St. Paul's Episcopal Church, San Rafael, CA

What St. Paul's Episcopal Church, San Rafael, CA does

St. Paul's Episcopal Church is a 146-year-old (founded 1868) Episcopal parish located at 1123 Court St, San Rafael, California, serving the Marin County community through worship, faith formation, and outreach. Its core offering is a weekly Holy Eucharist Rite II service at 10am on Sundays, delivered both in-person and via simultaneous livestream on Facebook and YouTube. Programming extends to Bible studies (in-person, Zoom, and online), Sunday School using the Storytellers curriculum, five active Discipleship Groups, Chancel and Children's Choirs, and a broad portfolio of outreach ministries including San Quentin Death Row Ministry, sandwich-making for St. Vincent de Paul, healthcare center worship services, Street Chaplaincy Dinner, and Young Moms Marin.

Technology infrastructure is built entirely on commodity SaaS: Realm (cloud-based member directory, pledging, contribution tracking, and group communications), PayPal (online giving), Zoom (Bible studies and Morning Prayer), and Facebook/YouTube (livestream). The church operates without any proprietary software or AI capabilities.

The revenue model is a hybrid of voluntary donations and a contracted rental stream. Approximately 60% of the budget derives from congregational pledges, tithes, and online giving collected during services and via Realm/PayPal. The remaining ~40% ($160,000-$190,000 annually) comes from a 10-year lease with Marin Day School, a preschool occupying the education wing since the late 1980s; the school additionally invested $300,000 in campus improvements (new bathroom, electrical upgrades, HVAC) in 2014. The 16-person staff supports both the religious mission and the operational management of these programs; the organization is governed by an elected vestry under Rector Rev. Christopher Martin (20+ years tenure) and is part of the Episcopal Diocese of California.

Name

St. Paul's Episcopal Church, San Rafael, CA

Legal name

St. Paul's Episcopal Church

Website

https://stpaulssanrafael.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1868

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

St. Paul's Episcopal Church is a 146-year-old Episcopal parish in San Rafael, California, offering weekly Sunday worship (in-person and livestream), Christian education, Discipleship Groups, and outreach ministries including prison, food, and healthcare programs to congregants and the broader Marin County community.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Religious Services

NAICS

Religious Organizations (8131), Religious Organizations (813110), Community Food Services (624210)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Local Congregations & Worship Communities (Churches, Mosques, Temples, Synagogues) (BPAGAJAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Faith-Based Social Services & Community Outreach (Food Pantries, Shelters, Counseling) (BPAGAJAG), Faith-Based Missions & Evangelism Organizations (Domestic & International) (BPAGAJAE)

Keywords

• Religious services
• Faith formation
• Community outreach
• Pastoral care
• Worship ministries

Headquarters

HQ city

San Rafael

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Tithes and Offerings: Voluntary contributions from congregation members during weekly worship services and through online giving platforms
2. Pledge Campaign: Annual pledge drive where members commit financial support for the upcoming year to help plan the budget
3. Marin Day School Rental: Preschool renting the education wing since the late 1980s, generating $160,000 to $190,000 annually, approximately 40% of the church budget. The school invested $300,000 in campus improvements while the church invested $50,000
4. Realm Online Giving: Cloud-based online pledging and giving system allowing members to update contact information, pledge online, review contribution history, and print year-end statements

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

St. Paul's Episcopal Church provides weekly Episcopal worship services, Christian formation programming (Sunday School, Bible study, children's choir), and pastoral care to its congregation and the broader San Rafael community. It also operates a portfolio of outreach ministries, including a Death Row Ministry that sends Christmas cards to death row inmates and the Rise Against Hunger meal-packaging initiative. The church supplements donations with facility rental income from partners such as Marin Day School.

Product overview

St. Paul's Episcopal Church offers a comprehensive suite of religious and community programs centered around its core Sunday worship service (10am, in-person and streaming). The church's programs include Sunday School with the Storytellers curriculum, Bible Study sessions (Wednesday, Thursday, Sunday), Chancel and Children's Choirs, Discipleship Groups, and extensive Outreach ministries (sandwich-making, prison ministry, healthcare visits, Street Chaplaincy). Digital infrastructure includes Realm for member management and online giving; worship is streamed via Facebook and YouTube; Bible studies meet via Zoom. The church operates from 1123 Court St, San Rafael, CA 94901.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Weekly Episcopal Worship Services Sunday (and other) weekly liturgical Episcopal worship services held at the church, drawing approximately 500 attendees and the central religious offering of the parish for members and visitors.
• Live-Streamed Worship Services Live streaming of worship services online, enabling homebound members and those unable to attend in person to participate remotely.
• Sunday School (Christian Formation for Children) Christian education program for children, conducted as part of the parish's formation ministries alongside worship services.
• Bible Study Bible study gatherings for parishioners, supporting adult Christian formation and scriptural engagement.
• Children's Choir Children's choral program within the parish's music and formation ministries.
• Death Row Ministry Outreach ministry supporting people on death row, including a Christmas card effort and pastoral outreach to incarcerated individuals.
• Rise Against Hunger Meal Packaging Volunteer meal-packaging initiative partnering with Rise Against Hunger to assemble meals for those facing hunger, hosted at the church.
• Pastoral Care and Outreach to St. Vincent's / Healthcare Ministry Pastoral care outreach to local institutions such as St. Vincent's and engagement with healthcare and community needs.
• Community Events Parish-hosted community events bringing together members and neighbors beyond regular worship services.
• Facility Rental Services Rental of church facilities to community partners such as Marin Day School for educational programming.
• Online Giving via PayPal Online donation capability through PayPal integration, enabling members and supporters to make financial contributions remotely.

Quantifiable outcome

• 956 Christmas cards written for 29 death row inmates in single event
• +3 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Rise Against HungerminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2025International aid organization partnered with Marin Deanery families hosted at St. Paul's to pack 10,000 meals for hungry people in Southeast Asia.
• Marin Day SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2014Preschool renting the education wing since the late 1980s. New 10-year contract guarantees $160,000-$190,000 annual income (approximately 40% of church budget). The school invested $300,000 in campus improvements while the church invested $50,000. Improvements included new bathroom, electrical upgrades, and HVAC system in education wing. The school is described as an 'ideal tenant' with staff considered friends of the congregation.
• St. Vincent de Paul (Vinnies)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerChurch organizes regular sandwich-making sessions to prepare bagged lunches for distribution to hungry neighbors. Sessions held Wednesdays at 4pm at St. Paul's Duncan Hall, producing 100+ bagged lunches per session for St. Vincent's to share with food-insecure community members.
• San Quentin State Prison (Death Row Ministry)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMinistry began 18 years ago when an inmate's mother asked the Bishop of California to find someone to visit her son. Currently 14 St. Paul's volunteers maintain relationships with 7 death row inmates through Kairos Inside ministry. Volunteers write letters monthly and visit on Thursdays and Saturdays. Christmas card writing parties produce nearly 1000 cards for inmates annually.
• San Rafael Healthcare & Wellness CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOn 4th Sundays, church members walk one block to lead brief worship services of hymns and prayers for residents. Ministry began to combat isolation and provide spiritual connection for elderly residents.
• Ritter CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerChurch members distribute non-perishable food donations collected on Sunday mornings to Ritter Center, which distributes food to those in need in the community.
• First Presbyterian Church, San RafaelminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost site for Street Chaplaincy Dinner program serving homeless and unhoused individuals. St. Paul's volunteers cook, serve, and clean up at these community dinners.
• Nativity Church, San RafaelcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFeatured in Diocese of California video on collaboration. Churches join for worship during August. Joint ministry and fellowship activities strengthen regional Episcopal community. Maundy Thursday services rotate between St. Paul's and Nativity.
• Grace Marin (Presbyterian)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBrother congregation that has used Room 7 in the education wing for meetings with a conference table. Interfaith fellowship and joint events strengthen ecumenical relationships in Marin County.
• Grace CathedralcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDiocesan cathedral where confirmations take place and clergy (Rev. Cara Meredith) are ordained. Episcopal hierarchy connection for sacramental functions and clergy development.
• Christ Church, SausalitominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides pastoral backup coverage when St. Paul's rector is unavailable. Rev. Chip Barker-Larrimore serves as backup clergy support.
• St. Aidan's Episcopal Church, BolinasminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRev. Carol Luther of St. Aidan's provides clergy coverage for St. Paul's when rector is away. Part of network of Episcopal clergy providing mutual support.
• Book Passage (Corte Madera)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerIndependent bookstore in Corte Madera where Rev. Christopher Martin conducted book reading for 'The Restoration Project.' Venue attracts readers from Marin County and beyond for author events.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves14 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Marin Interfaith Council: Regional coalition of faith communities in Marin County coordinating interfaith service and outreach — thematically comparable as a faith-based organization addressing shared community needs in the same geography.

Direct peers

• St. Aidan's Episcopal Church, Bolinas: Episcopal parish in Bolinas whose rector (Rev. Carol Luther) provides clergy coverage for St. Paul's services — directly comparable as a small Marin County Episcopal parish within the Diocese of California.
• Nativity Church, San Rafael: Fellow Episcopal parish in San Rafael; St. Paul's and Nativity conduct joint worship services (rotating Maundy Thursday), shared ministry, and feature together in Diocese of California collaboration video — making them the most directly comparable same-denomination neighbor.
• St. Mary's Episcopal Church, San Francisco: Established Episcopal parish within the same Diocese of California operating traditional liturgy, music programs, and community outreach — a comparable Bay Area Episcopal congregation model.
• Trinity Episcopal Church, San Francisco: Historic Episcopal parish in San Francisco within the Diocese of California offering comparable liturgical worship, formation programs, and outreach ministries — directly relevant Episcopal peer.
• Christ Church, Sausalito: Episcopal parish in neighboring Sausalito providing pastoral backup clergy (Rev. Chip Barker-Larrimore) for St. Paul's — same diocese, similar congregation size, and direct clergy-coordination relationship.

Broad incumbents

• Grace Cathedral, San Francisco: The Episcopal Diocese of California's cathedral where St. Paul's confirmations and clergy ordinations occur; a much larger incumbent institution with overlapping worship, formation, and community programs.
• Diocese of California: The governing Episcopal body to which St. Paul's belongs; comparable as the broader institutional umbrella providing grant funding (Episcopal Impact Fund), sacramental oversight, and shared programming infrastructure.

Others

• Society of St. Vincent de Paul, Marin: Catholic-affiliated charitable organization that is the primary recipient of St. Paul's sandwich-making ministry; comparable as a faith-rooted social services organization serving food-insecure populations in Marin.
• First Presbyterian Church, San Rafael: Local ecumenical partner that hosts the Street Chaplaincy Dinner in which St. Paul's volunteers serve; comparable as a San Rafael congregation collaborating on community outreach programs.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCwdMKliDwgkJ7b-gqXpbS-A
• Facebookfacebook.com/stpaulssanrafael
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/st-paul's-episcopal-church-san-rafael-ca

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about St. Paul's Episcopal Church, San Rafael, CA