Virginia Episcopalian Magazine Spring 2013 Issue | Page 10

A Place of Hope and Healing at St. Margaret’s Property
Emily Cherry
On March 7, the Prince William Area
Free Clinic celebrated the grand
opening of their newly renovated
facilities at the St. Margaret’s property
in Woodbridge.

The clinic began operating out
of St. Margaret’s in 2010, but soon
discovered a need for more space.
Clients were waiting in long lines
outside, and often had to wait weeks
for an appointment. Providers were
setting up makeshift exam rooms in the
hallways. Around the same time, the
property returned to the ownership of
the Diocese of Virginia, after the Diocese
and St. Margaret’s Anglican reached
a settlement over the building. The
congregation of St. Margaret’s Episcopal
decided not to return to their original
church building, and have since gone on
to worship at a space on Saratoga Lane.
The clinic now occupies two floors of a
wing of the St. Margaret’s property on
Church Hill Road.

“The Episcopal Diocese helped
make this dream a reality” by letting
the clinic expand into the upper floors
of the St. Margaret’s building, said
Dr. Rebecca Sinclair, medical director.
During the renovations, the clinic did
not stop serving patients, and in fact
expanded their hours.

The clinic “goes far beyond the
provision of medical care,” explained

Photo: Emily Cherry

James Bailor (left), president of the Prince William Area Free Clinic Board of Directors;
Dr. Linda Franklin (second from left), executive director; and Dr. Rebecca Sinclair (right),
medical director, present a plaque to Michael Kerr, diocesan treasurer, in appreciation of
the Diocese’s support of the clinic.

Sinclair. They also provide case
management and mental health care,
a food bank and a toy closet, plus
access to nutritional counseling. The
clinic prides itself on being “a true
medical home,” where uninsured
clients can schedule appointments and
have continuity in their medical care.
The providers also help the clients
gain access to their medications and
receive transportation to their medical

services, and host a mobile medical
clinic once a month.

Michael J. Kerr, treasurer of the
Diocese, delivered the invocation at
the grand opening ceremony. “It is
my hope, and that of the Diocese of
Virginia, that the Prince William Area
Free Clinic will always be a place of
hope and healing to all who come
through the door.” t

Dayspring continued from page 7

Vision Team. He acts in partnership with the Rev. DeDe
Duncan-Probe, who works directly with the congregations,
and Col. Jean Reed, who works with properties that don’t
have Episcopal congregations. “The work of the Dayspring
[team] and congregations has been a shared work of grace,
redemption and mutual support as we ‘seek to serve Christ in
all persons,’” said Duncan-Probe.

These faithful men and women, along with some 30
other diocesan leaders, provide vital ministry on behalf
of our Diocese as we do this new work. It’s my hope that

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Virginia Episcopalian / Spring 2013

the blossoming of Dayspring congregations will become
contagious and spread increased hope and vision to our
Diocese as a whole. God is doing a new thing among us.
Because of God’s work, years of heartbreak and conflict are
being transformed into a burst of renewed ministry. God
is making a way for us in the wilderness, and we are seeing
wondrous new things. t