
DATE: Sunday, November 2, 1997              TAG: 9710310255

SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON   PAGE: 04   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY LORI A. DENNEY, STAFF WRITER 

                                            LENGTH:   65 lines

TWENTIETH ANNIVERSARY SERVICE IS MONDAY FOR SHARED CHURCH

For 42 years, six days a week, Brian and Marion Lynch were the ideal married couple, sharing life's ups and downs and raising their six children together.

On the seventh day, however, they parted ways. Brian Lynch would go to a Catholic church and Marion Lynch would attend services at an Episcopalian church.

It was the one division in an otherwise shared existence.

Until, two years ago, when they saw a sign that said ``Episcopal'' and ``Catholic'' on the marquee of The Church of the Holy Apostles.

``Every Sunday, she'd go her way and I'd go mine,'' said Brian Lynch. ``Now, we celebrate together.''

The church on Lynnhaven Parkway is the only one of its kind where Episcopalians and Roman Catholics worship under the same

roof. At 7 p.m. Monday parishioners and others will gather to celebrate its 20th anniversary.

``This (church) is not exclusive,'' said the Rev. Charles J. Faul, its Roman Catholic co-pastor who also ministers at the Church of the Ascension. ``The parish is set up where Catholics and Episcopalians can come together and be part of a shared parish. Because of our unique ministry we have parishioners from almost every city, including Presbyterians and Methodists.''

Parishioners, about 175 strong, of differing religions have always been welcome in the ecumenical church. And, even though certain practices like Communion are kept with the respective pastors, members mix for sermons and other church functions.

The church, originally called the ARC (Anglican/Roman Catholic) Parish, began meeting in 1977 at the Barry Robinson Chapel in Norfolk. Later, the congregation met at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, also in Norfolk.

In 1985, the parish was moved to the Lynnhaven location, renamed, and eventually expanded to include additional office space.

The concept of the church was born from talks between the Most Rev. Walter F. Sullivan, now the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Richmond, and the Right Rev. David S. Rose, then the Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Southern Virginia.

``Virginia Beach was just beginning to boom and the two were talking and wondered, `Why do we always have to build a church across the street from one another and compete?' '' said Faul. ``Why not share?''

For couples like the Lynches, the concept has enabled them to share their faith and enrich their marriage, Marion Lynch said.

``You'll find here a very loving Christian family,'' added the Rev. David F. Lassalle, the interim Episcopalian co-pastor who is also a chaplain at Old Dominion University. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by STEVE EARLEY

The Rev. Charles J. Faul, left, and the Rev. David F. Lassalle are

co-pastors of Church of the Holy Apostles.

Graphic

SERVICE

A service commemorating the 20th anniversary of the Church of the

Holy Apostles will be at 7 p.m. Monday at the church, 1598 Lynnhaven

Parkway.

Bishop Walter F. Sullivan of the Catholic Diocese of Richmond and

Bishop Frank Vest, Episcopalian Bishop of Southern Virginia, will be

joining the celebration, which is open to the public.

For information, call 427-0963.