History

Church of Our Saviour had its beginnings in 1895, when two young women from Christ Episcopal began a Sunday school class at Rio Schoolhouse. A small community held semi-monthly services there for more than a decade. In 1906, that community built the Rock Chapel next to the schoolhouse, and it became the center of what was then a rural community well outside of Charlottesville. We celebrated the Chapel’s centennial on June 4, 2006, with a rededication led by the Rt. Rev. Bishop Peter Lee.

To accommodate a growing congregation, Church of Our Saviour built a new sanctuary in 1967, and expanded its facilities again in the early 1980s. The Church hired its first full-time clergy, the Rev. James Cunningham, in 1960. The Rev. Harold Hallock succeeded him in 1981, and went on to serve for 22 years, leading the Church’s expanding commitment to social ministry and outreach. Following his retirement in 2004, the Church called the Rev. Anne Hallmark as interim rector, and in September 2005, called the Rev. David Stoddart as permanent rector.

Throughout our history, we have sought to do Christ’s work in the world through prayer, worship, community support, and social ministry. That work continues today.