St. Thomas' Parish (Washington, D.C.)

[1] Over the years, numerous well-known social and political figures worshiped at St. Thomas' Parish, including Franklin D. Roosevelt,[2] Harry Truman, and Mrs. Woodrow Wilson.

On the first Sunday of Lent in 1933, parishioners welcomed the return of Roosevelt, who the day before had been inaugurated as President of the United States.

[3] The social upheaval of the 1960s left its mark on Dupont Circle,[4] as the neighborhood attracted more artists, hippies and other unconventional lifestyles.

The Parish Hall, which was left standing behind the footprint of the old church, was also transformed into the simple, modern worship space parishioners use today.

St. Thomas' leaders later decided to convert the area where the old church building stood into a neighborhood park.

During the 1970s, St. Thomas' was one of the few churches that welcomed IntegrityUSA, an organization of gay Episcopalians who felt unwelcome in their own parishes, to celebrate Holy Eucharist in its worship space.

Dr. Nancy Lee Jose was called to be St. Thomas' eighth rector, and the first woman to hold that position.