About

Episcopal Identity

Our Episcopal foundation is at the center of what we do, and we care most about developing young men who possess honor and integrity.

Here, all boys are welcome.

St. Christopher's embraces the Episcopal School tradition that sees each person as a child of God, values inclusion and spiritual growth, and seeks to educate students for lives of meaning and service. While our chapel services are based on the Episcopal faith, all faith traditions are recognized and encouraged.

Our Episcopal identity teaches boys to understand and act upon the idea that they are part of something larger than themselves. From participation in chapel services, support for partner organizations, and a wide variety of hands-on community collaborative projects, all boys, JK-12, learn that they have the capacity and responsibility to help others. As leaders, our students know that service to others is their highest calling.

Missionary Society

The Rev. Dr. Churchill Gibson Chamberlayne, an Episcopal priest and founder of St. Christopher’s, established the Missionary Society in 1924 to instill a sense of service to others in St. Christopher’s boys and to formalize the School’s ongoing community partnerships and service programs. 

Every student is a member of the Missionary Society. Within each division, there are leaders of the Missionary Society who assist with leading Chapel through readings of scripture and prayers, and help organize community service events.

Church Schools in the Diocese of Virginia

In 1920, the School’s name became St. Christopher’s School after its purchase by Church Schools in the Diocese of Virginia (CSDV). Today, CSDV owns and operates five Episcopal educational institutions, which it governs to ensure alignment of missions, consistency of core educational principles, and effective use of resources.

Chapel Services

Each division has a full-time Chaplain dedicated to worship, pastoral care and religious education. Divisionally, they plan and lead Chapel multiple times a week, in addition to gathering for several other services throughout the year to celebrate religious and national holidays. These chapel gatherings are a time not only for prayer, singing, and worship, but also to be spiritually fed by messages from the divisional Chaplain, as well as from guest speakers from within and outside St. Christopher’s community. Boys–of all faiths or of no faith tradition–are encouraged to nurture their spiritual growth, seeking wisdom, purpose, and deeper understanding. 

Examples of special Chapel services throughout the year:

List of 9 items.

  • All-School Opening Service

  • Blessing of the Animals

  • All Saints Services

  • Senior-Led Thanksgiving Service

  • Lessons & Carols

  • Ash Wednesday

  • Holy Week Services

  • All-School Easter Service

  • All-School Memorial Day Service

As an Episcopal school, we are called to:

List of 5 items.

  • Seek and serve Christ in all persons

  • Strive for justice and peace

  • Respect the dignity of every human being

  • Welcome all backgrounds and beliefs

  • Pursue spiritual growth in mind, body and spirit

Our identity and belief system as an Episcopal school is centered around the Baptismal Covenant found in The Book of Common Prayer which “is widely regarded as the normative statement of what it means to follow Christ” by The Episcopal Church.

School Prayer

Almighty God, our heavenly Father, we thank Thee for the unnumbered blessings Thou hast bestowed upon this school and upon us, humbly praying Thee for grace ever to show our thankfulness to Thee for Thy mercies, not with our lips only but in our lives.

Look with favor upon this school, we beseech Thee. Bless those in authority over us, and guide and direct them by Thy Spirit. Be gracious to us teachers and pupils, Thy children, and pardon our sins; take from us all pride, pretense, envy, and hardness of heart; make us pure in thought, in word, and in deed. 

Endue us with the spirit of wisdom and understanding, of unity and brotherhood, and of reverence and Godly fear; show us what Thou wouldst have us to do, and give us the will and determination to do it with our might; and help us to follow in the footsteps of our blessed Lord, that we may live not for ourselves but for Thee, through service to our fellowmen.

Finally, O God, grant that we, together with all those our brethren who have gone before, may meet in Thy everlasting kingdom, to Thy honor and glory, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Written by The Rev. Dr. Churchill Gibson Chamberlayne

A Boy's Prayer

Give me clean hands, clean words, and clean thoughts. Help me stand for the hard right against the easy wrong. Save me from habits that harm. Teach me to work as hard and play as fair in thy sight alone as if all the world saw. Forgive me when I am unkind, and help me to forgive those who are unkind to me. Keep me ready to help others at some cost to myself. Send me chances to do a little good every day and so grow more like Christ. Amen.

Written by The Rev. William Dewitt Hyde

Our Chaplains

List of 3 members.

  • Photo of Darren Steadman

    Darren Steadman 

    Lower School Chaplain
    (804) 282-3185 x2378
  • Photo of Wade Reck

    Wade Reck 

    Middle School Chaplain, Teacher of Bible, and Coach
    (804) 282-3185 x3365
  • Photo of Stephen McGehee

    Steve McGehee 74

    Interim Upper School Chaplain