About St. David's
We're happy to meet you and share some insights on St. David's! We strive to be "the corner church, wherever you are"- spiritually, physically, and beyond.
Our goal is to make everyone feel welcomed and cherished, wherever you find yourself on the theological or political spectrum. We do that through a focus on the biblical teachings that center our attention on our life together, the love Jesus has for all of us, the welcoming of the visitor, and the care of all.
WHO WE ARE
Our focus on the biblical teachings of God and Jesus respects the unique perspectives of each spiritual journey.
Our life in faith stands on a foundation of tradition as we explore the future through innovation and experimentation. Spiritual expression is found in diverse services, a prayer garden and our labyrinth.
We cherish the joyful noise of children and embrace their families. Through active fellowship, hospitality, and pastoral care ministries, our life together stretches beyond Sunday morning. A variety of outreach efforts pushes that life beyond St. David’s into the wider neighborhood.
WHERE WE'RE GOING
To welcome and cherish all who come through our doors, we will continue expanding our fellowship, hospitality, and pastoral care ministries. We will keep working to grow programs aimed at families with children, to help them grow into disciples.
We want to be a positive influence on community, including senior adults.
We invite our neighborhood into St. David’s through social gatherings, the prayer garden and labyrinth.
WHERE WE'VE BEEN
In 1964, the Department of Mission of the Diocese of Southern Virginia prepared for growth in our area of Chesterfield County, and purchased five acres of land, where we are currently located.
On February 5, 1967, twelve people met for Evening Prayer at the Chesterfield Community Center, just down the road from our current site. This was the beginning of St. David’s.
Services were held at that location until 1972, when the first service was held in the new building on our property. St. David’s was part of a mission cure with the Church of Our Saviour. Our first vicar was the Rev. William Christian. It was a time of growth for St. David’s.
1974 saw the dissolution of the mission cure, and St. David’s called the Rev. Peter Hogg as its vicar. Our parish expanded its physical plant twice in the '70s—first for Sunday School rooms and then for a Fellowship Hall, now used as a classroom.
Taking advantage of the new space, an outreach program, St. David's Nursery School, began in September 1978.
In 1980, St. David’s called the Rev. Mike Murphy as its new vicar.
The '80s were years of spiritual and physical growth for the parish, both in membership and facilities.
We became a parish at the Diocesan Council in February 1984. Immediately thereafter, our Vestry called the Rev. Murphy to be our first rector. The size of the nave doubled from its original size.
The Right Reverend C. Charles Vaché helped us dedicate our worship space on St. David's Day in 1987.
During the first quarter of 1991, the Rev. Karen Walters was called to be our rector. The first full-time female rector in the Diocese of Southern Virginia, she served for five years. During that time, the parish continued to grow in membership.
The Reverend William (Bill) Jones joined St. David’s in 1993 for the first of two stints as our deacon.
In the summer of 1996, the Reverend Walters left the parish, and the Reverend Theodore W. Johnson answered the call to serve as our Interim Rector. Reverend Johnson led the congregation in a transition to a program-sized parish. This extended the interim period and paused the search process. Deacon Bill completed his first tenure as well.
In early 1999, the Vestry resumed the search for a permanent priest and commissioned a search committee.
This led to the call of the Reverend Phillip R. Glick as Rector in January 2001.
A call to active duty as an Army chaplain in Afghanistan interrupted his tenure in 2004. When Father Phil returned at the end of 2004, St. David’s once again explored its future. The congregation expanded the facilities as a precursor to future growth.
In 2007, the Right Reverend Heath Light dedicated the new parish hall. Deacon Bill Jones returned to serve as St. David’s deacon. Father Phil was called back to active duty, this time in Iraq. With at least a 15-month tour of duty in front of him, Father Phil prayerfully elected to leave his position at St. David’s. The Reverend Rick Willis guided us through a two-year interim period, during which we identified core values and underwent a search process.
In December 2010, we called the Rev. Elizabeth Felicetti as our new Rector. Pastor Elizabeth began her ministry with us on Feb. 1, 2011, and our diocesan bishop, the Rt. Rev. Holly Hollerith led us in a Celebration of New Ministry on Feb. 27. 2011, and 2011-2019 was a period of stability for the parish, after the calling of our rector.
Our day school began to experience declining enrollment due to the implementation of pre-K programs in Chesterfield County Schools. We made the difficult decision to close our day school in the spring of 2017.
In 2020-21, the pandemic presented unique challenges for people all over the world, and St. David’s was no different. Our response included an increased emphasis on streamed worship, followed by a period of restricted attendance. Pastor Elizabeth’s cancer diagnosis made that time even more difficult.
2024 was an incredibly hard year for St. David’s, losing both our beloved clergy, Pastor Elizabeth, and Deacon Bill Jones.
After months of being served by supply priests, we welcomed the Reverend Paul Johnson as our interim rector in 2025.
In January 2026, St. David’s began the search process for our next clergy person.