The Episcopal Church of Our Saviour sits at 10 Old Mill Street in Mill Valley, a short walk from the shops and restaurants of downtown. Since 1892 this parish has gathered along the same quiet stretch of the town, growing from small worship meetings in a family cottage into a congregation known across Marin County for its open welcome, its music, and its steady involvement in the wider community. Its identity is rooted in the Episcopal tradition while embracing the diverse spiritual journeys of those who pass through its doors.
From a Reed Family Cottage to a Mill Valley Parish
Church of Our Saviour was founded by Ellie Avery Reed in loving memory of her husband, the Reverend Frederick Reed. What began as simple worship gatherings in the Reed family's summer cottage continued over the decades into a beloved Episcopal community grounded in faith, celebration, and service. The parish has evolved alongside Mill Valley, sharing the town's love of nature, its affection for the arts, and its care for the broader community. True to that eclectic spirit, the congregation celebrates its Episcopal heritage while welcoming the varied paths that people bring to it.
Two Sunday Services: Rite I and the Choral Eucharist
Worship is central to the life of the parish, and the church gathers twice each Sunday. At 8:00 a.m., a smaller group meets for a spoken Holy Eucharist in Rite I, a quieter and more intimate service that typically ends by 9:00 a.m. In place of a formal sermon the Rector leads a discussion of the Gospel, an approach many find a good way to learn the scripture more deeply, to ask questions, and to become known to others in the pews.
At 10:00 a.m. the larger community assembles for the Choral Eucharist in Rite II. This service features the church's choir and organ under the direction of the Music Director, and it is the gathering most visitors are likely to encounter. Children are often invited to participate in the liturgy, and a parallel activity is offered for younger ones. Ushers greet newcomers, hand out bulletins, and answer questions. The service is livestreamed on YouTube, and a casual reception in the Fireside Room and on the patio follows, with snacks and time for conversation.
Worship at Our Saviour follows the rhythms of the Book of Common Prayer and the seven liturgical seasons of the Episcopal Church year, reflected in the colors of vestments and altar cloths. The Altar Guild prepares the sanctuary for each season, and the work of acolytes, lectors, Eucharistic ministers, and the choir makes each service possible.
Wednesday Mornings: Eucharist, Tea, and Bible Study
Midweek, the parish gathers again. On Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m. the community meets for a simple Holy Eucharist in the church, then moves to the Leppo Room for conversation about the scripture and the Episcopal tradition over tea and cookies. The morning ends at noon. The Wednesday gathering is offered in person and online, with a Zoom link posted on the calendar, and it is a steady rhythm for those who want a more conversational entry into the week's readings.
The Choir of Our Saviour
Music has long been a hallmark of the parish. The Choir of Our Saviour is made up almost entirely of volunteers, from high school students to retirees, with a longstanding tradition of offering music and fellowship alongside the regular worship of the church. The choir rehearses on Wednesday evenings and sings at the 10:00 a.m. Sunday service from September through mid-June, with additional offerings at Christmas Eve and Easter. The only requirement to join is a willingness to sing joyfully with a group; instrumentalists and soloists are warmly welcomed as well. Music Director Jeanette Tietze, who trained in Vienna and at SF State and has served parishes across Marin, leads the program.
Godly Play, Children, and Family Ministries
Children are an integral part of the worshiping community. At the 10:00 a.m. service, the children begin in church with their parents. Early in the service they process to a classroom in the labyrinth for Godly Play, a Montessori-based curriculum that uses simple materials to tell the stories of the Christian faith. They rejoin the congregation around the anthem so that they can take part in Communion. A nursery room near the front entrance is available for families who want a quieter space and can still hear the service. Children are also invited to participate in the sermon and to learn about serving at the altar alongside adults.
Rev. Gerry Caprio, the Ecumenical Associate, also serves as the Family Ministries Coordinator, with a particular focus on guiding teens through confirmation. The church welcomes baptisms for all ages, and confirmations take place when the bishop visits.
Adult Education and Small Gatherings
Bible study is only the beginning of adult formation at the parish. On weeknights the church hosts an ongoing evening group that watches episodes of the television series "The Chosen" together and discusses them afterwards. A monthly book club has been working through accessible introductions to the Gospels, including Amy Jill Levine's beginner's guides to Mark and John, and is moving on to Marianne H. Micks's exploration of the Nicene Creed. Adult education evenings on subjects like the Creed have been led by the seminarian David Mealy. The church also encourages a daily rhythm of prayer, pointing parishioners toward daily Morning, Midday, Evening Prayer, and Compline based on the Book of Common Prayer, and toward a daily prayer rooted in the Jesuit tradition of imaginative prayer.
Pastoral Care, Healing, and St. Anne's Circle
The pastoral life of the parish is organized through COS Cares, a network of volunteers who look after members of the church and the wider neighborhood. The group coordinates the delivery of meals during illness or loss, visits to homebound and elderly members, help with yard work and heavy lifting, transportation to medical appointments, and a rotating birthday card ministry. Requests for prayers for healing can be sent to healing@cosmv.org, where they are kept confidential, and any parishioner can request pastoral care from the Rector.
St. Anne's Circle gathers twice a month to craft healing blankets and shawls for the newly baptized, for parishioners in need of comfort, and for neighbors in the wider community. Knitters, crocheters, and anyone who enjoys sitting and chatting are welcome. The Leppo Room, the Fireside Room, the patio, and the labyrinth garden all serve as gathering spaces for these ministries.
Service Beyond the Parish
Church of Our Saviour regularly looks outward to its neighbors in Mill Valley, in Marin, and beyond. Parishioners take part in meal packaging events, food and clothing drives, and other fundraisers that respond to local need. The church keeps an active relationship with the Marin Interfaith Council, and the rector and other members participate in interfaith gatherings and events such as the council's Pride Month celebrations. Members have also contributed books to the Friends of the San Quentin Prison Library, in support of incarcerated readers. The parish is currently a member of the Diocesan Disaster Preparedness and Response Team, and the Rector has organized community conversations on issues like immigration policy and on the question of Christian Nationalism as a distortion of the Christian faith.
A Season of Discernment: The Rector Search
The parish is in a season of transition. In January, the long-term rector, the Rev. Canon Richard Edward Helmer, resigned to take the position of Canon Precentor at Grace Cathedral in San Francisco. A search team appointed by the Vestry has worked with the Diocese of California to develop a Ministry Profile, publicize the opportunity, and identify candidates for the new role of Priest-in-Charge. The search team includes Elizabeth Mooney, Jennifer MacCready, Kathleen Piraino (Chair), Christina Maxwell, Koko Peters, and Andrew Dawson. Throughout the search, the parish is in the care of an experienced Interim Rector, the Very Rev. Dr. Julia McCray-Goldsmith, recently retired as Dean of Trinity Cathedral in San Jose, whose gifts for listening, praying, and leading the congregation through a time of change are well-suited to this interim work.
Clergy, Staff, and Lay Leadership
The interim team is supported by a small staff and a committed group of lay leaders. The Very Rev. Dr. Julia McCray-Goldsmith serves as Interim Rector. David Mealy, a seminarian in field education for ordination to the diaconate, assists at the liturgy and helps the parish strengthen and develop its ministries. Rev. Gerry Caprio, an ordained priest of the White Robed Monks of St. Benedict, serves as Ecumenical Associate, supports pastoral care, and coordinates family ministries and Sunday Coffee Hours. Jeanette Tietze leads the music program. Muneera Mansuri manages communications, the parish calendar, and day-to-day office operations. The Vestry, the primary governing body of the parish, includes Senior Warden Mike Peters, Junior Warden Cliff Waldeck, Clerk Jennifer Dodge, and members Dallas Forshew, Caroline Gibbs, John MacLeod, Kathryne Monier, Amy Paulenich, and Frances Whitnall. The 2026 elected delegates to the Marin Deanery and Diocesan Convention are Kathleen Piraino, Christine Maxwell, and Jennifer Dodge.
Weddings, Baptisms, Memorials, and Pastoral Ceremonies
Church of Our Saviour welcomes couples of all configurations, including LGBTQ+ and interfaith couples, to celebrate their marriage in the church. Baptisms are offered at most of the 10:00 a.m. Sunday services and at the Easter Vigil, and are especially associated with the Baptism of Our Lord, Pentecost, and All Saints' Day. The parish provides a Memorial Service Booklet to help families plan funerals or memorial services, and the church's sanctuary, Fireside Room, and patio can host a reception afterwards. The clergy are also glad to lead memorials and funerals offsite, including in many of the scenic spots in Marin. Pastoral care is available for any reason, and the Rector is happy to be contacted directly.
Accessibility, Parking, and the Building
Our Saviour is committed to welcoming everyone who comes through its doors. A ramp is at the front entrance, and the Fireside Room is entered at ground level on Lovell Avenue. Walkers are available for those who need them. There is street parking throughout the neighborhood, and on Sunday mornings the north side of Old Mill Street is reserved for COS parishioners who display a parking placard. A placard can be requested from the office for visitors with accessibility needs. The church facilities include a reception room, sacred space for prayer, and a serene outdoor labyrinth, all set amid the natural beauty of Mill Valley. The grounds also hold a memorial columbarium garden, which the parish notes is no longer being added to, but which still serves as a place of remembrance. The Fireside Room, the Leppo Room, the Shackleford Choir Room, the sanctuary, and the patio are all available for parish and community gatherings.
Giving and the Life of the Parish
Like most Episcopal parishes, Church of Our Saviour is sustained by the generosity of its members. Operations are funded through annual pledges, planned giving, one-time gifts, grants, and bequests. The church offers several ways to give: recurring pledges, one-time payments, and gifts for specific purposes (such as dedicating altar flowers in memory of a loved one), by PayPal or credit card, by cash or check, by securities or other assets, and through bequests. Shoppers at Mill Valley Market can also support COS by entering number 7028 at the checkout; the store donates a percentage of each purchase to the parish. Donations are tax deductible.
Connection to the Diocese and the Wider Church
Church of Our Saviour is part of the Episcopal Diocese of California and the broader Episcopal Church. The parish is currently in its second year of the Diocese's three-year Vital+Thriving Congregations program, a guided process of listening, reflecting, and discerning with other congregations in the diocese to help parishes adapt and flourish. The committee chairs for this year are Cliff Waldeck and Frances Whitnall. The parish also sends elected delegates to the Marin Deanery and to Diocesan Convention, and its lay and ordained leaders participate in diocesan life across Northern California.
An Open Invitation on Old Mill Street
From its cottage beginnings in 1892 to its present-day rhythm of two Sunday Eucharists, a Wednesday Bible study, a volunteer choir, a Godly Play classroom, an outdoor labyrinth, and a steady flow of pastoral and community ministries, Church of Our Saviour continues to grow as a community founded in compassion, creativity, and spiritual depth. Whether someone is seeking a quiet moment of reflection, a Sunday to sing in a choir, a place to bring children into the Christian story, or a way to serve neighbors in Marin, the parish offers a welcoming home in the heart of Mill Valley.