Saint Thomas More Lynchburg VA

Saint Thomas More is a Roman Catholic church in Lynchburg, Virginia.

We are a fellowship of believers, made in God's image and called as disciples of Christ to share the Good News with everyone through learning, listening, praying and working together actively to reach out to our communities.

We are a place to believe, belong, and become!

 

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Saint Thomas More Parish is a parish that still thinks of itself as “new” though it turned 40 years old in September of 2018. More modern by design, it has grown in grace through the stewardship of its property, as well as its people, by many wonderful men and women of God. The history of St. Thomas More Catholic Church should be looked at first from its physical space, the building, and then its congregation, the body of Christ.

Fundraising began in the spring of 1979 after Bishop Sullivan gave them 20 acres of pasture and forest land on Roundelay Drive. Father Leonard was replaced by Father Dennis Murphy in August of 1979 and construction began in June 1980. The church building and rectory were completed and dedicated in May 1981. Under Fr. Murphy’s care the Parish grew from 25 families in the late 1970’s to 535 families by 1985. Father John Grace became pastor in June of 1985 and the mortgage for the church was paid off by 1990.

Realizing a need for offices and classrooms, the Parish began planning and fundraising once again. When Father John Kloepfer was assigned in July 1990 he oversaw the construction that started in November 1990. At the same time, the parish started building Nott Homes, a group housing center for those with special needs. The new classrooms, offices, and Nott Homes were dedicated in September 1991.

When Father Kevin O’Brien took over the parish in June 1994 Mass was spilling over from the Nave into the church foyer. The Parish Council looked at buying land and starting another church but Bishop Sullivan suggested that the parish would continue to grow and that they should consider building a new worship space instead. It wasn’t until Father Jim Dorson became pastor in September 2002 that plans and financing fell into place and building began. He invited the congregation to join him when he turned over the first shovel of dirt. The new nave and chapel were dedicated and the old nave and chapel were repurposed to become the fellowship hall and kitchen in September 2004. The rectory next to the church was torn down shortly after due to structural problems. When Fr. Richard Mooney was assigned in July 2008 a new rectory was purchased on Smoketree Lane, one street over from the church.

It became apparent in the early 1970’s that there was a need for another Catholic church in Lynchburg, Virginia. Holy Cross Catholic Church in downtown Lynchburg was celebrating extra liturgies at the regional school to ease crowding. Holy Cross Pastor Fr. Carl Naro began exploring the idea of building a church in the Timberlake/Brookville area. He began by offering worship services at Whitten Timberlake Chapel in early 1971. When he was transferred, however, the idea went dormant until the Diocese of Richmond announced in the February 1976 Catholic Virginian that a Diocesan Study Group was being formed to look at establishing new Parishes. Phil Dellwo, and the parish council, mapped out boundaries and conducted a survey of the Catholics in the area. The Holy Cross Parish Council then recommended in February 1977 that a new Timberlake parish be formed. Their report was submitted to the Diocesan Pastoral Planning Commission in February 1978 outlining the goals and objectives of the new community.

When Father Kevin O’Brien took over the parish in June 1994 Mass was spilling over from the Nave into the church foyer. The Parish Council looked at buying land and starting another church but Bishop Sullivan suggested that the parish would continue to grow and that they should consider building a new worship space instead. It wasn’t until Father Jim Dorson became pastor in September 2002 that plans and financing fell into place and building began. He invited the congregation to join him when he turned over the first shovel of dirt. The new nave and chapel were dedicated and the old nave and chapel were repurposed to become the fellowship hall and kitchen in September 2004. The rectory next to the church was torn down shortly after due to structural problems. When Fr. Richard Mooney was assigned in July 2008 a new rectory was purchased on Smoketree Lane, one street over from the church.

The legacy of the Parish of St. Thomas More is not just a building or space, however. The Parish of St. Thomas More has been part of the living body of Christ. They have grown to over 920 families and 2434 members. Theirs is a body that from the beginning has been known for its dynamic liturgy, multigenerational faith formation, evangelism and desire to serve others. Parishioners have continually given of their time and talents in many ministries to be salt and light to the greater Lynchburg and Virginia community. Ministries have included Meals on Wheels, the Timberlake Food Pantry, Vacation Bible School, Feeding with Faith, Habitat for Humanity, Diocesan work Camp, and More Aid just to name very few. Fr. Mooney laid the foundation for a dynamic Catholic Campus Ministry that continues to grow. In great joy, the parish has been twinned with Our Lady of the Nativity Parish in Savanette, Haiti since 1992. Their Annual Haiti Book, Bake, and Yard Sale and other events have helped support their sister Parish in the building of schools, a chapel, a water treatment plant, and in paying the teacher’s salaries. The Parish of St. Thomas More has also rejoiced in being a sacramental people celebrating roughly 895 Baptisms, 744 Confirmations, 1019 First Communions, and 201 Marriages. Above all else the people of St. Thomas More are a eucharistic people having celebrated the Mass over 12,000 times in their 39 years, thus becoming what they have received.