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.

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.