Meet St. Michael's, Raleigh

By Susan Rountree

Nestled in the Budleigh neighborhood of Raleigh, St. Michael's Episcopal Church is a vibrant and growing parish in the heart of Raleigh. With more than 2,000 members and an average Sunday attendance of close to 600, our parish is known for its welcoming nature, its music and children's programs and its commitment to Going Forth with God in Outreach and Mission. Twenty-eight unique stained glass windows designed by Raleigh artist Patricia Stumpf for our nave provide worshippers with a colorful and spiritual depiction of the liturgical year.

Our members routinely participate in missions throughout Raleigh and the world. We annually host families in transition through Family Promise of Wake County, and our mission team travels to Belize each year to work with the children and staff of Holy Cross Anglican School. Each year we host Gifts of Grace, an alternative gift market, and parishioners donate to various area organizations, raising more than $35,000 annually for non-profits. 

Our children's ministry serves as the foundation of our faith formation program, with two age-appropriate chapels—one for ages 2-5 and another for grades 1-3—held during our 9:30 a.m. worship service. Children meet in chapel and learn lectionary-based Bible stories and music, and they celebrate birthdays with friends and family. The chapels are complemented by Sunday school classes, where children engage in story and art activities based on the lectionary of the day.

Our youth ministry is an extension of the children’s program, offering teens from 6th-12th grades opportunities for Bible Study and fellowship, both during the week and on Sunday evenings.

Our adult formation program explores Christian discipleship through Sunday morning lectures and speakers, evening programs, Bible studies, and in small groups that examine a number of topics from centering prayer to writing in response to Scripture.

The St. Michael's music ministry, led by Director of Music Kevin Kerstetter, offers voice opportunities for every age, from four years old to adult. Noted around the country for our world-class Nichols & Simpson organ, our program regularly invites organists and choral groups from around the world to perform with us. We are committed to the tradition of Anglican church music and the traditional Episcopal liturgy. Our flagship publication, Archangel, highlights the people of our parish and the many ministries they serve.

The St. Michael’s ECW each year raises funds for a worthy organization in our area at our Spring Garden Party. Through silent and live auctions, the Episcopal Church Women of St. Michael’s have supported Camden Street Learning Garden, StepUp Ministries and, most recently, BackPack Buddies, raising more than $40,000 annually for organizations in our community. Unique to our parish is The Canterbury Shop, our in-parish gift shop. The shop keeps Bibles, hymnals and the Book of Common Prayer in stock and is filled with homegoods, jewelry, art by local artisans, baby gifts, greeting cards and other specialty items. All proceeds from the shop, which last year reached $20,000 support outreach efforts in our community.

The center of our parish life is the liturgy, when we break bread together as members of the household of God. We welcome all to our table to share in the work of Christ in the world.

Learn more at holymichael.org.

Service Schedule:

Sept-May: 8 am HE, Rite 1; 9:30 am HE, Rite 2; 10:50 am Faith Formation for children & adults; 11:30 am, HE, Rite 2

Memorial Day-Labor Day: 8 am, HE, Rite 1; 10 a.m. HE, Rite 2

Contact: Lee Hayden, director of Newcomer Ministry