Unprecedented capital campaign defies national giving trends to reimagine 78-year-old campus, strengthen fellowship and advance educational initiatives
DALLAS – February 25, 2025 – Dallas-based Saint Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church (“Saint Michael”) proudly announces the completion of its landmark capital campaign, Building our Future. Surpassing a stretch goal of $65M, the campaign raised more than $76M from parishioners to support the decades-long overdue revitalization and expansion of the church facilities while preserving the beauty of the sacred spaces and creating new areas to gather in community. The capital campaign is unprecedented in the church’s 78-year history and is the largest campaign ever undertaken by a parish in the Episcopal Church.
“The faithfulness and generosity of our parish is humbling, and the energy with which our members caught the bold vision for this campaign inspires me,” said the Rev. Dr. Christopher D. Girata, Rector of Saint Michael and All Angels. “This was a courageous and daring ask for everyone connected to Saint Michael, but when we painted the larger picture of how the investment would create opportunities for meaningful fellowship and gathering, as well as the impact it would have on the education of our younger generations, people acted immediately.”
Building our Future, publicly launched in 2023, is anchored in three pillars: upgrading the physical plant and facility infrastructure for long-term sustainability; expanding community spaces to encourage gathering and deeper fellowship; investing in education via enhancing spaces for nursery, preschool and other classes, including many in the Saint Michael Episcopal School (SMES).
Co-chairs of the capital campaign Mary and Matt Waller described guiding it as one of the most rewarding experiences of their lives. “When we imagine how our community should be gathering and interacting with each other for the next 75 years, we think ‘this bold project has it all.’ That’s why people have given so eagerly and generously to the vision – because it reflects how a community is meant to support and build one another up – together!” said Mary and Matt Waller.
Saint Michael’s campaign success is notable not only for its size and scope, but also because it comes at a time when religious giving in the U.S. is declining. According to a 2024 report from Giving USA, contributions to religious organizations reached a historic low of just 24% of total charitable giving in 2023. Church leadership attributes the success of the campaign to a clear and compelling vision, strategic community engagement and deep-rooted generosity of the Dallas faith community.
“For nearly 80 years, Christian disciples have grown in their faith at Saint Michael, but we had reached a point where growth—physically and spiritually—was challenging because of our campus. This investment transcends bricks and mortar. It will support the church’s mission and ministry for generations to come, and it will transform the greater Dallas community by fostering discipleship in meaningful ways,” Girata added.
The church selected The Beck Group, renowned for its expertise in construction, to oversee the development of Saint Michael’s building project, which began in December 2023 and successfully completed the first of two phases in September 2024. The first phase focused on critical updates to the building’s infrastructure and the expansion of educational spaces. This includes the renovation of the SMES and the church’s Education Wing, which provides expanded learning environments for children, youth, and adult formation programs.
The second phase of construction is well underway and involves building a new atrium, parish hall, music suite, café, indoor play areas for children, staff offices, and community gathering spaces. The upgrades to infrastructure, parking, and gathering spaces will provide a more unified, accessible environment for parishioners to come together in worship, education, and fellowship. This comprehensive investment ensures that the church’s space aligns with its values—rooted in Christian teachings and focused on promoting community and discipleship.
“Our church is called to raise up disciples of Jesus Christ, inspiring everyone in our community to pray, learn, serve, and give in new ways that deepens our impact,” Girata comments. “Our church is committed to fostering knowledge, faith, and fellowship, and these renovations allow us to create a stronger foundation for a vibrant future. We have used the gifts we have to increase our impact, and I hope this work will inspire other faith communities to do the same, using their gifts in bold, courageous ways.”
The construction project is on time and on budget and is scheduled to be complete in summer of 2026. Visit saintmichael.org/BuildingOurFuture to learn more about the campaign.
In addition to the capital campaign, Saint Michael has also spearheaded a first-of-its-kind ground leasing project. More than half of the revenue of that ground lease is dedicated to outreach and will fund millions of dollars in grants to local organizations over the coming years. Saint Michael plans to announce more on that project in March of 2025.
About Saint Michael:
Saint Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church in Dallas, Texas, is a vibrant and welcoming community where people from all walks of life come together to pursue Christ and support one another. Offering a blend of traditional and contemporary worship services, Saint Michael invites both newcomers to Episcopal worship and long-time Episcopalians to join in fellowship. Here, you’ll discover a place to belong, make friends, and engage in personal and spiritual growth. With a rich history dating back to 1945, Saint Michael has grown to become one of the largest Episcopal parishes in the United States, serving approximately 6,000 members in Dallas and beyond. As a member parish in the Episcopal Diocese of Dallas, Saint Michael is part of The Episcopal Church.