Welcome to St. Thomas
About us
At St. Thomas Episcopal Church, we care deeply about nurturing both the spiritual and emotional lives of our parish family. We’re equally committed to reaching beyond our walls, using our gifts and resources to make a positive impact throughout the Abingdon community. Through the generosity of our members, offering their time, talent, and resources, we’re able to sustain and grow programs that serve others in meaningful ways.
See our Parish Ministry Profile for full information.
Mission Statement
Our mission is to be a spiritual home where all can encounter the Divine and experience God’s abundant love. We believe every person is God’s beloved, and we follow the teachings of Jesus by deepening our love for God and neighbor through worship, learning, and living out our faith. Guided by the Holy Spirit, we actively engage in God’s work within our neighborhood, across the Appalachian region, and throughout the world.
Worship • Grow • Love
True to our Episcopal heritage, our community gathers weekly for services ranging from Choral and Outdoor Eucharists to Healing and Taizé prayer experiences. Beyond worship, we offer enriching opportunities for spiritual and intellectual growth through classes, Bible study, fellowship groups, and special events for all ages. Rooted in love, we extend compassion to our neighbors—feeding the hungry, housing the homeless, empowering the powerless, and enacting Christ’s love in tangible ways.
The Rector We Seek
We seek a rector who is compassionate, relates well to others, is open-minded, and able to communicate well, whether in sharing a joke or welcoming a new-comer.
We are looking for a leader who can build trust, motivate, include others in leadership, and unite a diverse congregation.
We seek a pastor who can bridge gaps between parishioners of different theological leanings, is comfortable with either High Church or Low Church and helps people grow spiritually through relatable sermons.
We value our active outreach ministries and our welcoming environment, and we seek a rector who can support these strengths, invest in the lives of parishioners, and help us grow our church.
About Abingdon
Abingdon, the seat of Washington County, is a desirable place to live and work. Founded in 1778, it continues to experience growth and is the educational and cultural hub of Southwest Virginia. Located at the junction of the Valley Pike (now I-81) and Russell Road (US 19), Abingdon has been a regional center since its founding. The town and its environs are home to some 15,000 people. Our county is part of the Tri-Cities metropolitan area of Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia, anchored by the cities of Bristol, Kingsport, and Johnson City. Federal and District Court are seated here, and both Johnston Memorial Hospital and Bristol Regional Medical Center offer excellent medical services. Local elementary, middle and high schools are part of the Washington County School System. Abingdon has good public schools whose students consistently win competitive honors in statewide academic and artistic competitions. Students who prefer a private school may attend several located nearby, including Sullins Academy and St. Anne's Catholic School.
Things to do in the area
Abingdon is a well-known cultural center located in the south-west corner of Virginia. The William King Museum of Art is a partner of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. Barter Theatre, the nation's oldest regional professional theater offers shows year-round. The Arts Depot offers space for local artisans to craft and display their work. The annual Virginia Highlands Festival draws many artists and visitors to the area each summer.
Besides the Four-Star, Four- Diamond Martha Washington Inn, there are many fine restaurants, shops and recreational facilities. Two world class golf courses are nearby, and the Virginia Creeper Trail for hiking and biking begins in Abingdon. South Holston Lake offers fishing and boating opportunities, and local mountain streams attract fly-fishermen. National Recreational Forests, camping areas, and hiking trails (including the Appalachian Trail) are a short distance away. The Coomes Recreation Center in Abingdon offers indoor and outdoor swimming, sports and exercise. Golf and tennis are available at several public and private venues. Programs of interest to clergy are held at Emory & Henry University and King University. The Jubilee House, a Roman Catholic retreat center in Abingdon, offers many resources to all in the community, including a local ministerial association.
Abingdon is roughly 12 hours from New York City, seven hours from Washington, D.C., five hours from Atlanta, and three hours from Charlotte, N.C. Both Knoxville, TN and Roanoke, VA are only two hours away.
Full parish ministry profile
Interested candidates please contact:
The Rev. Cn. Jonathan F. HarrisTransition MinisterDiocese of Southwestern Virginia jharris@dioswva.org540 588 4586 (mobile)