The Women
of St. Stephen’s
The group known as the Women of St. Stephen’s has been in existence for nearly all of St. Stephen’s Church’s history and has been instrumental in strengthening our ministries.
The Women of St. Stephen’s
Before women could be elected to vestries, serve as lay readers, acolytes, or in other worship roles, or pursue Holy Orders in the Episcopal Church, they found many other ways to serve. They also became excellent fundraisers for the ministries of the church! Today lay and ordained women are involved in every aspect of church life, including leadership roles. Many parishes continue the legacy of their predecessors through a group known as “The Episcopal Church Women,” or ECW for short, doing important work locally, nationally, and internationally. At St. Stephen’s, that group is known as the Women of St. Stephen’s, and they are engaged in a variety of ministries. They also run the May Fair House, a food and gift shop which raises tens of thousands of dollars for community outreach every year.
During the program year the group hosts the Women’s Forum. These gatherings are on the first Tuesday of the month and you and your friends are cordially invited to attend (men are most welcome, as well). In addition to the fun, fellowship and education of the forum, there are numerous volunteer possibilities through the Women of St. Stephen’s.
How do you join the Women of St. Stephen’s? If you are a woman and you’re at St. Stephen’s Church, you are already considered a member of this group.
Not only that, but men are also invited to take part in everything this group offers, including cooking for the May Fair House or volunteering in the shop, attending the monthly Women’s Forum, or going on trips and tours sponsored by the group.
If you’d like to receive periodic emails about the forum, the May Fair House, volunteer opportunities, and other activities of the Women of St. Stephen’s, click on the button to sign up.
The May Fair House
The Women of St. Stephen’s run the May Fair House, a food and gift shop whose proceeds fund outreach grants made by the “WOSS” grants committee.
Hours of operation are:
September through May
Tuesday-Friday, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
Saturday, 9 a.m.-noon
Sunday, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
The shop is closed Mondays and whenever the parish office is closed for a holiday or inclement weather.
June, July, and August
During the summer, the shop is open from 9 a.m. until noon on Saturdays during the farmers market. It’s closed on weekdays and Sundays in the summer.
Programs
Scroll down the page for a schedule of upcoming programs presented by the Women of St. Stephen’s.
ALL programs are for EVERYONE–not just women and not just members of St. Stephen’s Church!
- Unless otherwise indicated, there is no charge and no registration required. Guests are always welcome–bring a neighbor, friend, or your spouse.
- Printed brochures listing these events are available at Information Central outside the parish office.
- Be sure to sign up for the Women of St. Stephen’s email newsletter here so that you’re up to date if changes are made to the location of a program, or if inclement weather causes a program to be postponed.
Trips and tours
The Women of St. Stephen’s sponsor trips and tours to provide opportunities for fellowship as well as to raise additional funds for their outreach grants. These include overnight trips as well as day trips, with transportation, attractions, and some meals included in the fees. Information about upcoming trips is provided in the Spirit, the eSpirit, and the email newsletter of the Women of St. Stephen’s. An upcoming trip is listed below.
Grants program
Funds generated by the May Fair House and other offerings of the Women of St. Stephen’s are used to award grants to community organizations addressing a variety of needs.
The annual deadline to apply for a grant is September 30.
Additional details, including a list of the most recent grant awards and links to application forms, can be found at the bottom of this web page.
Programs hosted by
the Women of St. Stephen’s
Programs for fall 2026
Programs for fall 2026 are listed below. Programs for winter and spring will be listed later this year. ALL programs are for EVERYONE–not just women and not just members of St. Stephen’s Church!
- Unless otherwise indicated, there is no charge and no registration required. Guests are always welcome–bring a neighbor, friend, or your spouse.
- Printed brochures listing these events are available at Information Central outside the parish office.
- Be sure to sign up for the Women of St. Stephen’s email newsletter here so that you’re up to date if changes are made to the location of a program, or if inclement weather causes a program to be postponed.
Tuesday, September 15, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
An evening of fun and fellowship
Fellowship Hall
Learn about our ministries at an evening of fellowship and get details about the group’s many activities. We will highlight volunteer opportunities at tables describing each area of our organization, including outreach and service, grants, and May Fair House opportunities. The evening will include hors d’oeuvres, beverages, and information sharing. No registration is needed for this free event.
Special offering
While the September 15 is free and no sign-up is needed, one of the activities offered does require advance registration. A needlepoint workshop for beginners to seasoned stitchers will be led by Jessica Tongel, needlepoint designer and a member of St. Stephen’s needlepoint guild and flower guild. Participants in this activity will purchase a kit ($55) with painted canvas, stitching fibers, needle, threader, and instructions. You pay for the kit at the event (cash, check, or card), but you must reserve it by September 4 by sending an email to the Women of St. Stephen’s.
Tuesday, October 6, 11 a.m.–1 p.m.
Remember the Ladies: Fashion, Freedom, and the Fabric of a Nation 1776–2026
Fellowship Hall; light lunch providedParishioner Whitney Robertson, a clothing and textile historian and founder of Heirloom Care LLC, will offer a behind-the-scenes look at Remember the Ladies, an exhibition of 250 years of women’s clothing that she is guest-curating for the Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library in Staunton, Virginia. While learning about beautiful garments and the women who wore them, we will explore what it means to look at history through clothes and touch on the spirituality of connecting to ourselves and our predecessors through their garments. Bring a friend for this engaging presentation!
Tuesday, November 10, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
“Let the Little Children Come to Me” (Matthew 19:14)
Fellowship Hall; hors d’oeuvres and beverages provided
This important program will focus on two organizations doing extraordinary work to heal and revitalize the lives of children in Richmond: Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU and Richmond Stop Child Abuse Now (SCAN). A representative from Children’s Hospital will share ways they strive to nurture every child by providing comprehensive medical care within a safe, kid-friendly space where families can stay close during treatment. An advocate from Richmond SCAN will share information about their compassionate approach to preventing and treating child abuse. You will not want to miss these vital discussions.
Tuesday, December 1 at 10:30 a.m.
Sounds of the Season Concert and Holiday Luncheon
Church and Fellowship Hall
Enjoy the music of Advent and Christmas with a special concert in the church featuring St. Stephen’s Handbell Choir and organist and director of music Robert McCormick. The program will include music by Marcel Dupré, Louis-Claude Daquin, and Keith Chapman. This will be the first concert featuring St. Stephen’s Handbell Choir under the direction of Paul Honaker. The 13-member choir will perform on our recently purchased set of 61 Malmark Handbells and 61 Malmark Choir Chimes.
We hope you will join us for this beautiful concert. There is no fee for the concert and all are welcome. A festive holiday luncheon will follow; the cost of $15 is payable at the door.
Grants
The Women of St. Stephen’s award grants with the proceeds from May Fair House sales and trips and tours. Co-chairs of the grants committee are Meredith Hanbury and Jeanne Sarmento.
The latest awards total $47,500.
Deadline and application for 2026 grants
The deadline for grant applications each year is September 30.
Whichever version of the application you use–the PDF with fillable fields, or the one for completing by hand–please note that we ask you to submit the application electronically to [email protected]. If you complete the application by hand, please scan it and send it via email. Likewise, scan and attach any additional documents such as financial statements.
APPLICATION FOR COMPLETING BY HAND
APPLICATION FOR FILLING IN ON COMPUTER
Stay in Touch
Sign up for the Women of St. Stephen’s monthly email newsletter for updates on events, volunteer opportunities, and more.