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On September 24, 1950, fifteen men, women, and children met in a home on Hambrick Road midway between Stone Mountain and Clarkston. Their purpose was to establish an Episcopal mission to serve the area between Decatur and Covington. The following Sunday evening, on the feast of Saint Michael and All Angels, the
Rev. Harry Tisdale, Rector of Holy Trinity Parish in Decatur, celebrated
Eucharist at the Stone Mountain Women’s Clubhouse. Twenty-four people attended
this first service. Following the gift of property at the corner of Memorial (now James B. Rivers) and Park Drive, from a congregation member and his father (a member of Stone Mountain Baptist Church), plans were drawn up for a multi-purpose building to serve as church, church school, parish hall, dining room, and reception hall. Under the leadership of The Rev. Edward L. Alworth, the Mission’s first full-time Vicar, the members of St. Michael & All Angels celebrated their first Eucharist in the shell of a building, without windows or heat, on a dirt floor on Thanksgiving Day, 1953. In 1957, the Rev. Martin D. Gable came to St. Michael’s as its second full-time Vicar. Following Father Gable was the Rev. Hugh Adams in 1959. The Rev. Blount Grant came to the Parish in 1962 and was the first priest ordained in the church. \By the mid-1960s, the vestry felt that growth to full parish status required a full-time priest. With the concurrence of Bishop Claibourne, a Calling Committee was established to identify a priest who could help push the mission church to full parish status. In August 1967, The Rev. George N. Forzly accepted this call. In 1968 petition was made for full parish status, and subsequent action by the Bishop and Council saw completion of this process in 1969, with the formal installation of the Rev. George Forzly as full-time Rector in September of that year. Under the direction of Father Forzly, the parish moved forward, growing from 156 communicants at his arrival, to approximately 530 communicants at the time of his untimely death on Sunday, May 15, 1977. In 1977 the parish called The Rev. H. Hunt Comer to lead the church and Father Comer’s ministry continued until his retirement in December 1992. Father Emmett Jarrett joined the parish as rector in May 1994 and served through May 1999. Beginning with Father Comer’s service and continuing up to today, Saint Michael’s has employed other staff members to assist the Rector, including one or two Associate Pastors, a Director of Christian Education, Youth Director and Music Director. In addition, the church office is maintained by paid staff with the assistance of Parish volunteers. In May 2000 The Reverend Dr. Paul A. Elliott, Th.D. commenced his duties as the fourth rector of St. Michael and All Angels. Facilities at the church have expanded along with parish growth during the years. Acquisition of neighboring houses provided a church office, classroom space and parking space for about 80 cars. In 1981 funds were made available for the purchase of an organ. After installation that November, it was dedicated to the memory of Father Forzly. By 1983, continued growth created the need for further expansion of physical facilities. In 1985 St. Michael & All Angels completed construction of a new parish building, Hensler Hall, which included a large meeting room with a well-equipped kitchen and eight classrooms. The church nave was also expanded at this time. In 1992, a one-acre parcel of land adjoining what was then the office building was purchased. An existing building on the new property was renovated to provide new church offices and removal of an old house provided room for 70 more parking spaces. Fifty - nine years after its founding, St. Michael & All Angels now counts over 230 households with close to 500 baptized members in its diverse congregation.
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