Parish Life

St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church        

Where We've Come From

In the fall of 1894 a missionary priest commuted by train from Seattle to the tiny farming community of Gilman, Washington, in order to offer Episcopal worship in the town hall (now the Issaquah Historical Museum).  To boost participation, he made a pact with the local baseball team: if they attended his worship, he would attend their games.  Gradually this arrangement lapsed.

It was not until 1928 that another mission was attempted, this time from St. Luke's in Renton.  Once again, commuting proved more than the clergy could handle, but a decades long relationship with the Renton congregation began.

In 1950 three lay readers from St. Luke's returned to Issaquah and canvassed door-to-door for interest in an Episcopal mission.  Working around farm chore schedules and meeting first in a funeral home and then the Seventh Day Adventist Church, the fledgling congregation grew steadily under lay leadership. 

In 1953, the mission became a congregation.  The next year a house was purchased for parish use.  In 1957 the present site was acquired.  The church building was dedicated in 1958.  Bethany House was moved to the property in 1982.  Renovations began in 2001 and gave the nursery and Sunday School a bright new home, created a large open play yard for games and picnics, and upgraded the heating system.  The elevator was added in 2002 to give everyone easy access to parish activities.

What's Next?

Plans are underway to build an outdoor play yard for kids and to renovate our well-used kitchen - possibly even to begin refurbishing our worship space.  We are building a Pastoral Care network to extend the reach of our sacraments and personal support, revamping our programs for teens, and designing a major new outreach program in the Issaquah community.  Capable and imaginative lay leaders are at the helm of all these efforts.