Finding My Faith at Forty
By Christine McElhinney
I grew up in New Hampshire and was raised Catholic. I was baptized, received First Communion, was confirmed, and even attended a Catholic high school. My early faith experience was positive and grounding. But as I became an adult, building a career in sustainability and community service, I found that many of my values no longer aligned with the teachings of the Catholic Church. Over time, I stepped away — not just from Catholicism, but from church entirely.
It wasn’t until I met my husband that I was introduced to the Episcopal Church. I was immediately drawn to its open-heartedness, inclusive values, and the deep sense of welcome that seemed to radiate from the community. When our son was born in 2018, we had him baptized at Church of the Epiphany in Richmond, where my mother-in-law is an active member. That experience planted a seed.
Over the years, our family began to find a home at St. George’s. As we became more involved — me joining the Generosity Committee, participating in services, and attending events — I began to sense that this was something different. It felt like the perfect alignment of my values and faith — something I had been quietly searching for.
In late 2024, our family faced a painful season, grieving the death of a close friend and walking alongside a family member undergoing cancer treatment. During that time, the outpouring of love and support from St. George’s was unlike anything I had ever experienced in a faith setting. For the first time in my life, I felt like I had truly found a faith community that welcomed and supported not only me and my family, but everyone who walks through its doors.
So, earlier this year, on March 30th (my 40th birthday!) I was officially received into the Episcopal Church. Surrounded by family, friends, and the amazing St. George’s community, I stepped into a new chapter where my faith, values, and life’s work finally feel united.
I never expected to find my faith at forty, but now that I have, I feel deeply grateful — and excited — for the journey ahead.
The St. George’s Youth Group will be selling snacks out of Sydnor Hall this Saturday, December 6 during and after the Christmas parade. We will have tables set up in our courtyard off of George Street.
Sign up to participate in Parish Prayer Partners in Fall
St. George’s will host a public meeting May 7, 2025 at 5.30 pm in the nave to inform the parish and community about our projects to build an accessibility ramp and a columbarium and how we are caring for our historic graveyard in the midst of construction. This meeting is part of how we are working with the Virginia Department of Historic Resources and Dovetail Cultural Resources as we show respect for our ancestors and past while addressing the needs of the present.