St. William of York (Diocese of Arlington)
| Saint William of York Catholic Church | |
 | |
| Dedication: | Saint William of York |
| Venerated Saints: | None specified |
| Diocese: | Diocese of Arlington |
| Deanery: | Deanery 6 |
| Address: | 3130 Jefferson Davis Highway, Stafford, VA 22554 |
| Coordinates: | 38.8167, -77.1667 |
| City: | Stafford, VA |
| Subdivision: | Virginia |
| Country: | United States |
| County: | Stafford County |
| Website: | https://www.swoycc.org |
| Founded: | 1978 |
| School: | Yes |
| Email: | office@swoycc.org, office@swoycc.org |
Saint William of York Catholic Church is a territorial parish in the Diocese of Arlington, located in Stafford, Virginia. Dedicated to Saint William of York, the twelfth-century Archbishop of York known for his piety, exile, and restoration—canonized in 1226 by Pope Honorius III—the parish operates Saint William of York Catholic School (pre-K through grade 8) and serves a growing suburban community.
Established in 1978 to accommodate population growth in Stafford County, the parish initially celebrated Masses in local facilities before dedicating its current church building. As of December 19, 2025, Saint William of York offers extensive ministries, including religious education, youth programs, and charitable outreach.
The parish community honors its patron through celebration of his feast on June 8.
History
Saint William of York Parish was established in 1978 by the Diocese of Arlington to serve the expanding Catholic population in Stafford.[1]
The current church building was dedicated subsequently. Saint William of York Catholic School opened to provide faith-integrated education.
The parish has grown with the region, maintaining a focus on education and evangelization.
School
Saint William of York Catholic School (pre-K through grade 8) provides faith-integrated education within the parish community.
The school emphasizes academic excellence and spiritual formation.
Special features
- Active religious education and youth ministries
- Charitable outreach programs supporting local needs
Architecture
The church building reflects late twentieth-century design suited to suburban parish life.
Art and devotional features
Specific details on stained glass windows, statues, sculptures, or other interior artwork are limited in publicly available sources as of December 19, 2025. Devotional elements typically include representations of Saint William of York, often portraying him in episcopal vestments.
Relics
According to established Catholic tradition, the main altar contains deposited relics, as is customary in dedicated churches. Specific details regarding the saints associated with these relics are not publicly documented in available sources. This follows common practice where first-class relics, often of martyrs, are sealed within the altar.
Related parishes
References
- ↑ "Saint William of York". Catholic Diocese of Arlington. https://www.arlingtondiocese.org/jubilee/our-diocese/our-history/parish-history-profiles/saint-william-of-york/.