Get to Know: The Episcopal Church of St. Michael & St. George
The Episcopal Church of St. Michael & St. George is the largest parish in our diocese. The Clayton church works hard to nurture relationships and offer a variety of opportunities to experience God.
"The thing about a church like us is that people come here for the programs that we offer," said the Rev. Andrew Archie, Rector at St. Michael & St. George. "The challenge is to keep things happening so that people stay engaged. That’s what we’ve been trying to do -- especially through COVID."
Fr. Andrew says the parish's members have built habits around traditional liturgy, mixed with the experiences and insights of the present. "People come to church for continuity. They're seeking continuity in God," said Fr. Andrew.
"When you come to the Church of St. Michael & St. George, you really feel like you’ve been to church," said Laurie Brown, the congregation's Director of Parish Life. Laurie says the staff has been working especially hard to maintain personal connections throughout the pandemic. They've delivered palm crosses and prayer booklets to shut-ins. They've maintained Bible studies and group meetings online. They've held worship services outdoors on the playground. They've even helped members find babysitters when they needed assistance.
Fr. Andrew says it's all about being proactive. "We don’t wait for them to come back," the rector said. "We identify the lost sheep and head out and look for them. We know who they are -- we’re probably thinking more about them than they are about us."
The Church of St. Michael & St. George has a long history of looking out for its members. In 1928 St. George's Episcopal Church in St. Louis (founded in 1845) combined with the Church of St. Michael and All Angels in Clayton (organized in 1913) and was rededicated as St. Michael & St. George.
The church is also the home of the St. Michael School of Clayton. The private school was founded in 1969 to provide grace-filled education for children of the parish and community, offering care and educational opportunities for infants through 8th grade.
Whether they come for the school, the traditional liturgy, the youth programs, the music, or to be a part of one of seven different outreach ministries, members are staying at the Church of St. Michael & St. George because they are finding spaces to meet God.
"The work of the next five years is to rebuild and renew the congregation," said Fr. Andrew. "If we can engage them, if they can experience something, they want to be a part of it."
Vital Stats:
Church name: The Episcopal Church of St. Michael & St. George
Address: 6345 Wydown Blvd.
City: Clayton
Phone: 314-721-1502
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://www.csmsg.org/
Worship Services: Holy Eucharist - Sundays at 8 and 10 a.m.
Clergy:
- The Rev. Andrew John Archie, Rector
- The Rev. Peter Speropulos, Assistant Rector
- The Rev. Tom Albinson, Assistant Rector
- The Rev. Anne Hunter Kelsey, Priest Associate
- The Rev. Dr. Stewart Clem, Priest Associate
Vision:
The Church of St. Michael & St. George’s vision is to transform lives through Christ.
Mission:
Our mission is to live Christ’s life in the world through the Anglican traditions of worshiping God with reverence, joy, and awe; serving and caring for our community, and leading spiritual formation for all ages.
Members:1551
ASA: 361
(numbers from 2020 parochial reports)
The Episcopal Church of St. Michael & St. George, Clayton
