When Saint Michael committed to rebuilding the center of our campus, the decision was not simply about bricks and systems. It was about people. From the beginning, the question was not what we would rebuild first, but why. As we evaluated the many components of our master plan, one priority rose clearly to the top: community. If this project was going to shape the future of Saint Michael, community needed to sit at its very heart.

At the same time, Saint Michael has been investing deeply in the growth of Saint Michael Episcopal School (SMES). Since 2016, enrollment has doubled. While the ages and grade levels remained the same, the needs of the school had changed dramatically. More students meant the need for more space—larger, more functional, and more beautiful spaces that could fully support the strong curriculum and vibrant community already in place.

With these realities in mind, the leadership team approached our historic Building our Future construction project intentionally, dividing the work into two phases. The first phase—about 20% of the overall scope—focused on the Education Building on the west side of campus, the L-shaped structure that serves both the school during the week and the church on Sundays. This building would become the new home for SMES classrooms and a renewed hub for Sunday school and weekday classes and gatherings for the parish.

Work began in December 2023, and it was extensive. Much of the building was taken down to its bones. Hallways were reconfigured, interior walls were moved, and all asbestos was abated. Behind the scenes, the systems that keep a building truly functional—plumbing, electrical, and HVAC—were entirely replaced in the Education building. It was a significant investment in the unseen “guts” of the building, ensuring not just beauty, but longevity and safety. In every sense, the building was given new life.

By the early fall of 2024, the work was complete and ready for students to return. When school opened in September, the transformation was immediately evident. Just weeks later, the second floor opened for Sunday school classes and other church programming. What emerged was more than a renovated building—it was a renewed commitment to education in its broadest sense.

SMES plays a unique and vital role in the life of Saint Michael. As families navigate changing priorities and increasing pressures, many find themselves reconnecting—or connecting for the first time—with a church community when they begin raising children. Parents want to shape lives rooted in character, compassion, and faith. SMES offers children a strong foundation during the week, and Saint Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church, just steps away, complements that formation with worship and community on Sundays.

The impact of this investment is already clear. As the school has grown, so too has the church. Young families are engaging with Saint Michael in new and meaningful ways. In just the past year alone, participation in the children’s Sunday morning experience has increased by 50 percent. The growth has been gentle and invitational—true to who we are as a community—but undeniably fruitful.

This first phase of the capital project has shown us what is possible when vision meets intention. By placing community and education at the center of our work, Saint Michael is renewing its campus and nurturing the next generation of faith, learning, and belonging. And this was just the beginning.

This is the fourth article in a six-part series. The first, second, and third articles were published in the Summer 2025, Fall 2025, and Winter 2025 issues of The Archangel, respectively.

**This article was written by Meredith Turner and was featured in the 2026 Spring Archangel.