By Communications Team
“God is good. All the time.” Those six words end every service at Varina Episcopal Church, which in summer 2026 marked a century of faith, worship, and outreach in Henrico County.
The Rt. Rev’d Gayle E. Harris, Assistant Bishop of the Diocese of Virginia, led the celebration of the past 10 decades. A sanctuary expansion in the 1970s, the installation of a pipe organ in the 1980s, and years of steady growth led to this milestone.
The bishop’s June 21 visit also spotlighted a church that is growing, and its future is bright.
“First and foremost, we are celebrating the work of the Holy Spirit in four members of our community who are confirming and reaffirming their faith and their commitment to a life of discipleship,” said the Rev’d Dr. Bart A. Natoli, the church’s vicar. “That in and of itself is a joyous event in the life of a church!”
Luca Carmen Natoli, Banon Madayag Whitlow, and Suzanne Marie Balduzzi Williams were confirmed, while Ann Thornton Coble reaffirmed her baptismal vows. The congregation did as well, promising to strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being.
Following the service, the congregation gathered in the Parish Hall for a forum and reception in honor of Bishop Harris, the confirmands, and those reaffirming their vows.
Back in the 1920s
The church’s year-long centennial marks the 1926 construction of the sanctuary building. Four years earlier, Varina Episcopal began when a group first gathered in prayer along Mill Road.
In that time, Varina was a quiet farming community named after verinas, a type of premium tobacco. Today it is a growing suburban area, where the parish remains a constant gathering place committed to making a difference.
Chief among the many ministries at Varina Church is its support of the Varina Food Pantry, a joint mission with other local churches that is based at Varina Church. This outreach serves hundreds of families each month.
Varina Church is also active in Eastern Henrico FISH (Friends in Service Helping) Inc., which provides short-term emergency services to individuals in need, and in the Shoebox Ministry for Operation Christmas Child, which collects toys, school supplies, and hygiene items for children around the world.
“We make known our love for Jesus and make it real in the world by going forth as disciples to serve others and to create a more just and loving world,” Natoli said. “Varina Church lives out its belief that God is good all the time by going out into the community to spread the love of God through the service of neighbor.”
The parish also embodies the diocesan mission to love Jesus, embody justice, and be disciples. “God is good. All the time,” Natoli said, is “the core of who we are at Varina Church, a declaration of the Good News of Jesus and his love for the world, but also of our own deep love for Jesus.”
Musical cornerstone
Music during the service featured a new addition to the sanctuary: a grand piano, given by the Frayser Family in memory of Jeanne C. Frayser, who had previously donated the original sanctuary piano. Frayser local roots go back to pre-Revolutionary War days.
Bishop Harris led the congregation in a formal blessing of this instrument, which Natoli predicted “will be used to praise God and stir the souls of the next generations of Varina parishioners.”
The service music included Pachelbel’s “A Mighty Fortress,” sequence hymn “Breathe on me, Breath of God,” Natalie Sleeth’s anthem “God of great and God of small,” and Stanley’s “Trumpet Voluntary” performed by Kyle Hermann.
“Throughout this century, Varina Church has been home to so many individuals and has served as a beacon of hope and love for the Varina community,” Natoli said. “So, we are excited to have Bishop Harris send us forth to love and serve our community for the next hundred years!”
View photos from the service:
Varina Episcopal Church photo gallery