Middleburg's 36th Annual Free Church Homecoming—a unique ecumenical tradition with roots in the late 1700's—will take place on Sunday, June 17th at Middleburg Baptist Church, 209 East Federal Street, Middleburg.

Bringing together the clergy and choirs of eight area churches, this joint service is held every June at Middleburg Baptist, site of the original "Old Free Church" constructed in the late 1700's. The Old Free Church, built on land donated by the Levin Powell family, founders of Middleburg, was known as a 'free church' because it was dedicated as "a place where all the people can worship." The Baptist, Episcopal and Methodist churches of Middleburg, as well as the Presbyterian Church in Aldie, held their services there until the original building was destroyed in the mid-19th century. A second Free Church, built on the same site in 1840, today serves as the sanctuary of the Middleburg Baptist Church, host of the Homecoming celebration.

The modern Free Church Homecoming celebration was inaugurated as an annual ecumenical service during the 1976 Bicentennial. At that time, Our Redeemer Episcopal Church, Long Branch Baptist Church, and St. Stephen the Martyr Catholic Church joined the originating churches thereby adding to the celebration's ecumenical spirit.

Responsibility for the service rotates year-to-year among the participating churches. The service begins at 11:00 a.m. and is followed by a potluck picnic with the entrée provided by the host church. Childcare is provided for the service and all events are open to the public.