The Church of the Epiphany, the older of Danville’s two Episcopal churches, is a significant landmark located in the center of the Historic District at the corner of Main Street and Jefferson Avenue.  It has a middle-to-upper income congregation with an approximate median age of fifty.

The history of this Episcopal Church is primarily the history of the dedication of its clergy, the vestries, and its congregation.  Since its founding in 1840 there have been only eight rectors.  From an original group of four members the congregation grew to 598, but for a variety of reasons the membership had gradually declined to 159 active communicants in 1992.  At the present time, the active communicants number 237 adults; there are 60 children on the rolls.

In 1840 the Rev. George Washington Dame, the first rector, purchased a lot, which was later exchanged for the lot on which the church now stands.  Dr. Dame stated that “a cornfield was exchanged for a chinquapin patch”.

During the War Between the States, Epiphany’s steeple bell was donated to make cannon for the Army of the Confederacy.  (Funds were provided for its replacement at a special tobacco auction sale after the war.  It is this bell that we hear today.)  Confederate President Jefferson Davis worshipped at Epiphany during his residence in Danville during the last days of the war in     April 1865.

From 1993 to 2004 came the establishment of The Free Clinic of Danville, originally sponsored and funded by our church.  Also, carried out during this time were repainting and refurbishing of the interior of the church and the parish house including bathroom renovation throughout, renovation and building a new sacristy, kitchen renovation in the parish house, installation of an elevator serving all floors of the church for disabled parishioners, complete updating and equipping the business office with the latest electronic equipment, buying land for a new parking lot, establishing  and building  our  columbarium   and arranging for the establishment of a pre-kindergarten for Carlisle School.  Carlisle is a private K-12 educational institution located in Martinsville, Virginia.