Del Ray United Methodist Church has stood at 100 E. Windsor Avenue in Alexandria, Virginia, since September 1893, when the congregation first gathered at the home of Isaac D. Arnold. By Christmas of that year, the Harmon Wood Realty Company had donated a lot of land, and a small frame building went up at the church's present location. Over the following decades the structure grew in stages: a wing was added at the back, a basement and kitchen appeared by 1916, the pastor's home next door was finished in 1923, the current sanctuary was completed in 1952, and an education building was finished in 1962.
The neighborhood around the church changed dramatically in the 1970s as the nearby rail yards reduced their workforce. Membership shrank, and in the mid-1980s a financial crisis left the congregation with no funds. Strong leadership from the district and bishop, paired with the dedication of remaining members, brought the church back. A young, energetic pastor in the mid-1990s ushered in a new chapter that coincided with the revitalization of Del Ray itself. The church added a creative program for young children called PRAYground, drawing new families into the sanctuary.
The pandemic that began in March 2020 hit the congregation hard, and by 2022 the district questioned whether Del Ray UMC could remain viable. Members stepped up in faith, a pastoral transition took place, and the church is once again rebuilding its community. For more than 130 years the church has remained a fixture of the neighborhood, and its fellowship hall, known as Lunceford Hall, has hosted pancake breakfasts, community dinners, scout troops, Alcoholics Anonymous, Al-Anon, the Alexandria Citizens Band, dance and music classes, birthday parties, and citizen meetings, earning Del Ray UMC its reputation as the heart of Del Ray.
Worship: Two Services, One Community
Del Ray UMC offers two distinct Sunday morning services that share the same commitment to forming Christ-like relationships.
At 9:30 AM on selected Sundays, Monthly Family Worship gathers in Lunceford Hall. Designed for children from infants through about third grade, along with their families, the service is full of movement, energy, and interactive learning. Children and parents worship God through song, dance, prayer, and Bible stories read from a Children's Bible, with engagement activities that help young hearts build a foundation of faith. The 2026-27 school year dates are September 20, October 18, November 22, January 17, February 21, April 25, and June 6, with Christmas Family Worship in December and a Holy Wednesday Family Worship near Easter.
At 10:30 AM, Traditional Worship takes place in the sanctuary. The format centers on relationships, inviting everyone to connect with God through song, Scripture, a sermon, and weekly Holy Communion. Near the beginning of the service, children are called forward for a children's message and then invited to age-appropriate classrooms with the children's ministry staff.
On the fifth Sunday of the month, the entire church family gathers at 10:30 AM for Intergenerational Worship. Children remain in the sanctuary and help lead the service through prayer, scripture reading, greeting, assisting with Communion, and other gifts. The children's choir performs during these intergenerational Sundays.
Children's Ministry: A Foundation for Faith
Children are at the center of Del Ray UMC's ministry. Director of Children's Ministry Britany Spivey, who joined the staff with her husband and two daughters, oversees a program designed to walk alongside families as they explore faith together. A former collegiate basketball player and coach who served for twelve years as a Director of Christian Education and Children's Ministry, Spivey is passionate about welcoming all children into a growing relationship with God.
Children's Church meets during the 10:30 AM worship service for children from three years old through fifth grade. A typical lesson opens with prayer, allows children to share since the last gathering, engages with the week's biblical story through reading or video, and closes with prayer. Children are encouraged to lead portions themselves, praying freely or reciting memorized prayers. On the third Sunday of the month, children rejoin the larger congregation for Communion.
The Children's Choir rehearses on Sundays after the service and performs every other month. Vacation Bible School happens each summer, with recent themed weeks including True North (2026), Scuba (2025), and Stellar (2024). A Nursery in Room 208 and Child Care in Room 305 are available from 9:15 AM, and a new Small Group for Parents of School-Aged Children meets in the Pastor's Office on the third floor.
Youth Ministry: Building Bridges Together
Since Fall 2024, Del Ray UMC has joined a cohort youth group with Trinity UMC and Beverly Hills UMC in Alexandria. Students from sixth through twelfth grade gather in person on Sundays from 5:30 to 7:30 PM at either Trinity UMC or Beverly Hills UMC. The evening begins with a shared meal, moves into games, and then breaks into small groups divided between middle schoolers (6th-8th) and high schoolers (9th-12th). Participants also take part in local service and mission opportunities, Northern Virginia District Youth retreats, and Virginia Annual Conference events. Confirmation classes are offered every other year, with the next one scheduled for spring or summer 2027.
Beginning Fall 2026, a new Youth Small Group meets on Sunday mornings from 9:30 to 10:20 AM. Open to all students in grades 6 through 12, this is a space for relationship-building, life-sharing, and faith exploration that exists alongside what parents offer at home. The group is not a Bible study, but faith, Scripture, and the realities of the teenage years are all part of the conversation.
Adult Ministry: Choir, Faith Talk, and Small Groups
Adults at Del Ray UMC have several ways to grow and connect. The Adult Choir rehearses every Sunday at 9:30 AM in the sanctuary, blending contemporary worship songs with traditional hymns under the direction of Music Director Suji Trump. Sunday Faith Talk gathers every Sunday at 9:30 AM in the Parlor from September through June, providing a space for adults to discuss how faith intersects with daily life.
A Small Group for Working Professionals meets every other Wednesday at 6:30 PM. Hosted by Roel and Rebecca in their home, the group offers a casual setting for young professionals in the Del Ray area to encourage one another on their faith journeys.
The United Methodist Men gather monthly for fellowship, mutual support, discipleship, service, and mission. Their signature Saturday Pancake Breakfast in Lunceford Hall has long been a community favorite. United Women in Faith, a parallel group, has been revitalized in recent years, and both groups continue to be a strong presence in mission at the church and beyond.
Mission and Outreach: Beyond Our Walls
Casa Chirilagua is the church's primary community partner. The organization works to see the Chirilagua neighborhood transformed by Christ through relationships with families, and Del Ray UMC supports them in several ongoing ways. Each year the church hosts a family dinner night, packs lunches for a beach trip, and provides supplies for back-to-school and Christmas events. Other community partners include ALIVE Inc., Rising Hope UMC, and Friends of Guest House.
Each September, the congregation gathers to pack 10,000 meals with Rise Against Hunger to fight food insecurity. The Easter Egg Hunt hides more than 3,000 eggs on the church lawn for three age groups, and the Fall Festival after the Del Ray Parade features a petting zoo, trunk-or-treat, games, and live music from the Alexandria Citizens Band. Crafting with Santa in December and a Kids' Booth at Art on the Avenue round out the year's outreach. The church also supports UMCOR (United Methodist Committee on Relief) in responding to national and global disasters.
Beyond these partnerships, Del Ray UMC opens its building to three schools that use the space, along with the many community groups that rely on Lunceford Hall week after week.
Plan Your Visit
The church building sits at the corner of E. Windsor Avenue. The main sanctuary entrance is on the second floor along E. Windsor Avenue, marked by the blue stained glass window above the doors. An accessible entrance is available through the wooden gate in the parking lot, with two red doors leading directly to the elevator. A small parking lot at the corner of E. Curtis Avenue and Clyde Avenue offers two handicapped spots, and street parking is the norm in the surrounding neighborhood.
What to wear is left to the visitor: jeans and shorts are as common as dressier attire on Sunday mornings. Holy Communion is open to anyone who seeks to respond to Christ's love, regardless of church membership. The Welcome Table runs each Sunday after worship, and small groups offer a way to get more deeply connected. Anyone interested in officially joining is asked to commit to support the church through prayers, presence, gifts, service, and witness.
Serving opportunities abound: worship liturgists and ushers, music ministry, hospitality, small group leadership, Trustees, Next Gen Education, outreach events, missions, and the Leadership Team. Giving is available online through Pushpay.