ST. MICHAEL'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH, Fayette, Alabama

1969 - 2010

Genesis

In the beginning a faithful Christian, one Herb by name, believed God's promise expressed in St. Matthew's Gospel, chapter 18, verse 20: "For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." In order to find the two or three, the indefatigable Herb Lowe ran a small ad in the Fayette County Broadcaster in November 1968. Thereby were found the few who would gather to form a faith community worshiping in the Anglican tradition. St. Michael's Episcopal Church, initially begun as a mission, met in several places — a funeral home, the UDC Hut, and a vacant store on Caine Street, the first permanent location. The late Rt. Rev'd Furman Charles "Bill" Stough, VIII Bishop of Alabama, was of great help getting the parish started when he served as Diocesan Missioner for then Bishop George M. Murray.

The Reverend B. Scott Eppes was the first of many dependable assisting and supply clergy (see the list below) who served the parish. The Reverend Grady W. Richardson, Jr., was the first assigned priest in 1969; later that same year came the Reverend David A. Kearley, who served until the summer of 1973 when he was followed by the Reverend Joseph L. Knott and Dr. R. Emmet Gribbin, Jr., who served faithfully for the ensuing two years as supply clergy. After years of cold, damp meeting places with ceilings nearly caving in, St. Michael's was given the land on which the church now stands by the United Daughters of the Confederacy, Fayette Chapter 1672. The church property faces on Tenth Street, N.W., formerly known as Elyton Road (still called that on many maps), at the top of the hill in front of the old City Cemetery, where one will find the graves of many of the early settlers of the community named for the Marquis de la Fayette, the French general who served prominently in the Revolutionary War.

1980s & 1990s

In 1980, the Reverend Mark Johnston (now Executive Director of Camp McDowell) came to St. Michael's as spiritual leader and carpenter. On Sunday, March 22, 1981, a formal ground-breaking service was held. The church building was constructed by the members of the parish with Mark's supervision and experience, according to plans drawn by a Birmingham architect. All of the members participated at every level of construction - from from tearing down the old building, digging and pouring the foundation, to roofing and painting. The women of St. Michael's laid the rock work and designed and constructed all of the stained glass windows.

After completion of the new church home from the mid 1980s on, St. Michael's began its real growth as a parish. The parish family was vibrant and active, participating in church-league softball and basketball, hosting the infamous Easter Bazaars and luncheons, and reaching out into the community through involvement in the local Association for Retarded Citizens (ARC), making it possible for the ARC to construct its first group home, Johnston Place.

During the late 1980s the Reverend Timothy Hoff led the parish in an effort to become a self-sustaining contributing parish, raising the diocesan covenant from nothing to 10%. Having a full-time priest had always been the dream of the parish and in 1996 it was decided to raise one of its own members to become a bi-vocational priest. The Rev. Wells Warren studied for ordination under the tutelage of Father Hoff, and led the parish for three years, until his call as a college chaplain at Auburn.

New Millennium

As we entered the new millennium the parish undertook an experiment with the Diocese of Alabama. Once again we received a substantial grant so that we could hire a full-time priest and work toward the development of an Episcopal worshipping community to our north at Hamilton, in Marion County. Unfortunately, just after the experiment began, the entire area became economically depressed because of the loss of industry and jobs. The mission attempt was not as successful as we had dreamt, but we have not given up hope for the eventual reconstituting of a Marion County mission.

The new millennium brought us growth on the local front, however. After some ten years of dreaming and planning for an addition to our outgrown parish hall, a generous bequest from Mr. Farnham "Gunner" Johnson came just as the property adjoining the church became available. This timely gift allowed us to acquire the house in front of the church and renovate it. We now have additional room for parking, and a beautiful space for offices, with an acolyte vestry and a library-conference room. In addition we have recently completed the renovation of the existing parish hall and restrooms and have a new and larger kitchen. Our new building, christened "Gunner's House," was dedicated at the 35th Anniversary celebration of the parish in September 2004.

Present & Future

For forty years the parish has provided an Episcopal presence in Fayette and the surrounding area. Father Hoff returned as our rector in 2003, following his retirement from full-time teaching at the University of Alabama.

As Tuscaloosa County, to our south, grows in population and its growth moves northward, we envision that our parish can provide an opportunity for newcomers there to worship in the Anglican tradition in a family-sized parish. Now in our 40th year of parish life, St. Michael's is as committed as ever to proclaiming the gospel and to serving others in the spirit of Christ: Loving God, Loving People, Loving Life.

Assisting & Supply Clergy

From St. Michael's beginning as a mission in 1969, many supply and assisting clergy have served us, including, in the approximate order of their service, the Reverend B. Scott Eppes*, the Reverend Joseph L. Knott, the Reverend Dr. R. Emmet Gribbin Jr.*, the Reverend Harry H. Pritchett Jr., the Reverend Walter LeRoy Elam III, the Reverend Herbert McCarrier*, the Reverend Mary Anne Akin, the Reverend Hoyt Winslett Jr., the Reverend P. William Greely III, the Reverend Charles W. Adams, the Reverend H. Huey Gardner, the Reverend John L. Ebaugh*, the Reverend Martin R. Tilson*, the Reverend Marilyn Ann Mayse*, the Reverend William A. Yon, the Reverend Keith H. Lewis, the Reverend Robert P. Morpeth, the Reverend William M. King, the Reverend William J. Dennis OSF-SM, the Reverend Milton Thomas Glor*, the Reverend Joy O. Phipps, the Reverend James Pettigrew Woodson Jr., the Reverend Roy Draydon Wells Jr., the Reverend J. Bryan Hatchett, and the Reverend Diane Hill.

St. Michael's Parish Rectors
The Reverend Grady Wade Richardson Jr., 1969
The Reverend David Arthur Kearley, 1969-1973
The Reverend Lloyd Gregory Taylor, 1975-1978
The Reverend Mark Wylie Johnston, 1980-1984
The Reverend John Wesley Rafter, 1984-1987
The Reverend John Wells Warren, 1996-1999
The Reverend Bradley Alan Hinton, 2000-2002
The Reverend Timothy Joseph Hoff, 1987-1991, 1994-1996, 2003-present

* deceased