On February 23, 1969, The Rev. Embry Rucker, the parish’s first Rector, celebrated Holy Communion with 42 people in a storefront building at Lake Anne Village Center. These new parishioners came from diverse backgrounds, united by their commitment to social action.

The congregation supported innovative ministry and outreach to the new community of Reston, which was only five years old when the church was founded.  Through the Common Ground Foundation and Coffee House in Lake Anne, the congregation started needed community programs including the Common Ground Child Care Center, Reston Interfaith, the Reston Internal Bus System (the "RIBS" bus), and the Greater Reston Arts Center. The Common Ground Coffee House was an important center of community life for many years and a point of contact for people who needed help.

In the early days of Reston, the Diocese of Virginia had the foresight to purchase a plot of land on a hill overlooking Baron Cameron Drive and Reston Parkway.  The current church building that now sits on the site dedicated in 1989. The campus was expanded in 1995 to its current 23,000 square feet.

Five Rectors followed Embry Rucker. The Rev.  Jim Miles, The Rev. Paula Woods (the first woman Rector in the Diocese of Virginia), The Rev. John Hatcher, The Rev.  Jim Papile, and The Rev. Dr. John C. N. Hall each took their place in guiding the congregation. After a short time with interim rector Rev. Dr. John Dewitt Stonesifer, St. Anne's called its seventh rector.

The Very Reverend Jessica Holthus joined St. Anne's as its rector in 2022 and currently leads our congregation, assisted by Reverend Maria Maguire and Deacon Nancy Searby.

 

We now worship in a beautiful contemporary church focused on a broad spectrum of service, outreach, education, fellowship, and pastoral care.

St. Anne's buildings are in constant use by parishioners, other religious groups, and neighborhood organizations, as a center for worship, community service, education, and social events. Currently, St. Anne's provides facilities for Common Ground preschool, Shoreshim Jewish congregation, and more than 25 Twelve-step recovery groups.