SAINT MICHAEL’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH
BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA
 

Saint Michael’s Church is the third oldest Episcopal Church in Baton Rouge and the only predominantly black Episcopal Congregation in the city.  The primary reason for its establishment was to provide an Episcopal Church in the city where black Episcopalians could worship.

Dr. H. Horne Huggins, a physician from Nevis in the West Indies, was concerned about his exclusion from his Church because of his race.  He, along with Miss Elsie Lewis, an instructor at Southern University, had conversations concerning this situation with The Rev. George Wills Provost, Curate of Saint James Episcopal Church, during the spring and summer of 1941.

In September of 1941, The Rt. Rev. John Long Jackson, D.D., Bishop of the Diocese of Louisiana, met with Dr. Huggins and a group at Southern University.  During this meeting the bishop outlined the steps necessary for formal recognition of the group as an organized Mission of the Diocese of Louisiana.  Encouraged by the bishop, the group met on several occasions for further instructions on organization.

On October 8, 1941, the name “Saint Michael’s Church, Baton Rouge?was chosen for the proposed Mission because there was no other parish similarly named in this diocese and because Saint Michael’s Day could be celebrated while Southern University was in session.

Saint Michael’s was formally recognized as a Mission on January 17, 1942.

During 1942 with the Rev. George Wills Provost as Priest-in-Charge the communicants worshipped in various places including the McKinley High School Auditorium and a Presbyterian Church at the corner of East Boulevard and Railroad Avenue.

In 1943, The Rev. Joseph S. Ditchburn succeeded Father Provost.  During his tenure from 1943-1949, eleven lots were purchased on Terrace and Napoleon streets.  Through the Victory Fund Campaign which was launched in 1945, an Army Chapel was purchased from the United States Government at a cost of approximately $14,000 and erected on the property owned by Saint Michael’s.

After the death of Bishop John Long Jackson in the fall of 1948, the new bishop, The Rt. Rev. Girault M. Jones continued to manifest interest in Saint Michael’s Church and engaged Miss Lennie Frisby to be a lay leader.  She arrived on January 20, 1949.

The Rev. J. S. Ditchburn relinquished the Cure of Saint Michael’s on June 30, 1949, and was succeeded by the Rev. Leonard Nelson.

In 1952, Father Nelson attended a national meeting of College Chaplains in Washington, D.C.  It was there that he communicated with Dr. John M. Burgess (later Bishop of Massachusetts) concerning a priest for Saint Michael’s.  A postulant, Mr. Sidney Baynes Parker, was brought to his attention.  The Rev. Sidney Baynes Parker was ordained to the priesthood in 1953 and became the first black and the first full time Priest-in-Charge of Saint Michael’s Church.  A rectory was built for him and he remained at Saint Michael’s until 1957.

In 1958 the services of The Rev. J. H. Cole, another black priest, was obtained.  One of his specialties was working with young people.  He served full time until his retirement in 1964.

It had become apparent by this time that Saint Michael’s growth was limited because of its location.  The majority of its congregation was from the Scotlandville area and it was felt that growth would proceed more rapidly if it were moved and located in the North Baton Rouge area.  The diocese purchased a church site on 77^th Avenue near Scenic Highway as a future location for Saint Michael’s.

The Rev. J. Daryl Canfill became Priest-in-Charge in 1966 and remained until December 1968.  It was under his leadership that the plans were prepared for the new church and the old site was sold.

The Rev. Edward S. Shirley served Saint Michael’s on a part-time basis during 1969 until The Rev. Fred. L. Norman became Priest-in-Charge from 1970-1973.  It was during his tenure that the edifice on 77^th Avenue was completed.  The dedication of Saint Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church occurred on September 29, 1970, the Feast of Saint Michael and All Angels.

The Rev. Edward S. Shirley again served Saint Michael’s upon the departure of Father Fred Norman until The Rev. John C. Southern, Jr. became Priest-in-Charge.    Father Southern came in 1976 and served most of that year.

Father Edward S. Shirley became Locum tenens in 1977 and served until 1983.

In 1984 through the efforts of Canon Jack Knight, The Rev. Robert J. Dodwell of Saint Anna’s, New Orleans and the Rev. James Coleman of Saint James, Baton Rouge, an agreement was made to obtain a priest to serve Saint Michael’s in conjunction with Saint James Place.  The Rev. James Hereford Douglass who was then in Honduras was brought back to the diocese to fill these positions.

While Priest-in-Charge, Father Douglass envisioned a Day Care Center as a community outreach program for the church.  Mr. Henry Thurman, a communicant and architect at Saint Michael’s designed a new building to meet the needs of the Day Care Center, as well as to blend in aesthetically with the existing structure which he had also designed.  Saint Michael’s Day Care Center opened February 9, 1986.  Father Douglass retired in February 1991.

In 1978 a communicant of Saint Michael’s, Floyd Leonard Knox, was approved by the Commission on Ministry to study for the diaconate.  He was ordained on December 19, 1984.  Deacon Knox studied at Nashotah House Seminary and was ordained priest on June 27, 1987.  He served as Assisting Priest with Father Douglass.

The Rev. Gary Lawler arrived December 1, 1991 from the Church of Saint Mary The Virgin in New York City and served as Priest-in-Charge until January 16, 1997.  Upon his departure, Bishop James B. Brown appointed Father Floyd L. Knox as Interim Priest-in-Charge and he served until his retirement on June 30, 1999.

February 2, 2000, The Rev. Allen George arrived from Michigan and served as Vicar until April 2002.

The Rev. Mary Ann Heine arrived January 2004 from Mississippi, and served as Vicar until October 2005.

In 1998, a communicant of Saint Michael’s, Stewart Bernard Cage, Jr., was approved by the Commission on Ministry to study for the priesthood.  He was ordained on Saint Michael’s Day, September 29, 2000. Deacon Cage was ordained priest on November 14, 2001.  Father Cage is currently serving as Priest-in-Charge.

The Church continues to motivate its members to carry out the Great Commission as set forth by our Lord.  One of the major objectives of the congregation is to achieve parish status.  With God’s help and with the devotion and the work of clergy and laity, it should achieve this goal as well as its major goal of spreading the Good News of Jesus Christ Our Savior.