Churches Begin a New Journey in Nurturing Children in Worship
We are excited to announce the 10 congregations that will participate in the first cohort of Pathways to Prayer and Practice, an initiative of the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia funded by a grant from the Lilly Endowment. This initiative supports congregations as they imagine new ways to more fully welcome children into worship, deepen faith at home, and grow intergenerational spiritual life.
Over the past several weeks, churches across the Diocese engaged in a multiround application and discernment process. The response was both encouraging and energizing. Leaders from a wide range of communities expressed a shared longing to center children in worship and formation, along with a hopeful openness to experimentation and learning.
While the initial plan was to launch with five churches, the strength of the applications and the momentum across the Diocese led to a faithful decision to expand the first cohort to 10 congregations. This expansion reflects the clear readiness among our congregations and a desire to respond faithfully to the Spirit-led energy already present in this work.
The following 10 churches have committed to join the inaugural cohort:
- Christ Church, Glen Allen
- St. George’s Episcopal Church, Fredericksburg
- Grace Church, Goochland
- St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Ivy
- St. Christopher’s, Springfield
- St. Anne’s Church, Reston
- St. James the Less, Ashland
- St. Alban’s, Annandale
- St. James’ Episcopal Church, Leesburg
- St. James Church, Louisa
Together, these congregations reflect a rich diversity across the Diocese of Virginia. They include small, medium, and large churches located in rural, suburban, and urban settings, and represent seven different regions of the Diocese. Their participation highlights the importance of engaging congregations of all sizes and settings throughout this multiyear learning journey as we work together to discover faithful, practical ways to welcome and form children through worship and prayer.
The cohort will officially gather for the first time on February 19, 2026, for a virtual kickoff session. From there, they will enter a yearlong process shaped by learning, experimentation, and local innovation. This includes:
- A Preparation Phase, with interactive workshops (beginning with a focus on Asset-Based Community Development) to help congregations identify strengths and design creative, context-specific approaches
- An Innovation Phase, including a two-day retreat at Shrine Mont and a “hatchathon” experience supported by Ministry Incubators
- An Implementation Phase, where churches will roll out their projects to deepen children’s engagement in worship and support families in growing faith at home. Each church will be paired with a dedicated coach who will provide guidance and encouragement throughout this phase.
Participants have shared deep excitement about beginning this work together and stepping into a community of learning, faithfulness, and imagination.
We are honored to begin this shared journey alongside these congregations, and we look forward to walking this pathway together with all who will follow.
We invite you to follow along, learn with us, and consider applying in the future. Visit the Pathways to Prayer and Practice webpage to stay connected.