Community

Our Saviour's Eucharistic-centered community is an eclectic mix of original church founders, young families, and people representing many racial and cultural traditions around the world. Our unity in Christ is most visible at Sunday morning worship, but it is nourished and formed throughout the week in our parish programs and through our leadership. Day by day, God's action in this community inspires, nurtures, and equips us to reach out to the world in Christ's name.

History

The Church of Our Saviour, Hillandale began as a mission of the Church of Our Saviour in the Brookland area of Northeast Washington, D.C. Soon after the Rev. Harwood Bowman became rector at Brookland in 1954, he called for construction of a new church in Montgomery County, Maryland. The new mission began in 1956, first in the Hillandale firehouse, then in the new building's completed undercroft. On February 2, 1964, 614 people crowded into the church for its dedication. Our Saviour-Hillandale and Our Saviour-Brookland operated as one parish, until 1964, when the Vestry voted to separate the congregations.

Fr. Bowman chose the Hillandale site knowing the Beltway would pass nearby. Since the new church would welcome people from "all over", the Church of Our Saviour was established as a ‘separate congregation,' rather than a parish. (A parish is defined by geographic boundaries; Church of Our Saviour has none.)
The Diocese of Washington received Our Saviour, Hillandale as a full and separate congregation in 1966.

The Church of Our Saviour, Hillandale has had four rectors. The Rev. Harwood C. Bowman retired in December 1984 after thirty years of service. Our second rector, the Rev. John F. Koepke, III, served from 1986 to 1997. The Rev. Mark B. Pendleton served from 1986 until 2004 when he became Dean of Christ Church Cathedral in Hartford Connecticut. At the Celebration of New Ministry on September 9th The Rt. Rev. John B. Chane installed
Robert Harvey as our current rector.

The Diocese of Washington

The headquarters of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington stands on Mt. St. Alban, the highest hill in Washington, D.C., in the shadow of the Cathedral Church of Sts. Peter and Paul. The diocese has more than 41,000 members in 98 congregations in Washington, D.C., and in Montgomery, Prince George's, Charles, and St. Mary's counties in Maryland. Of special note is the Washington National Cathedral which, although a separate legal entity, is also part of our diocese. The parishes of our diocese are as diverse as their location - ranging from tiny rural churches to large urban parishes - and the people of our diocese come from many nations and cultures. Our Bishop is The Rt. Rev. John B. Chane.