Christ Episcopal Church sits at the intersection of Oakland Mills Road and Dobbin Road in Columbia, Maryland, a place where a worshiping community has gathered for nearly three hundred years. The parish first took shape in 1727 when the Maryland legislature established it as Queen Caroline Parish; the name Christ Church entered the ledger in 1811, when the brick meeting house that still anchors the campus was consecrated. Today the same nine acres host a third congregation in a much newer building, the 1993 New Brick, and the parish is known across Howard County for an affirming, multicultural welcome, a robust music program, an interfaith refugee ministry, and a tight circle of outreach partnerships that reach from Ellicott City to the Dominican Republic to a primary school in Uganda.
A Parish Rooted in Three Centuries
Christ Church is an historic parish with a contemporary outlook, and its calendar keeps turning back to its beginnings. The Maryland legislature created Queen Caroline Parish in 1727. The brick church that became Christ Church was consecrated in 1811, and its name has been in continuous use since. Inside Old Brick today, the same silver flagon, chalice, and paten purchased by the parish in 1747 are still used for communion. A Bible that was given as a wedding gift to the parish's first Rector, James Macgill, in 1738 remains part of the parish's treasury of objects.
Christ Church celebrates three Sunday services and looks forward to its 300th anniversary in 2027 with eight planning committees already at work. Those committees are shaping a year of liturgy, worship, music, speakers, fundraisers, and legacy projects. A separate Race and Slavery / History team is digging into the parish's origins to document the role of race throughout the church's history, from its founding roots involving the enslavement of Black people to the racial diversity of today's congregation. Their work will update the 1986 written history of Christ Church and provide guidance to parishioners for the next three centuries.
Three Buildings on Nine Acres
Christ Church's main campus, approximately nine acres, was deeded to the parish in 1738 and sits at the corner of Oakland Mills and Dobbin Roads, just west of the village center of Columbia. Three buildings share the grounds.
Old Brick is the oldest church building still in regular use in Howard County and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The 1811 structure hosts the 8 a.m. Sunday Eucharist, the noon Wednesday healing service, the Sunday Circle adult forum between services, and other gatherings and celebrations throughout the year.
New Brick was consecrated in 1993 and is the home of the larger 9 a.m. Family Worship, the 10:30 Choral Eucharist with the full choir, Sunday children's ministries in adjoining classrooms, the Great Hall for receptions and large gatherings, and most of the parish's programmed events. The Great Hall has mobile walls that allow it to be configured from a single large room into several smaller spaces. The New Brick Sanctuary has ample parking, two-level seating that accommodates 400, and acoustics tuned for music.
The Parish Hall, the third building, was constructed in 1950 and houses offices, smaller meeting rooms, and a kitchen used by ministries and renters alike. An open field on the grounds provides overflow parking when large events are held and, in a more pastoral mode, grazing room for the local deer. Between Old Brick and New Brick sits a cemetery with plots dating to the 19th century. Christ Church also maintains, without owning, the Dorsey cemetery about a mile away, which holds the graves of founders of Queen Caroline Parish.
The campus is available to rent for weddings, receptions, family reunions, corporate seminars, milestone celebrations, and concerts. Spaces range from the 400-seat sanctuary to breakout rooms and outdoor areas, with a kitchen suitable for catering.
Sunday Mornings at Christ Church
Three Sunday services anchor the rhythm of the week. The 8 a.m. Holy Eucharist in Old Brick is a quiet, spoken service without music, well suited to those who prefer an intimate gathering. At 9 a.m., Family Worship takes over New Brick for a thirty-minute service built around children. It includes a children's homily and a Communion gathered around the altar, welcoming every age into participation.
The 10:30 a.m. Choral Eucharist in New Brick is the most musical service of the week, with the Adult Choir and instrumentalists leading hymns and anthems. It is also the service that is livestreamed on YouTube and Facebook every Sunday, with bulletins and worship leaflets available online and a full archive of past services with collect, readings, sermon, and livestream posted afterward.
From mid-June through Labor Day weekend, the parish runs a streamlined summer schedule: the 9 a.m. Family Worship continues, Sunday School and Sunday Circle take a break, and the 8 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Eucharists remain. The fall schedule, with all three Sunday services plus Sunday School and Sunday Circle, begins on the Sunday after Labor Day. During Lent the services follow the traditional Rite I; the rest of the year they use the more contemporary Rite II of the Book of Common Prayer.
Christ Church's nursery is staffed from 9 a.m. to noon every Sunday for children aged six months through preschool, and is located on the lower level of New Brick. Parents of any of those children are welcome to drop them off before or after services.
Weekday Prayer, Healing, and Hospitality
Outside of Sunday, prayer shapes the week. Morning Prayer is livestreamed Monday through Friday at 7 a.m., with brief services of scripture and prayer for the community and the world. On Wednesdays at noon, the parish gathers in Old Brick for Noonday Worship, a Eucharistic service of healing with anointing. Friday evenings at 7 p.m. bring a livestreamed Evening Prayer. These weekday services pause on holidays; otherwise, anyone can join online or in person.
The 10:30 livestream has drawn visitors into the parish from around the country and the world, and the weekday prayers and Friday evening offering expand that reach. The 10:30 livestream is broadcast through the Christ Church YouTube channel and the parish Facebook page. The Sunday bulletin is shared digitally, and full worship archives are kept so a parishioner traveling or a newcomer considering a visit can watch recent services at any time.
Children, Youth, and Family Formation
Christian formation at Christ Church begins in early childhood and continues through high school. Sunday School for children from preschool through fifth grade gathers at 9:30 a.m. after the 9 a.m. Family Worship, with classrooms adjoining the Great Hall. Older youth meet in the Youth Room of the Parish Hall. The program aims to provide a safe, caring environment where young people can build supportive relationships, grow strong in their faith, and practice serving others. Throughout the year, Bible-based teaching is paired with opportunities to explore interests and issues the children themselves bring to the table.
Youth ministry extends beyond Sunday morning. The Christ Church Youth Group gathers during the school year for service, learning, and fellowship; teens and adults participate together in DreamBuilders mission trips; the Children's Choir brings younger singers into worship; and acolytes serve at the altar. Confirmation is a special milestone. The next Confirmation will be celebrated on Thursday, May 6, 2027, when the Diocesan Bishop visits Christ Church; classes are held on Sunday afternoons in a hybrid format for youth preparing for Confirmation, Reception, or Reaffirmation of their vows.
During Sunday School, parents have their own gathering, the Christ Church Parenting Group, in the New Brick Vestry Room at 9:30 a.m. The group shares the joys and challenges of parenthood, hosts occasional guest speakers, and serves as a support system.
Adult Formation and the Sunday Circle
Adults in the parish have several entry points. The Sunday Circle is an open adult forum that meets between the 9 a.m. Family Worship and the 10:30 Choral Eucharist, from 9:30 to 10:15 a.m. in Old Brick (and on Zoom) during the program year. Most sessions are recorded for those who would like to revisit the conversation. Themes change every few weeks; recent and current series have included Voices of the Gospel, The Gift of Being Yourself, Spirituality of Justice and Pilgrimage to Alabama, Spirituality of Advent, Virtues of a Beloved Community, Theology of Justice, Spiritual Practices, Addiction and Spirituality, Faith Traditions and Sin, Viewpoints on Immigration, History of Women in the Church, and Forms of Stewardship.
Education for Ministry (EfM) is a four-year, small-group program in theological reflection offered through the Beecken Center of the School of Theology at the University of the South. Participants read the Bible alongside basic commentary, church and world history, and introductions to Christian theology and ethics. The Rev. Marcia Davenport, Associate Rector Emeritus, leads Christ Church's EfM seminar; new participants may begin in any year of the four-year cycle. Graduates describe the program as a way to discover their call to ministry where they live, work, and play.
For those seeking quiet rather than conversation, the Center for Spiritual Nourishment meets on the second Saturday of each month with a half-day program of teaching and sharing, spiritual direction, meditation, inspirational films, and a dedicated space for processing trauma, grief, and hope. Past themes have ranged from the seasons of the church year to the spiritual senses, contemplative prayer, divine love, and writing as spiritual practice.
Music at the Heart of Worship
Music is central to Christ Church's mission and worship life. The Adult Choir rehearses on Thursday evenings during the program year and provides hymn leadership and anthems for the 10:30 service. Open to anyone who enjoys singing, the choir requires no prior experience and no music-reading skills; newcomers are paired with seasoned singers and learn as they go. Rehearsals are from 7:30 to 9:00 p.m. and are a community as much as a working ensemble.
The Children's Choir welcomes children of Christ Church and the wider community, both newcomers and returning singers, with rehearsals led by Music Director Larissa Sanders. The Handbell Choir, newly established as a permanent part of the music ministry, invites anyone who has ever been curious about handbells to give it a try. Vocal and instrumental soloists are also invited to share their gifts during the program year.
Larissa Sanders, who grew up in the Baltimore area and studied piano performance at Towson University, leads the program. She has served as a church musician for over twenty years, teaches music at Hammond Elementary School, and brings a particular passion for working with young musicians. Under her direction the parish has hosted Juneteenth concerts, summer recitals with the ensemble Small Delusions, a Larissa and Friends fall recital now becoming an annual tradition, and choral evensongs on special Sundays.
Lumen Christi: Praise Through Movement
The Lumen Christi liturgical dancers began at the start of this century as a multigenerational group interpreting hymns through movement at Christ Episcopal Church. The choir frequently accompanies them, and the dance ministry helps celebrate the beginning of the liturgical year, Lessons and Carols in Advent, Holy Week, Pentecost Sunday, Survivors' Sunday, and other special occasions. No specific dance training is required; the only prerequisite is a desire to pray through movement.
Care, Pastoral Support, and Inreach
Caring for one another is described at Christ Church as the heartbeat of parish life. The Pastoral Care Ministry brings together clergy and parishioners in a network of lay support, including Lay Eucharistic Visits that bring communion to those unable to attend in person, a Healing Prayer Station during Sunday Eucharist with anointing and prayer, a Flower Ministry that delivers altar flowers to those in the hospital or marking special occasions, a bereavement ministry, baptism preparation, a Keep in Touch ministry of calls and cards for those temporarily or long-term away, and a Prayer Box in the lobby for written prayer requests that the Rector lifts up privately.
The Christ Church Inreach Ministry focuses on strengthening the community through personalized services. Wellness Watch, a contact-based program primarily for those living alone, reaches out by text, phone, or email on a schedule the parishioner chooses, to check on safety and connection. Meal Delivery places home-cooked meals at the doors of parishioners during brief or extended needs, and additional services such as visits, errands, medication pickup, and outings can be arranged when needed.
Health Ministry
The Christ Church Health Ministry was launched in 2019 to promote wellness among parishioners and the wider community. Programs have addressed diabetes and heart disease, exercise, nutrition, and mental health in uncertain times. A weekly basic exercise class meets on Saturday mornings at 10:00 in New Brick, led by a certified instructor who supplies resistance bands and other accessories. Cycling for Health and Fellowship, a partnership with the Baltimore Bicycle Club, organizes no-stress group rides on the first and third Saturdays at 9 a.m., with all ages (children accompanied by an adult) and skill levels welcome.
Monthly blood pressure screenings, one-on-one consultations with licensed pharmacists and nurses, seminars on living with chronic illness, and educational workshops round out the program. Volunteer nurses and pharmacists Diane Phillips Laguerre, RN, CCM, and Bunmi Daramaja, R.Ph., lead the work.
Outreach: A Parish That Reaches Far
Outreach at Christ Church operates from the conviction of Matthew 25:40, that what is done for the least of these is done for Christ. The Outreach Commission supports sustainable, enduring projects that enable long-term goals, with partnerships spanning local, national, and international work.
Locally, the parish supports FISH of Howard County and Columbia Community Care, with parishioners placing non-perishable food and personal care items in the altar baskets and in a bin just inside the Parish Hall. Christ Church volunteers serve a monthly chicken dinner for 50 shelter residents through the Leola Dorsey Community Resource Center in Jessup, donate lightly used clothing and personal items to the Center's closet, and provide occasional funds for OTC medicines and pharmacy items.
The LEMS Partnership pairs the parish with Lake Elkhorn Middle School. Volunteers maintain a Kindness Pantry with nonperishable food and household items, distribute protein boxes from the Roving Radish, support teachers, families, and students in transition, and assist the school with materials needed throughout the year.
The Bridges to Housing Stability partnership has included volunteers refurbishing Guilford House, the transitional home in Columbia where returning citizens find housing after incarceration in partnership with the Howard County Department of Corrections. The annual Birdies for Bridges Golf Tournament benefits the same organization.
DreamBuilders, a construction-based mission partnership that Christ Church helped lead, joined the core group in 2008. Volunteers build and repair homes locally for The ARC of Howard County, which provides housing to adults with disabilities, and travel to disaster-affected sites to repair and rebuild with partners such as Almost Heaven Habitat for Humanity, St. Bernard Project, and Rebuild Joplin. Recent mission weeks have gone to West Virginia, Louisiana, Missouri, Vermont, and New York. The parish sponsors DreamBuilders' annual fundraisers and mission trip scholarships.
In Uganda, the Friends of Sabina partnership supports Sabina Primary School in Sanje and its Ssanje Community Resource Center. Christ Church parishioners sponsor individual students from primary school through vocational training, with annual letter exchanges and a yearly Zoom reunion that regularly draws nearly a dozen parishioners in person and online.
In the Dominican Republic, Somos Amigos Medical Missions delivers quality medical and dental care to communities surrounding El Naranjito near the Haitian border. Christ Church has been a partner since 2015, contributing funds and publicity to support clinic weeks in January, April, July, and October that serve more than 500 patients each trip and follow up with thousands more.
In Thailand, the Outreach Commission contributes annually to the salary of a physical or occupational therapist at Christian Care Foundation for Children with Disabilities (CCD). The organization runs Rainbow House, a residential home for up to 40 children, an independent living home for young-adult males, day-care centers, and community-based rehab projects in four provinces. Thailand's Ministry of Social Development and Human Security has honored CCD with an award for its "Excellent" standard of disability-related organization.
The Interfaith Refugee Ministry
What began as a Christ Church response to the August 2021 collapse of Afghanistan has become one of the most distinctive ministries of the parish. In the days after the Taliban takeover, members of Christ Church researched refugee resettlement and partnered with Lutheran Social Services to co-sponsor an Afghan refugee family. Volunteers from St. John's Episcopal Church in Ellicott City and Patapsco Friends Meeting joined in the first months.
The Interfaith Refugee Ministry (IRM) has since grown to sixteen or more congregations, including Episcopal, Quaker, Jewish, Methodist, Lutheran, Roman Catholic, Unitarian Universalist, Latter-day Saints, and other traditions, helping to settle and stabilize eight families and counting. The first family, a female Afghan medic and three of her four sons, arrived in late December 2021 with little more than two working cellphones, some clothing, and a fierce determination to begin new lives. Within eighteen months all four were working; the youngest son graduated from high school and entered Howard Community College; and the family steadily took on more of their own expenses. By 2025 they were financially self-sufficient.
The ministry's foundational principles are simple. Volunteers say yes when asked for help, accompany families as they adjust to life in the United States, and respect every faith tradition without proselytizing. The work ranges from financial assistance to rides to jobs, doctors, and grocery stores; tutoring in English, reading, and math; help with job searches, resumes, and interviews; school enrollment for children from preschool through high school; opening bank accounts and paying bills; finding doctors, dentists, and translated documents; and providing used computers, phones, clothing, furniture, and household goods.
The ministry is supported by the parish budget and by donations made through the church's Realm system (checks may be made payable to Christ Church, with "Interfaith Ministry" in the memo line). Volunteers are always welcome, especially drivers willing to give one morning a week for a working parent.
The Spiritual Life Commission and the 300th Anniversary
The Spiritual Life Commission (SLC) provides nourishment for the soul throughout the church year. Each year, the SLC chooses a theme that shapes the parish's retreats and formation offerings. The 2026 theme is "Bound to Christ in Love and Hope," echoing the hymn St. Patrick's Breastplate. Activities coordinated by the SLC include weekly Prayers of the People for the Sunday services, an Advent Quiet Day, a Christmas Gathering in Old Brick, a Lenten Reflection Day, a five-week Wednesday Evening Lenten Supper series with invited presenters, a yearly Lenten Meditation Book (more than 75 pages the most recent year), and a fall weekend family retreat at the DuPont Center in Rehoboth, Delaware.
Eight 300th Anniversary committees are already at work planning 2027's celebrations, with subcommittees on Liturgy, Worship and Music; Events; Communications; Fundraising; Race and Slavery / History; and Legacy Projects and Endowments.
Women of Christ Church and Men of Christ Church
Women of Christ Church (WOCC) is open to every adult woman who attends Christ Church. The WOCC gathers on the first Monday of each month (with breaks in summer and a December Christmas dinner at a local restaurant), organizes the long-running annual Flea Market and Craft Fair in September as its largest fundraiser, hosts outings such as the annual Toby's Dinner Theatre evening, supports Grassroots in Howard County by providing meals each month, and runs Hats On for Mother's Day.
Men of Christ Church (MOCC) gathers for monthly breakfasts on the third Saturday (in summer the meeting is at Silver Diner), hosts Theology on Tap evenings in casual settings, and supports neighbors through Random Acts of Kindness, including contributions to Comfort Cases for children in foster care, drop-offs of coffee and donuts to local firefighters, and snacks for the ER staff at Howard County General.
An Affirming Parish on the Jesus Movement
Christ Episcopal Church has adopted an explicit statement of welcome: it is committed to providing a safe, respectful, and enjoyable environment for all parishioners, visitors, and staff, free of discrimination based on race, color, gender, creed, age, sexual orientation, relationship status, national origin, disability, or military status. The parish describes itself as a Christ-centered, multicultural, affirming community and has been recognized as an affirming parish.
The parish is part of the Episcopal Diocese of Maryland and connects to the wider Episcopal Church's identification as the Episcopal branch of the Jesus Movement: "following Jesus into loving, liberating and life-giving relationship with God, with each other and with the earth," loving God with whole heart, mind, and soul, and loving neighbors as oneself.
Worship at Christ Church is centered on Holy Communion, also known as the Eucharist, and adheres closely to the Book of Common Prayer, with the liturgy and language of services, weddings, baptisms, funerals, and other important occasions. Each service begins with song and prayer, moves through Bible readings and a sermon, prays the Nicene Creed together, lifts up prayers for the church, community, world, and those in need, confesses sin, and receives absolution, before the celebrant blesses the bread and wine and the congregation shares in the Body and Blood of Christ. Believers of any denomination are invited to share the bread and wine.