History of St. Michael's
St. Michael’s Episcopal Church began in 1982, when Bishop James Barrow Brown designated his Mission Fund drive to the purchase of land for a new Northshore Episcopal church. The mission church in Mandeville began forming in 1985, with lay readers from Christ Church Covington holding services in a rental space within an office building in Golden Shores. In April 1986, the Diocese granted mission status to St. Michael’s and then purchased 12 acres on Sharp Road in Mandeville in 1987. At that time, the Mission held services on Lafitte Street in a place known as the storefront while preparation began for the first permanent building. Bishop Brown blessed the land and broke ground for the new church in 1991. During construction, the congregation held services in a nearby school gym.
The first Eucharist in the new church was celebrated on November 29, 1992, and Bishop Brown returned to dedicate the new building that December. The St. Michael’s Education Center was completed in 1996, and St. Michael’s Preschool completed its first full year of operation in 1997. The labyrinth and Parish Life Center were added in 2007, the Memorial Garden in 2008, and the east wing addition to the school in 2011. In 2023, St. Michael’s installed a self-sustaining solar panel array on the Parish Life Center.
The first Eucharist in the new church was celebrated on November 29, 1992, and Bishop Brown returned to dedicate the new building that December. The St. Michael’s Education Center was completed in 1996, and St. Michael’s Preschool completed its first full year of operation in 1997. The labyrinth and Parish Life Center were added in 2007, the Memorial Garden in 2008, and the east wing addition to the school in 2011. In 2023, St. Michael’s installed a self-sustaining solar panel array on the Parish Life Center.
Vision for the Future
With the tremendous growth of both the church and preschool in the 2020s, St. Michael’s embarked on a capital campaign in 2023. The campaign is an ambitious project conceived to help us better serve those who worship and learn here. The multi-phase conceptual plan includes a new worship space, improved parking and traffic flow, drainage and infrastructure improvements and renovations to create more meeting, office and multipurpose spaces. Phase I construction is slated to begin in 2024.
|