Maps and Directions
Church of the Holy Comforter
4819 Monument Avenue
Richmond, VA 23230
The Diocese of Virginia is the largest diocese of the Episcopal Church. Though there are more than 81,000 baptized Episcopalians in the diocese, the majority of the 182 parishes that make up the diocese have 200 members or fewer. Fifteen percent of the 400 canonically resident clergy are women. More than a dozen women serve as rectors or vicars of their own churches
The city of Richmond is the capitol of the Commonwealth, an historic town with national landmarks of the colonial era, American Revolution, Civil War, and twentieth century events. The local economy is stable with half a dozen Fortune 500 company headquarters located in the metropolitan area. Three major universities are situated in the metropolitan area. Five private Episcopal preparatory schools serve the area. Metropolitan medical centers boast regionally and nationally recognized specialists as well as providing high quality general practice care.
Richmond residents enjoy the state's major art museum, science museum and historic houses and museums interpreting everything from Tudor England to one of the nation's first black businesswomen. Downtown neighborhoods retain their gracious beauty and lend a liveliness to the city.
The Church of the Holy Comforter stands at the western boundary of the city, on its historic Monument Avenue. Once scoffed at as being "so far out of town," Richmond has grown past the church, and Holy Comforter is now considered more urban than suburban by location. The residential neighborhood is composed of quiet streets lined with trees and brick houses.
With outlying suburbs extending west into Henrico County and South almost to Petersburg, the metropolitan population is over 800,000. Suburban sprawl has had its effect on the city, and Richmond faces the problems of crime, loss of businesses and deterioration of its tax base, poverty and homelessness that are all too familiar today in America's cities.
Routes in Words
From the South by Chippenham Parkway (route 150, 76 and I-195)
- Heading north on I-195, exit at the "Grove - Patterson" exit.
- Turn left off the exit, heading north on Thompson Street.
- Continue north to Monument Avenue, passing Patterson and an entrance to I-195.
- At Monument turn left onto Monument, a four lane road divided by a grass and tree median.
- Head west on Monument to Staples Mill Road where you will turn left
- At the light at Staples Mill, turn left; the church is on the left corner.
- Good to see you.
- Head north on I-95 to the James River Bridge in Downtown Richmond.
- In the middle of the bridge, exit onto I-195, the "Downtown Expressway".
- Past the toll plaza (50 cents) follow I-195 north which goes to the right.
- Heading north on I-195, exit at the "Grove - Patterson" exit.
- Turn left off the exit, heading north on Thompson Street.
- Continue north to Monument Avenue, passing Patterson and an entrance to I-195.
- At Monument turn left onto Monument, a four lane road divided by a grass and tree median.
- Head west on Monument to Staples Mill Road where you will turn left
- At the light at Staples Mill, turn left; the church is on the left corner.
- Nice of you to visit.
- Note that there is a wrong exit north of Richmond which is I-295 west which leads to I-64 far west of town.
- Head south on I-95 to I-64 West.
- Exit onto I-64 West; stay in the right lane, the next exit is Staples Mill Road, route 33.
- Exit onto Staples Mill Road East or South not West or North.
- Follow Staples Mill Road to its end.
- At the light at Staples Mill and Monument, the church is on the left corner.
- Welcome.
- Head toward Richmond.
- Be careful not to exit onto I-295 which is a bypass of Richmond.
- The Staples Mill Road exits are one exit west of the western merger of I-95 and I-64.
- Exit onto Staples Mill Road East or South not West or North.
- Follow Staples Mill Road to its end.
- At the light at Staples Mill and Monument, the church is on the left corner.
- Happy to see you!