About

We are a church on a mission: to connect people with the fiercely accepting love of Jesus:

By creating space for people to grow with God, others, and ourselves.
By fostering opportunities for people to serve those around them.
By promoting equity and justice through our participation and resources.

As a church, we are Christian.

We believe that Jesus Christ was the Son of God, and that we have been set free by his death and resurrection.
We believe in the ongoing activity of the Holy Spirit in and through us now.
We enjoy eternal life as children of God through Christ – and that eternal life has already begun here and now.

Our pastor, Kate Heichler, is here to support the people of God in doing whatever they feel most drawn to and gifted for.

She preaches, teaches, guides and offers pastoral care.
She seeks to empower the ministry of all members and to foster a greater engagement with the world and its needs.

Our ministers are the people of Christ Church, both new and long-time members, supported by the clergy under the oversight of the Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington, DC, the Right Reverend Marian Budde.

The Episcopal Church is the American branch of the Anglican communion. (Anglicans are Protestants who have retained some elements of Catholic worship.) We have bishops (overseers) and ordained ministers, yet we value the leadership of all the baptized. Episcopalians value open-mindedness, listening to the views of others, and trusting in God for answers.

Christ Church is a part of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington (EDOW). EDOW includes the Episcopal churches of Washington, D.C., and Charles, St. Mary’s, Prince George’s and Montgomery counties in Maryland. We are in a special relationship with the other Episcopal churches in Southern Maryland.

Staff

Rector: The Rev. Dr. Kate Heichler

Kate has led Christ Church since February 2018. Ordained as a priest in 2004, she has served congregations in Connecticut and Washington, DC, and holds an MDiv (summa cum laude) from Yale Divinity School, and a Doctor of Ministry degree from Hartford Seminary. A prolific writer and crafter of worship experiences, Kate is passionate about the church’s healing ministry. She publishes a daily spiritual reflection on the upcoming Sunday’s gospel reading (Water Daily). Christ Church is happy to share her with our sister church, Christ Church Wayside.

Parish Secretary: Marie Webber

Marie brings a lifetime in the Church and extensive experience in administration to our parish office. She is in the office 9 am – 1 pm Monday through Friday and can be reached at 301-392-1051.

Leaders

Vestry

The lay leadership of Christ Church is headed by the Wardens and Vestry (board), which meets monthly.

Directions

Christ Church La Plata
112 Charles St
La Plata, MD 20646
Phone: (301) 392-1051

Finding Your Way Around Christ Church

Entry Points

Sanctuary – to come to Sunday worship, you can come right into the church through the double doors facing Charles Street.

Accessibility

Like many old buildings, Christ Church has spaces that are hard to access, but we’ve figured out work-arounds for most of them. Handicapped-accessible parking spaces are located close to the Charles Street entrance and a level path to the church.

Our parish hall is up a set of stairs from the parking lot, but on the same level as the church sanctuary. We can arrange to have the front church doors open when needed for access to the parish hall.

Our History

Christ Church began in 1683 when a small group of English colonists built a log church on the banks of the Port Tobacco River in the village of the same name. This small congregation grew, and with the support of a tobacco tax, a more substantial church building was constructed in 1709. In time, Port Tobacco Village became the trade and government center of Charles County. Christ Church grew in size and influence as well, and it counted among its members such notable citizens as Thomas Stone, a signer of the Declaration of Independence. In 1808, the church building was destroyed by a tornado; it was replaced with a larger brick building in 1818.

To replace the 1818 building, the building currently being used by Christ Church was constructed in 1884 in Port Tobacco Village. Within a decade, however, the congregation recognized the need to relocate. In the 1890s, the newly established Town of La Plata replaced Port Tobacco as the governmental seat of Charles County. The railroad, which passed through La Plata, also marked an end to Port Tobacco’s importance as a trade center. As their beloved village declined, the membership of Christ Church made the courageous decision to relocate to La Plata. In 1904, the church building in Port Tobacco was disassembled and moved several miles by oxen and wagon to be reassembled in its current location in La Plata, next to the Charles County Courthouse. Today we gather and worship in that historic stone building.

The people of Christ Church are proud of the congregation’s past, and we are committed to embracing our future and to building a church community where all are welcome to find and be found by God. Christ Church, like La Plata, is experiencing significant growth. Within our congregation, you will find individuals and families who have been members for generations, as well as people who are new to the La Plata area. Approximately 30% of the current congregation grew up in the Episcopal Church, and approximately 70% of the congregation has come to Christ Church from other denominations and traditions. We are excited about the future of our church, and we hope you will come and experience this loving, joyful community in person – and help build our history going forward.

Annual Reports

Click here to find our Annual Reports.

“So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are citizens with the saints and also members of the household of God.” – Ephesians 2:19