About APC
Our History
In the mid 1980s, the Lord brought together a group of men and women to begin the work of planting a reformed church in Old Town Alexandria. The vision of having a PCA church in the heart of Alexandria had been long seared on the hearts of Bob and Rosemary Morrison. Their vision was united with that of veteran church planters, Pastor Bob Schoof and his wife, Barbara, and Ruling Elder Dick Hills and his wife Lorrie.
With this core, a handful of believers began worshipping together on May 11, 1986, at the Alexandria Community "Y" building in Old Town. As the disparate collection of believers was being knit into a family of God, the congregation sought to create a welcoming environment while maintaining a commitment to reformed teaching and a personal and vibrant worship. God brought individuals, couples and families into the fellowship, spiritual gifts were studied, identified and given ample opportunity to be exercised within the small but growing congregation. By April 24, 1988, the body of believers was formed into a particular church in the Potomac Presbytery of the PCA. The Ruling Elders who were installed were Ben Crowley, the late Dick Hills, Robert E. Morrison, Jim Stanford, and Jim Taft.
God used a special time in the life of the congregation to strengthen the souls of the believers, to insist that the Session actively lead the congregation, to coalesce the commitment of the congregation to this particular ministry, and to have the APC part of the Body of Christ experience care and ministering by a variety of spiritual leaders, Bible teachers and evangelists.
Reverend Schoof resigned as pastor on October 15, 1989, and the Reverend Tom Holliday was installed as pastor of APC on November 1, 1990. It was during this unique period that God forged APC's hallmark unity, and gave the Body its vision for a vibrant, praying and caring church.
A new era began with the arrival of Tom and Sharon Holliday, and their children, Tommy, Stacey and Caitlin. Shortly after, the church facility of the Community Praise Center, which had been sought on a number of prior occasions providentially, became available for rental and the church began to worship at the first Russell Road location.
In June of 1997, God opened the door for APC to move into its current worship facility owned by Del Ray Baptist Church at 2405 Russell Road. Del Ray Baptist shares the facilities with APC (and each of our daughter Hispanic church plants), with the unique arrangement serving as a testimony throughout the area to God's desire to see His Church work in unity.
The Lord has brought a broad spectrum of people into the fellowship, and the church has trained, prepared and strengthened a sizeable number of members who have since been transferred or moved to many regions around the globe. Still, a number of the core trailblazers remain in town and worship together.
Notable traditions of the church now include: APC fellowship dinners; a variety of in-home Covenant Fellowship groups; our Easter Sunrise Service at Market Square in Old Town; our Thanksgiving Service of sharing, praise and thankfulness; our Christmas Candlelight Service; quarterly Sunday School classes for children, youth and adults; Vacation Bible School; Explorers; Sonship training; the APC Lay Institute; vibrant music in worship; our annual SummerFest summer picnic; and co-ed softball teams.
In 2000, APC began an ambitious outreach to the Latino community in the Arlandria section of Alexandria. Offering ESL classes and Bible studies, the outreach was the first step in a church plant. That church plant then became reality in 2000 when the Iglesia Presbiteriana Gracia y Paz (Grace and Peace Presbyterian Church) was established to reach these Spanish-speaking members of Alexandria (and beyond). Gracia y Paz currently worships at APC and represents the first Latino church plant in the Potomac Presbytery. God continues to use the ministry of the church to reach the lost for the sake of Jesus Christ, to strengthen the collection of believers, and to have an impact on this community. God's provision and leading stems from the commitment to minister so that the wounded may be healed, and to pursue excellence in the congregation's approach to the throne of God.
In the mid 1980s, the Lord brought together a group of men and women to begin the work of planting a reformed church in Old Town Alexandria. The vision of having a PCA church in the heart of Alexandria had been long seared on the hearts of Bob and Rosemary Morrison. Their vision was united with that of veteran church planters, Pastor Bob Schoof and his wife, Barbara, and Ruling Elder Dick Hills and his wife Lorrie.
With this core, a handful of believers began worshipping together on May 11, 1986, at the Alexandria Community "Y" building in Old Town. As the disparate collection of believers was being knit into a family of God, the congregation sought to create a welcoming environment while maintaining a commitment to reformed teaching and a personal and vibrant worship. God brought individuals, couples and families into the fellowship, spiritual gifts were studied, identified and given ample opportunity to be exercised within the small but growing congregation. By April 24, 1988, the body of believers was formed into a particular church in the Potomac Presbytery of the PCA. The Ruling Elders who were installed were Ben Crowley, the late Dick Hills, Robert E. Morrison, Jim Stanford, and Jim Taft.
God used a special time in the life of the congregation to strengthen the souls of the believers, to insist that the Session actively lead the congregation, to coalesce the commitment of the congregation to this particular ministry, and to have the APC part of the Body of Christ experience care and ministering by a variety of spiritual leaders, Bible teachers and evangelists.
Reverend Schoof resigned as pastor on October 15, 1989, and the Reverend Tom Holliday was installed as pastor of APC on November 1, 1990. It was during this unique period that God forged APC's hallmark unity, and gave the Body its vision for a vibrant, praying and caring church.
A new era began with the arrival of Tom and Sharon Holliday, and their children, Tommy, Stacey and Caitlin. Shortly after, the church facility of the Community Praise Center, which had been sought on a number of prior occasions providentially, became available for rental and the church began to worship at the first Russell Road location.
In June of 1997, God opened the door for APC to move into its current worship facility owned by Del Ray Baptist Church at 2405 Russell Road. Del Ray Baptist shares the facilities with APC (and each of our daughter Hispanic church plants), with the unique arrangement serving as a testimony throughout the area to God's desire to see His Church work in unity.
The Lord has brought a broad spectrum of people into the fellowship, and the church has trained, prepared and strengthened a sizeable number of members who have since been transferred or moved to many regions around the globe. Still, a number of the core trailblazers remain in town and worship together.
Notable traditions of the church now include: APC fellowship dinners; a variety of in-home Covenant Fellowship groups; our Easter Sunrise Service at Market Square in Old Town; our Thanksgiving Service of sharing, praise and thankfulness; our Christmas Candlelight Service; quarterly Sunday School classes for children, youth and adults; Vacation Bible School; Explorers; Sonship training; the APC Lay Institute; vibrant music in worship; our annual SummerFest summer picnic; and co-ed softball teams.
In 2000, APC began an ambitious outreach to the Latino community in the Arlandria section of Alexandria. Offering ESL classes and Bible studies, the outreach was the first step in a church plant. That church plant then became reality in 2000 when the Iglesia Presbiteriana Gracia y Paz (Grace and Peace Presbyterian Church) was established to reach these Spanish-speaking members of Alexandria (and beyond). Gracia y Paz currently worships at APC and represents the first Latino church plant in the Potomac Presbytery. God continues to use the ministry of the church to reach the lost for the sake of Jesus Christ, to strengthen the collection of believers, and to have an impact on this community. God's provision and leading stems from the commitment to minister so that the wounded may be healed, and to pursue excellence in the congregation's approach to the throne of God.