We are a small Episcopal Church on the banks of the Rappahannock in Port Royal, Virginia. We acknowledge that we gather on the traditional land of the first people of Port Royal, the Nandtaughtacund, and we respect and honor with gratitude the land itself, the legacy of the ancestors, and the life of the Rappahannock Tribe. Our mission statement is to do God’s Will in all that we do.

Mission and Outreach – Peumansend Jail Ministry

The facility opened in September 1999 as the Peumansend Creek Regional Jail and features a campus style layout, designed to operate as a fourth-generation direct supervision facility. Low custody inmates from six jurisdictions and the Virginia Department of Corrections were housed at the facility until March 2017 when it closed .

In September 18, 2011 a bulletin announcement suggested a new outreach ministry – “Reach out to inmates in the Peumansend Creek Regional Jail by serving as a volunteer to help lead a Bible study. Volunteers for this program would need to attend one training session at the jail and would have a background check.” Laurel Ameen took the leadership in organizing this ministry having several meetings after Church.

We are asked to give to the church, St. Peter’s which champions his beliefs, extols his life and imitate his example of healing – to those who suffer from hunger (Village Harvest), to those have taken a wrong turn in life and need a helping hand (Peumansend Jail Ministry) and to those who been dealt a bad hand by nature (Nepal).

St Peter’s formerly began its ministry at the Peumansend Creek Regional Jail on March 15, 2012. Catherine held a Bible study with eighteen prisoners. They talked about the Kingdom of God and a few of the parables that Jesus told. Several of the prisoners shared Bible stories that have meaning for them. The men were very happy to attend a Bible study since this particular group is in lock-down for twenty-three hours every day. They are looking forward to seeing people from St Peter’s come back to share more Good News from the gospel.

There were other events:

July 22, 2012 Buy a Bible for a prisoner at Peumansend Creek Regional Jail. For just $6, you can buy a copy of The Journey: A Bible for the Spiritually Curious. The prisoners have very little access to Bibles except during Bible study, and those lucky enough to have their own read them in depth. Your gift can make a real difference.

Dec 2, 2012 Christmas candy for Peumansend Creek Regional Jail. Your donations of hard candy, individually wrapped, and small plastic snack bags would be greatly appreciated

Sept 5, 2013 The Faith Outreach Dinner at Peumansend Creek Regional Jail is Thursday, September 5th at 7PM. Lisa Kratz Thomas will be the speaker. If you’d like to go, contact Chaplain Brenda Braam at 804-633-0043, x161. Marilyn Newman & Catherine Hicks will be attending.

Our monthly Bible study at PCRJ continued throughout 2013. Our Bible study begins with scripture and includes scriptures study, prayer, and discussion and opportunities for the prisoners to share their insights with one another. Parishioners continue to support this ministry not only through the volunteering of their time, but also with gifts of Bibles that we provide to the prisoners.

The ministry lasted until 2017 when the facility closed.