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'''St. Agnes Parish''' is in [[Virginia]] ([[United States]]) and is part of the [[Diocese of Arlington]].
{{Parish
 
It is dedicated to Saint Agnes.{{Parish
|Dedication=Saint Agnes
|Dedication=Saint Agnes
|ShortName=St. Agnes Parish
|VeneratedSaints=Saint Joseph
|ParishLocation=38.8898, -77.0955
|ShortName=Saint Agnes Catholic Church
|MailingAddress=1910 N Randolph Street, Arlington, VA 22207
|ParishLocation=38.8975, -77.1064
|MailingAddress=1910 N. Randolph Street, Arlington, VA 22207
|Diocese=Diocese of Arlington
|Diocese=Diocese of Arlington
|Deanery=Arlington Deanery
|Deanery=Deanery 1
|City=Arlington, VA
|City=Arlington, VA
|County=Arlington County
|County=Arlington County
|AdministrativeSubdivision=Virginia
|AdministrativeSubdivision=Virginia
|Country=United States
|Country=United States
|ParishWebsite=https://saintagnes.org
|ParishWebsite=https://saintagnes.org/
|ParishFounded=1936
|ParishFounded=1936
|ParishSchool=Yes
|ParishSchool=Yes
|ParishEmailAddress=info@saintagnes.org
|ParishEmailAddress=parishoffice@saintagnes.org
|ParishImage=Generic church icon.jpg
}}
}}


== History ==
Saint Agnes Catholic Church is a territorial parish in the Diocese of Arlington, serving the Catholic community in northern Arlington, Virginia. Dedicated to Saint Agnes of Rome, a fourth-century martyr venerated for her purity and faithfulness, the parish operates a parochial school and emphasizes charitable outreach and lifelong faith formation. With over 2,000 registered families, it remains an active community focused on missionary discipleship.
 
Established amid early twentieth-century growth in the Cherrydale area, the parish began as a mission and developed through key building projects, including its current church dedicated in 1966. Recent renovations, including a new altar in 2022, reflect ongoing commitment to liturgical space. The parish supports extensive education programs and charitable initiatives aiding local and distant needs.
 
As of December 14, 2025, Saint Agnes continues to offer daily Masses, perpetual Eucharistic adoration in its chapel, and a range of ministries, fostering a vibrant spiritual life in the Roman Rite.
 
==History==
 
Saint Agnes Catholic Church traces its origins to the early twentieth century, when population growth in what was then Alexandria County (now Arlington County) prompted local Catholics to request a mission church. Initial Masses were celebrated in a grocery store, then a movie theater, and later a public school.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://saintagnes.org/our-story/ |title=Our Story |publisher=Saint Agnes Catholic Church |access-date=December 14, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.arlingtondiocese.org/jubilee/our-diocese/our-history/parish-history-profiles/saint-agnes/ |title=Saint Agnes Parish History Profile |publisher=Catholic Diocese of Arlington |access-date=December 14, 2025}}</ref>
 
In 1918, Admiral A. W. Weaver donated funds for land purchase on the condition that the mission be named after his sister, Agnes, a Daughter of Charity. The first church building, seating 250, was constructed in 1919 and dedicated in 1920 by Bishop Denis J. O'Connell. The mission was elevated to full parish status in 1936, with Fr. Edward W. Johnston appointed as the first pastor.
 
Postwar growth led to expansions: St. Agnes School opened in 1946 under the Sisters of Notre Dame, an interim church (later the gymnasium) was built in the early 1950s, a rectory in 1961, and the current church in 1966. A parish center followed in 1991. Recent milestones include establishment of an adoration chapel (1999–2000), school renovations (2021), and sanctuary improvements culminating in a new altar dedication in 2022.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.catholicherald.com/article/local/parishes/new-altar-for-st-agnes-church-in-arlington/ |title=New altar for St. Agnes Church in Arlington |publisher=Arlington Catholic Herald |date=September 19, 2022 |access-date=December 14, 2025}}</ref>
 
The parish has long emphasized charity and education, supporting food drives, refugee aid, and programs such as Bible study and Walking with Purpose.
 
==Special features==
 
* Perpetual Eucharistic adoration chapel, with extended hours on Wednesdays in the main church
* Strong commitment to charitable outreach, including monthly meals at Christ House, food collections for Madison County, and support for Catholic Charities refugee services
* Associated parochial school (Pre-K through grade 8), recognized as a National Blue Ribbon School
* First Friday Mass celebrated in Latin (Ordinary Form)
* Catacombs Café for fellowship after weekday morning Masses
 
==Relics==
 
According to established Catholic tradition, the main altar, dedicated in 2022 following renovation, contains deposited relics, as is customary during the rite of dedication for fixed altars. Specific saints associated with these relics have not been publicly documented in available sources. This reflects common practice where first-class relics (often of martyrs) are sealed within the altar, though historical verification for this parish is limited.
 
==Architecture==
 
The current church building, dedicated in 1966, features a fan-shaped (semi-circular) design inspired by post-Vatican II liturgical renewal, with clean lines, earthy colors, and acoustics suited for amplified sound. Designed by architect Joseph Johnson, it includes a prominent steeple with the “Lord of Lords Window,” a stained glass depiction of Christ the King.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://saintagnes.org/our-story/ |title=Our Story |publisher=Saint Agnes Catholic Church |access-date=December 14, 2025}}</ref>
 
Associated buildings include the rectory (1961), parish center (1991), school, former convent (renovated 2021), and gymnasium (former interim church). Recent renovations added a narthex and updated sanctuary elements, including a new marble altar, tabernacle, baptismal font, and ambo.
 
==Art and Devotional Features==


St. Agnes Parish in Arlington, Virginia, began as a mission of St. Charles Borromeo Church in 1909, serving Catholics in the Cherrydale neighborhood during a time of limited Catholic presence in Virginia due to historical anti-Catholic laws. The mission’s first church was built in 1919, dedicated in 1920 by Bishop Denis J. O’Connell on land donated by Admiral A.W. Weaver for $1,300, named after his sister Agnes, a Daughter of Charity. In 1936, Bishop Peter L. Ireton elevated it to parish status, appointing Father Edward W. Johnston as its first pastor. St. Agnes School opened in 1946, and by 1952, a new church (now the gym) was consecrated by Bishop Ireton as the parish grew to over 1,500 families by the late 1950s amid Arlington’s postwar boom. The current church, reflecting Vatican II’s liturgical renewal, was dedicated on December 10, 1966, by Bishop John Russell. The Diocese of Arlington was established in 1974, absorbing St. Agnes, which continued to expand with a Parish Center in 1991 and renovations in 2021-2022, including a new narthex and tabernacle platform. Today, it serves over 2,000 families with a focus on charity, education, and faith formation.
===Stained Glass Windows===


== Special features ==
The church features a prominent “Lord of Lords Window” in the steeple, depicting Christ as Teacher and King in yellow and gold tones, installed in alignment with the Feast of Christ the King. Additional stained glass windows above the sanctuary were added in the early 1970s.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://saintagnes.org/our-story/ |title=Our Story |publisher=Saint Agnes Catholic Church |access-date=December 14, 2025}}</ref>


* The “Lord of Lords Window” in the church, with yellow and gold glass, depicts Christ blessing the three branches of the U.S. government, symbolizing a connection to the Feast of Christ the King and the parish’s proximity to the nation’s capital.
===Statues and Sculptures===
* St. Agnes School, serving Pre-K through 8th grade, fosters academic excellence and faith, with a tight-knit community of about 439 students and a robust sports program via the Northern Virginia Junior Catholic Youth Organization (NVJCYO).
* The 2022 renovations added marble flooring, a gold-starred dome, and an oculus to the baldacchino-like bell tower over the tabernacle, blending modern and traditional architecture inspired by Vatican II.
* Charitable efforts include monthly meals at Christ House, nearly 10,000 pounds of food collected annually for Madison County, and support for refugees and pregnant mothers, reflecting a deep commitment to social outreach.


== Related parishes ==
Numerous statues line the perimeter of the church, added in the early 1970s under Fr. James Gould. Recent renovations incorporated additional religious statues in the sanctuary area.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.catholicherald.com/article/local/parishes/new-altar-for-st-agnes-church-in-arlington/ |title=New altar for St. Agnes Church in Arlington |publisher=Arlington Catholic Herald |date=September 19, 2022}}</ref>


St. Agnes Parish is part of the Diocese of Arlington, serving 21 counties in Northern Virginia. It has historical ties to St. Charles Borromeo Parish, its founding mission, and connects to nearby Arlington Deanery parishes like St. Ann, St. James in Falls Church, and the Cathedral of St. Thomas More, collaborating through initiatives like the Bishop’s Lenten Appeal.
===Other Artwork===


== References ==
Earlier buildings included side altars, an altar rail, and Stations of the Cross (1920s). The adoration chapel provides a dedicated space for devotion.
 
==Related parishes==
 
* [[Saint Charles Borromeo Catholic Church (Arlington, Virginia)]] (mother parish from which the mission originated)
 
==References==
<references />
<references />
[[Category:Parishes in Virginia]]
[[Category:Parishes in Diocese of Arlington]]
[[Category:Parishes in United States]]
[[Category:Parishes founded in 1930s]]
[[Category:Parishes built in Modern architecture]]
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