Chariots of Fire," a Thursday evening Bible study of First Colossians and the Gospel of Mark, a class on the Trinity and Creation, a discussion series for elders, and a course on "Discipleship According to the Gospel of Mark."
Beyond the classroom, the parish organizes contemplative forest prayer walks, called Creation Walks, which combine silent walking outdoors with reflection on the spiritual bond between creation and the Creator.
The Liturgical Year in Chapin
St. Francis walks the seasons of the church year with attention. Advent and Christmas, Lent and Easter, Epiphany, Ash Wednesday, and All Saints Day each shape the preaching, music, and sacramental life of the parish. Other rites woven into the life of the church include Holy Baptism, Weddings, Blessing Unions, and Funerals. Music and song carry a prominent role, with a full choir supporting the 10:30 a.m. service and a Director of Music leading the parish's repertoire.
One of the most beloved annual moments is the Blessing of the Animals each October, in keeping with the parish's namesake. The church also maintains a pet supply box in its parking lot where neighbors can share or pick up pet supplies, and partners with the nonprofit Pawmetto Lifeline to host a discounted pet vaccination clinic on the campus.
Joining the Parish
Newcomers are invited to a bi-monthly Warm Welcome event, a one-hour gathering where a dedicated "First Friend" walks them through the parish's worship, values, and ways of getting involved. Membership in The Episcopal Church begins with Holy Baptism with water and in the name of the Holy Trinity. Those baptized in another Episcopal congregation are already members; those baptized in another Christian tradition can transfer their baptismal record; and those confirmed in another church may be received by an Episcopal bishop. The parish encourages baptism, confirmation, and active participation in the life of the congregation.
Learning, Growing, and Praying Together
The adult formation life of St. Francis is broad. The Daughters of the King, St. Clare Chapter, meet monthly to pray daily for one another, for the parish, and for the spread of Christ's Word. The chapter currently collects blankets for clients of We Care, and welcomes new members.
The Women of St. Francis gather for a Ladies Tea, seasonal workshops, and an annual retreat. Past events have included a joint "Preparing for Easter" workshop with sisters from St. Mary's in Irmo, where participants crafted an empty tomb, an oyster-shell cross, and "He Is Risen" rocks to place around the community, and a twenty-five-woman retreat to Valle Crucis on the theme JOY (Jesus, Others, You).
Men of St. Francis and other small groups meet for Bible study, fellowship, and shared meals.
Happening is a Christian weekend presented by teenagers for teenagers, designed as an Episcopal way to help young people respond to their call to spread the Word of God. Talks are given by both youth and clergy, and the weekend encourages young people to share their gifts with others.
Cursillo, a three-day weekend rooted in the Episcopal tradition, helps adult Christians grow more effective in their apostolic life. The parish's own Shannon Beckham Berley has served as lay rector with Father Doug as spiritual director for Cursillo weekends, and 4th Day groups gather regularly - including an active nighttime group that meets on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month - to share, pray, and support one another.
A Grief Group offers a warm embrace for those navigating fresh sorrow or long-enduring loss, with the goal of ensuring no one journeys alone.
The Thrift Shop on Courtland Road
Since 1983, the parish has run a thrift shop at 114 Courtland Road in Chapin. Volunteers sort donations, welcome shoppers, and turn the simple act of finding a household item into a shared ministry. Every dollar of proceeds goes back into the community, including a significant portion directed to the We Care Community Food Bank. The shop can be reached at (803) 945-2222, and new inventory is posted on its Facebook page.
We Care and the Chapin Schools
St. Francis is an active partner with We Care, the Chapin-area emergency lifeline for families and individuals in need. Parishioners volunteer alongside other churches, civic groups, and businesses to support the food bank and its related ministries. The church can connect anyone interested in volunteering with a Mission Committee member.
For more than twenty years, the parish has also sponsored a week-long summer camp for underserved Chapin elementary students. Campers enjoy swimming lessons with a certified instructor, crafts, and reading partners, building confidence and friendships. The 2026 camp was led with swim instruction from Coach Jamal of Carolina Blue Wave Swim Club.
Cange, Haiti: A Forty-Year Bond
St. Francis shares one of its deepest partnerships with the community of Cange, Haiti, in the Central Plateau region. The relationship began in 1981 under the leadership of the visionary Episcopal priest Father Fritz Lafontant with a medical mission, and grew to include a water project, clinics and hospitals, a sewing center offering local employment, and a thriving thirty-five-acre farm. Through the diocesan "Adopt-a-Village" initiative, the partnership has helped build over fifteen schools. Parishioners continue to support the work financially and in prayer, with Dell Collins serving as the Outreach Congregational Leadership liaison.
A Meeting Place for Recovery
A chapter of Narcotics Anonymous meets regularly, safely, and anonymously at St. Francis, offering a space grounded in the principles of unity, recovery, and service for individuals working toward a drug-free life.
Clergy, Staff, and the Vestry
The Reverend Doug Graul serves as Rector of St. Francis. A native of Fairfax, Virginia, he holds a B.S. in Political Science from James Madison University and a Master of Divinity from Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary, and was ordained by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America in 1995 before serving parishes in Peak, Spring Hill, Columbia, and Irmo. He and his wife LuAnn have four children, and he is an avid cyclist and a lacrosse booster club president. He began at St. Francis as a supply celebrant before being called as Rector.
Joseph Schroer serves as Director of Music, Megan Shuler as Director of Christian Education and Youth, Karen Wade as Thrift Shop Manager, and Rebecca Christmas as Parish Administrator. After twelve years of service, the Reverend Deacon Ann Pilat retired; her presence is still honored in the parish's prayers and ministry. The congregation is governed by a twelve-member Vestry elected by the parish, including Senior Warden Debbie Kalish and Junior Warden John Evans, with portfolios spanning Finance, Outreach, Worship, Christian Education, Fellowship, Youth, Stewardship, Pastoral Care, Building and Grounds, Communications, and Spiritual Growth and Discipleship.
Giving and Getting Connected
St. Francis welcomes gifts of time, talent, and treasure. Online giving is available through PayPal for recurring donations, one-time gifts, and memorial gifts. Those wishing to talk about other ways to give, including planned gifts or the Capital Campaign, are invited to contact the parish office at 803-345-1550.
Anyone exploring membership, baptism, confirmation, or simply a first visit can reach Father Doug at frdoug@stfrancischapin.org or use the contact forms on the parish's Welcome page. Prayer requests can be submitted to be read aloud in church by noon on Friday before the Sunday service, or quietly remembered by the prayer team. The parish office is at 735 Old Lexington Highway, Chapin, SC 29036, with a mailing address of PO Box 265, Chapin, SC 29036.