Prior to 1966, Protestant churches were not represented in the Mechanicsville area. There was no Anglican Church, as found in the United States, as represented by the Episcopalian Church, for miles. Those persons in the Mechanicsville area whose lives have been guided by the traditions of the Episcopal Church, as well as "new" people who had wished to experience them, were inconvenienced. Their choice had been between a small, distant, country church or one of the large churches of urban Richmond.
The Department of Missions of the Diocese of Virginia was aware, through government studies, that the Mechanicsville area was destined to grow. So, in 1959 it approved a process that would eventually secure a site for a new Episcopal Church in the area and in June of 1963, the present site was acquired.
As soon as the property was purchased, the Diocese began to lay plans for the creation of a mission congregation. Many things had to be accomplished before a congregation could be started, such as the closing of the Prince of Peace Mission on Bryon Street; securing permission from Immanuel Church in Old Church to form a congregation within their parish bounds, as required by Canon Law; securing a temporary place of worship; designing architectural plans; proposing financial plans; and finding a priest to serve the new congregation.
In Mid-1964 Immanuel Church agreed to allow the formation of a new congregation on the condition that both congregations would share a rector. Upon finding that no organization in the community would allow their facilities to be used on a temporary basis for worship until a new congregation could be established, the Department of Missions took an unprecedented step by deciding to build a church with no congregation - a Venture in Faith, they called it.
The ground-breaking ceremony was held on Sunday, September 12, 1965, followed immediately by construction. On Sunday, July 10, 1966, the first service was held in the new facility.
The Rev. Morton Townsend†, Rector of Immanuel Church, served both congregations for one and a half years. As the Church of the Creator began to grow and the membership began to feel the need for a full time priest, the Department of Missions and Immanuel Church agreed to allow the Church of the Creator to call it's own priest. On January 1, 1968, the Rev. Kenneth W Taber II†, became the first full-time priest of the Church.
Under the leadership of Father Taber† the Church grew and, in 1973, it presented a plan of eventual self-support to the Diocesan Council. The Church of the Creator's petition was accepted by the Council and full church status was granted under the new Canons. Father Taber† remained rector of the church until he accepted a call to become rector of Christ Church in Stratford, Connecticut in April of 1974.
In September of 1974, the Rev William R Dennis, Jr.†, became the second rector to serve at Creator.
Fr. William Burk† was installed on September 14, 2001 by the Right Reverend Francis Gray†.
The Department of Missions of the Diocese of Virginia was aware, through government studies, that the Mechanicsville area was destined to grow. So, in 1959 it approved a process that would eventually secure a site for a new Episcopal Church in the area and in June of 1963, the present site was acquired.
As soon as the property was purchased, the Diocese began to lay plans for the creation of a mission congregation. Many things had to be accomplished before a congregation could be started, such as the closing of the Prince of Peace Mission on Bryon Street; securing permission from Immanuel Church in Old Church to form a congregation within their parish bounds, as required by Canon Law; securing a temporary place of worship; designing architectural plans; proposing financial plans; and finding a priest to serve the new congregation.
In Mid-1964 Immanuel Church agreed to allow the formation of a new congregation on the condition that both congregations would share a rector. Upon finding that no organization in the community would allow their facilities to be used on a temporary basis for worship until a new congregation could be established, the Department of Missions took an unprecedented step by deciding to build a church with no congregation - a Venture in Faith, they called it.
The ground-breaking ceremony was held on Sunday, September 12, 1965, followed immediately by construction. On Sunday, July 10, 1966, the first service was held in the new facility.
The Rev. Morton Townsend†, Rector of Immanuel Church, served both congregations for one and a half years. As the Church of the Creator began to grow and the membership began to feel the need for a full time priest, the Department of Missions and Immanuel Church agreed to allow the Church of the Creator to call it's own priest. On January 1, 1968, the Rev. Kenneth W Taber II†, became the first full-time priest of the Church.
Under the leadership of Father Taber† the Church grew and, in 1973, it presented a plan of eventual self-support to the Diocesan Council. The Church of the Creator's petition was accepted by the Council and full church status was granted under the new Canons. Father Taber† remained rector of the church until he accepted a call to become rector of Christ Church in Stratford, Connecticut in April of 1974.
In September of 1974, the Rev William R Dennis, Jr.†, became the second rector to serve at Creator.
Fr. William Burk† was installed on September 14, 2001 by the Right Reverend Francis Gray†.