Mission + Values
We are young, we are old. We are straight, gay, lesbian and transgender. We come to church in one, twos, threes, fours and more. We treasure being family to all members of our congregation. We are a welcoming, open, and diverse church that values both tradition and creativity.
Holy Innocents is a small, historic, neighborhood Episcopal church tucked between Noe Valley and the Mission. We gather around Christ's table each week to pray, sing, ask honest questions, celebrate life's joys, and carry one another through its challenges. Whether you've attended church your whole life or are walking through our doors for the first time, we hope you'll find a community where you can belong before you believe everything, and where faith is lived through worship, friendship, and service.
Welcome to Holy Innocents Episcopal Church!
We are an inclusive, intergenerational community seeking to know Christ and make Christ known through worship, hospitality, learning, and service. Whether you have been part of the Episcopal Church your whole life, are exploring faith for the first time, or are simply looking for a place to belong, you are welcome here.
We believe God meets us in worship, in friendship, in acts of compassion, and around the table. Together we strive to grow as disciples of Jesus and to share God's love with our neighbors in San Francisco and beyond.
Our Mission
To know Christ and make Christ known.
Everything we do—from Sunday worship to community meals, Christian formation, and outreach—is rooted in this simple mission. We seek to deepen our relationship with God while sharing Christ's love through welcome, generosity, justice, and joyful service.
What We Value
Worship that Forms Us
Our worship is rooted in the rich traditions of the Episcopal Church while remaining welcoming and accessible. Through scripture, prayer, music, preaching, and Holy Communion, we are formed into the people God calls us to be.
Radical Hospitality
We believe everyone is created in the image of God and deserves to be welcomed with dignity and love. Whoever you are, wherever you are on your journey of faith, there is a place for you here.
Growing in Faith Together
Faith is a lifelong journey. We encourage honest questions, thoughtful conversation, and learning across every stage of life—from our youngest children to our oldest members.
Serving Our Neighbors
Our faith extends beyond Sunday mornings. We seek Christ in our neighbors by partnering with local ministries, feeding those experiencing food insecurity, advocating for justice, and caring for our community with compassion.
Joyful Community
Church is more than a place to worship—it's a community where we celebrate life's milestones, support one another through challenges, laugh together, pray together, and grow together in Christ.
What Makes Holy Innocents Unique
Holy Innocents is a neighborhood church where people know one another by name. We are large enough to offer meaningful worship, music, formation, and outreach, yet small enough that newcomers quickly become part of the community.
Children are not expected to be anything but themselves—they are welcomed as full participants in our common life. We treasure every generation and believe our community is strongest when people of all ages worship, learn, and serve together.
As an Episcopal congregation, we are committed to being an affirming church where LGBTQ+ folks are fully involved in every aspect of the life and leadership of our parish.
Our Patron Saints
Our parish is named for the Holy Innocents, the children remembered in the Gospel of Matthew whose lives were taken by King Herod. Their story reminds us that God is especially present with the vulnerable and calls us to protect, love, and advocate for those who are most at risk.
This commitment continues to shape who we are today as we seek to be a community of compassion, justice, and hope.
What do we believe?
Holy Innocents is a congregation of The Episcopal Church and part of the worldwide Anglican Communion. Our worship is based on the Book of Common Prayer and seeks to follow Jesus through scripture, tradition, and reason.
Scripture — We believe God speaks through the Bible, proclaiming the Good News of Jesus Christ and offering wisdom for a holy and grounded life. Scripture is sacred and authoritative — and is interpreted in conversation with tradition and reason.
Tradition — The prayers, practices, and theological reflection of the Church through history continue to shape us. We trust that the Spirit has spoken and still speaks through the generations.
Reason — Following Richard Hooker, Anglicans understand reason as both mind and heart — logic, experience, and the deep inner sense of God at work in us and in the world.
These three — Scripture, Tradition, and Reason — form the Anglican “three-legged stool,” each informing and balancing the other as we seek truth, wisdom, and faithful action. We celebrate the sacraments, embrace thoughtful faith, and believe God's love is wide enough for everyone.
Whether you come with deep faith, lingering questions, or quiet curiosity, you are welcome to join us as we seek God's presence together.